Day Four - Monument Valley and a Dead Horse

Friday, June 22nd - Day Four. After a good night sleep we got an early start out of the Grand Canyon. We had a quick stop to do a couple of final photos and shot out of there. Another riduculously hot day and you could see the crowds already teeming for the weekend. We were glad to get out of there. Our next stop was Moab, Utah for some groceries. To get there we drove through the Navajo Nation and through Monument Valley - some large stone monoliths jutting out of the landscape. A precursor of what was to come. Again the kids were pretty good travelers. Not much complaining - just the knowledge that driving was actually the easy part - the co-pilot job was much more difficult - as Laura dubbed it - "The Tour Director" - two words are all you need to know - binky and movies. We had a lunch stop in BLuff, Utah and had lunch there. Lucas was the hero as he greeted EVERYONE that walked through the door. The Navajo frybread was delicious - if not compltely fattening. After about 6 hours we made it to Moab around 6pm with the one hour time change. Moab was hot and not the town we had expected. Everyone was very leathery there - and it was very touristy. We got some directions, got our groceries and were out of there. The drive up to Dead Horse Point campground was beautiful and we got to our campground around 7pm. The campsite was up quickly and Laura had the Hot Dogs and CousCous going. Only problem is that we were OVERRUN with the biggest ants you ever saw AND the gnats were EVERYWHERE. Luckily nothing was biting or these city folk would have been out of there. Anyways we rushed through dinner and got up to Dead Horse Point just in time to see the sunset. Maybe the highlight of the trip so far. Just EPIC views - even Sammie was quiet (for maybe a few minutes anyways). No wind and so quiet it was amazing.

We got back to the campsite right as the sun went down and miraculously the bugs were gone and so were the gnats. A short reprieve. The tent held our Aero bed and enough room for a sleeping pad. So Lucas slept between us and Sammie slept next to us on the pad. She was out like a light - but Lucas flopped around half the night like a fish - painful for us but cute in its own way to. Anyway it was a long day and we were excited to hit Saturday running to see the Arches and head up to Salt Lake.

What we learned today: Not all red ants bite, Lucas can move like a fish, the desert is dry and hot, we ARE city folk, and caterpillars CAN make you jump.

Good Sammie Quotes: anytime we see a body of water - "Ooh is that Platte Lake?" Anytime we see anything - "Are we in Yellowstone yet?"