Anyone Game? 2 Castles and a Road Trip TR! Last Day and TR Wrap Up! #2796; 10/01

[PrincessInOz]

Road to Monument Valley 24 September 2013



Verda’s World Famous Pancakes




I said this yesterday morning but it’s worth saying again. One of the main drawcards for us staying at a Bed and Breakfast is, of course, the breakfast bit. We had been treated to the decent cowboy hash yesterday morning and I knew that we were in for the Rose Walk Inn specialty this morning.

Verda's World Famous Buttermilk Pancakes.







World famous? Really?


Head to Trip Advisor and check out the Rose Walk Inn reviews and you'll see what I mean. Jim and Verda have guests from all over the world and the reviews of this pancake on Trip Advisor were the main reason DH and I chose to stay here. And they readily share their recipe with anyone who wants a copy!


Over breakfast, our hosts told us that they have the recipe translated to over 20 different languages so it really is World Famous.


Delicious as the pancakes here were, the thing that I thought made them outstanding was the syrup that Verda makes to go with them. If I understood it correctly, Nauvoo syrup was brought across the continent with the Mormons. And I might be showing my provincial Australian-ness here. But I've never seen a contraption like the one she used to dispense the syrup.







Press the button and out runs the Nauvoo syrup.








The pancakes with the syrup was just so yum! I'm pretty sure my family consumed over 15 pancakes this morning. I know both DH and DS confirmed that they had 6 or 7 each. I weighed in with a modest 4 or 5.







As we were heading out to our next destination this morning, we lingered over breakfast. The chat we had this morning with Jim was one of the best we had on this trip. Usually when you meet comparative strangers, your conversation settles on weather, the places you live, the superficial veneers of life. Rarely do you venture into the murky depths of politics and world peace. Not so with Jim and Verda. We ended up lingering over several pancakes and a couple of cups of coffee discussing the ills of politicians, US economy and life in general. For me, it was a great morning. Afterall, when I travel, I don’t just want to see places....I want to find out what it's like to live there as well. Thanks Jim and Verda. We really enjoyed our stay with you and I hope that our life journey brings us back to your doorstep again sometime in the future.




(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


Navajo National Monument




After lingering over breakfast, we packed up the car and headed back on the road. I had hoped to have been on the road earlier; but we finally left Page at 10.30 am after stopping at the local Safeway for some supplies. Our final destination for today was only meant to be a short 3 hour’s drive away.


I think you've worked out that DH and I have turned seemingly short drives into a long-winded artform by now. We headed out on the 98 South-East to the 160 and we headed East along the 160 where we encountered our Brown Sign for the day. It was a 9-mile route off the 160 to the Navajo National Monument; and took us about 90 minutes to experience.


Right away, we knew we were in for an experience and a walk that we probably wouldn't want to rush. Afterall, you never know what ancient footprints we might be treading over. We found this just at the back of the Visitor Center.






Also at the back of the Visitor Center were a couple of structures that interested DH and myself immensely.






You'd think that after sleeping on the floor at Rose Walk Inn that DS had enough of lying on the ground. Apparently not.






DH and I had deliberately come to find Native American experiences during the road trip part of this vacay. We were delighted at what we found here! The sweat lodge is a place of spiritual refuge and mental and physical healing, a place to get answers and guidance by asking spiritual entities for the needed wisdom and power. I might have been looking for some answers....(I swiped this picture from DH’s collection)....






....guess what I found? That sweatlodge sure has some wisdom and power!







After a discussion with the Ranger inside, we had decided to take the Sandal Trail.







The Sandal Trail is a self-guided accessible walk. It's about 0.8 mile long walk on a paved path.







The Sandal Trail was filled with informative plaques along the way. I found out heaps about the local flora here.
























Where are we? We're at the Shonto plateau, overlooking the Tsegi Canyon system in the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona.







It's all Kayenta rock formation here; sandstone, shale and limestone.







We got to the end of the trail. Did you spot why we were here?







Betatakin literally means House on a Ledge in Navajo and it is believed that the Ancient Puebloans and the Hopi resided here 700 years ago.







I pulled out the big lens for this close-up. That alcove is about 450 feet high and 370 feet across. Betatakin is constructed out of sandstone, mud and wood and there were about 120 rooms; although only about 80 are left because the others were destroyed by rock fall. They estimated that 20 - 30 families lived here during the late 1200's.







Named for the people that now occupy the region, the Navajo National Monument protects Betatakin, Keet Seel and Inscription House - cliff dwellings built by the Ancient Puebloans that farmed (corn, beans and squash) this area. I figure it must have been hard farming here. This Tsegi Canyon certainly looks inhospitable to me!







The cliff dwellers lived here for some 50 - 60 years before moving away. Tree rings have indicated that there was a bad drought lasting 20 years in 1300. Some say that the Ancient Puebloans joined other people in regional migrations and became the forefathers of the Hopi, Zuni and other tribes.



Our time here was way too short. We only had time to walk to the Betatakin look-out; but the main dwelling here is Keet Seel. If time had allowed, we might have been tempted to take one of the free guided walks – one to Betatakin (5 mile round trip) and the other to Keet Seel (17 mile round trip).


As it was, we took our shots of Betatakin and made our way back along that accessible trail.








(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)



We headed back to the Visitor Centre and looked around. There was a small room off to one side and it housed a number of artefacts that were found here.





















It wasn't a big collection but the range of artefacts here showed what a thriving culture this must have been.



We didn't linger too long. We still had to make it to our final destination.

 

[ejud]

Road to Monument Valley 24 September 2013



Verda’s World Famous Pancakes




I said this yesterday morning but it’s worth saying again. One of the main drawcards for us staying at a Bed and Breakfast is, of course, the breakfast bit. We had been treated to the decent cowboy hash yesterday morning and I knew that we were in for the Rose Walk Inn specialty this morning.

Verda's World Famous Buttermilk Pancakes.

I am somewhat renowned for my own pancakes, or was, back in the day- and I can tell you just by looking, those are some good looking pancakes!



Jud

 

[dolphingirl47]

The pancakes look delicious and it is great that you had such a connection with your hosts.

The cliff dwellings look fascinating but the colours feel a little subdued after all the stunning photos that you posted.

Corinna

 

[ejud]

PIO,

Just curious- have you ever visited Mesa Verde?



Jud

 

[dgbg100106]

As a matter of fact, it's called... wait for it... Blackened Silver!

Ta daaaaaaaaaaa!



Jud

Ha-Ha... I knew I knew what it was!

 

[dgbg100106]

Thanks for the Navajo National Monument tour, we saw that on the map as was wondering what all was there. The cliff dwellings look interesting.

 

[wiigirl]

Great pics!

 

[franandaj]

The pancakes look very good.

I mapped out where the Navaho National Monument and we go by there on our way to Monument Valley. Sounds like a neat place to stop, provided we get an early start. Those old houses were really neat, I would like to see that. I'm sure we could hang out at the museum for a bit looking at the displays.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Pluto0809]

I got way behind this last week! I'm all caught up now, let me see what I remember to comment on. These comments may be competely out of order.

The photos from the third canyon you went too are absolutely stunning. Kind of a bummer that it was so crowded and their were rude people but at least you still had a great time.

I loved the pictures of the jewelry and artifacts at the Blair Trading Post. I tried to look on the site mostly out of curiosity because I know I couldn't afford any of the pieces. But the web site wouldn't work for me.

$50 for a steak?!?! That had better been one awesome steak.

Those pancakes looked delicious!

 

[mvf-m11c]

After being away during the Christmas break, I finally caught back up to your TR.

The Blair collection in the Trading Post looks very nice.

The pancakes looks very appetizing. The Navajo National Monument pictures are very nice and a good place to stop by.

Very nice updates.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I am somewhat renowned for my own pancakes, or was, back in the day- and I can tell you just by looking, those are some good looking pancakes!



Jud

DH and I both make reasonable pancakes as well. But these were just in another league.

The pancakes look delicious and it is great that you had such a connection with your hosts.

The cliff dwellings look fascinating but the colours feel a little subdued after all the stunning photos that you posted.

Corinna

That's exactly how I felt Corinna. I wasn't quite ready to give up the red sandstone look just yet.

PIO,

Just curious- have you ever visited Mesa Verde?



Jud

Yes. DH and I hit Mesa Verde in 1997. We've also been to Canyon de Chelly and Montezuma's Castle. We need to head to New Mexico for the Chaco style houses next time we're in the area. I really, really, really need to say that I took the left turn at Albuquerque at some stage in my life.

Thanks for the Navajo National Monument tour, we saw that on the map as was wondering what all was there. The cliff dwellings look interesting.

If nothing else, it was a great place to stop and stretch our legs. The cliff dwellings were a major bonus.

Great pics!

Thanks.

The pancakes look very good.

I mapped out where the Navaho National Monument and we go by there on our way to Monument Valley. Sounds like a neat place to stop, provided we get an early start. Those old houses were really neat, I would like to see that. I'm sure we could hang out at the museum for a bit looking at the displays.

Thanks for sharing!

Great!

The museum is pretty small. What I've shared is nearly about it!

I got way behind this last week! I'm all caught up now, let me see what I remember to comment on. These comments may be competely out of order.

The photos from the third canyon you went too are absolutely stunning. Kind of a bummer that it was so crowded and their were rude people but at least you still had a great time.

I loved the pictures of the jewelry and artifacts at the Blair Trading Post. I tried to look on the site mostly out of curiosity because I know I couldn't afford any of the pieces. But the web site wouldn't work for me.

$50 for a steak?!?! That had better been one awesome steak.

Those pancakes looked delicious!

Glad you're all caught up. Thanks. I wonder why the web site wouldn't work?

Yes. It was a great steak. It's not the most expensive steak I've eaten in my life. I got the opportunity to eat at one of those celebrity chef places in Melbourne and they had Waygu steak on the menu at $90. As it was a business lunch, someone else was paying for it.

After being away during the Christmas break, I finally caught back up to your TR.

The Blair collection in the Trading Post looks very nice.

The pancakes looks very appetizing. The Navajo National Monument pictures are very nice and a good place to stop by.

Very nice updates.

Welcome back. Thanks for catching up! Hope you had a great trip.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Happy New Year




Happy New Year everyone!



I went out to ring in the New Year last night. Melbourne City does a fireworks show at midnight and also sets up free entertainment around the town. We headed into the Docklands precinct and set up our cameras. There were at least 3 other photographers there and we had a great time just chatting with them.


The city sets up firing locations over 22 of the buildings around town. We watched them from a different position last year and it was hard to capture the bursts when they were all so spread out. My opinion is the same this year, particularly when the building seem to be 'hidden' behind others at the Docklands.








We'd picked the Docklands because we knew that would be at least one pontoon on the water that would fire off rockets. Excuse me whilst I turn the camera around by 180 degrees.


The Firework Gods were kind to me last night.

















































































































































Happy New Year!

 

[jedijill]

Happy New Year!

The fireworks gods were kind this year...those photos are stunning!

Jill in CO

 

[Pinkocto]

Those firework pictures were gorgeous!!!

You have now seen two things on my bucket list on your trip. The slot canyons being the first, even though I didn't know what they were called, and now the cliff dwellings. Wow wow wow. What a humbling experience. What people could create without modern tools just amazes me.

 

[franandaj]

Great shots! You are such a great photographer!

Still another 7 hours until we ring in the New Year here, I don't think I will make it that late!

Hope 2014 is a better year for you and your family!

 

[zanzibar138]

Happy new year PIO! Awesome pics of the fireworks, as always I particularly love the ones with the starbursts

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Road to Monument Valley 24 September 2013


As we were heading out to our next destination this morning, we lingered over breakfast. The chat we had this morning with Jim was one of the best we had on this trip. Usually when you meet comparative strangers, your conversation settles on weather, the places you live, the superficial veneers of life. Rarely do you venture into the murky depths of politics and world peace. Not so with Jim and Verda. We ended up lingering over several pancakes and a couple of cups of coffee discussing the ills of politicians, US economy and life in general. For me, it was a great morning. Afterall, when I travel, I don’t just want to see places....I want to find out what it's like to live there as well. Thanks Jim and Verda. We really enjoyed our stay with you and I hope that our life journey brings us back to your doorstep again sometime in the future.


(Continued in Next Post)

Those pancakes look YUM! and no, not seen one of those syrup dispensers before. Be handy for maple syrup too. This reminds me of an amazing week we spent in a B&B in Juneau, Alaska in 1999. The hosts treated us like long lost family, (the breakfasts were to die for), DD played with their grandaughter and we had some wonderful discussions about life, the universe and everything. Very special memories. Alas old age and illness caught up with them. I would have loved to have visited one more time.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

and I love the firework pics! Good start to 2014!