Tag Archives: Arizona

North America, Travel, United States

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Shoes

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Wooly isn’t in the habit of taking photos of shoes since he isn’t much of a fashionista (just ask Raeski).  However it does occasionally happen and I found a good one for a fun topic.  The photo is taken at Canyon de Chelly overlooking Spider Rock.

There is also a Navajo legend that accompanies this photo.  Spider Woman, one of the most important deities in Navajo lore, chose to live at the top of this rock.  She had supernatural power at the time of creation.  At that time monsters roamed the land and killed the Dine (the people).  Because Spider Woman loved the people she found a way to destroy the monsters.  She also taught the Navajo the art of weaving.  Children are taught the white at the top of the rock are the bones of children who misbehaved.  Maybe we should send our politicians there and let the Spider Woman take care of them.

In our shoes overlooking Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelly.
In our shoes overlooking Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelly.

 

 

North America, Travel, United States

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things with Edges

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Last year a landslide blocked the main road between Utah and Arizona thus forcing a detour through Marble Canyon.  Many people may have cursed the long detour while others like Wooly and Raeski relished the side-trip into a lesser known canyon in Arizona.

There is no doubt that the canyons of the Southwest have edges.  Here we are treated to those edges plus two bridges (with their own edges) that span those edges.  The bridge on the left is the old bridge that Arizona left standing as a walking bridge.  Should you happen to drive through this canyon make the turn into the parking area and marvel at the solid rock the Colorado River cut through to form the canyon.

On the edge of Marble Canyon
Marble Canyon comes before the Grand Canyon.
The Bridges of Marble Canyon
North America, Travel, United States

Hiking the Catalinas

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Quick… think of a place with mountains, cool breezes, aspen trees, streams and fern lined trails.  Where a hike leads you to grand vistas where you can see for miles and watch clouds gather and burst forth into afternoon summer thunderstorms.

Did you think of southern Arizona?  I didn’t think so.  However a place like this exists high in the Santa Catalina Mountains that tower over Tucson.  As you drive 40 miles up the mountain the temperatures cool as you gain elevation.  While Tucson swelters in the desert heat, it’s a refreshing 35 degrees cooler at the end of your drive.

It’s hard to fathom that a mere few miles away Tucson is in the 100’s while it’s only in the 70’s where you are.  In Arizona elevation makes a huge difference and you are 6,000 feet higher in the Catalina’s.  Hiking may be a bit more difficult due to the thin air but you don’t mind.  You’ve escaped the heat at least for a while.  And it’s kind of fun making your way through chest high ferns instead of side-stepping cactus.