Cross-Country Vacation 2023

Day 45   - Today's plan is to drive 245 miles in 7.5 hours. This is an exciting day for me because we are visiting Monument Valley. (Click on any photo to enlarge) We started our day in Flagstaff with a delicious breakfast. Again, Tripadvisor and Julie selected a perfect place near to where we stayed Brandy's Restaurant and Bakery .  On this May 31st morning the temperature was 38 degrees. We started out on Rte 66, then took Highway 89, it was a short drive to Elden Pueblo Archeological Site  where we enjoyed meandering through the ruins. Elden Pueblo is a site of the Ancient Sinagua People for around A.D 1070 to 1275. Continuing on Highway 89 to US 160 was a beautiful drive with evergreen trees, valleys and winding roads. These hills reminded me of the Painted Desert. Near intersection of Hwy 89 and US 160 Turning on US 160, then US 163 we found Amigo's Cafe . I was curios to try Navajo Bread, so ordered the Navajo Burger and Julie ordered ...

Day 46 - Today's plan is to drive 200 miles in 5.5 hours. Julie is excited because we are going to visit one of her dream destinations, Mesa Verde. (Click on any photo to enlarge) Bluff, Utah is a very small town. Tripadvisor recommended nearby Twin Rocks Café as a restaurant, but I do not recall another choice. It's okay because the food was delicious! I ordered the Navajo Blue Corn Pancakes and Julie had the homemade granola. From here we headed to Four Corner Monument/Navajo Nation Park  on US 162 E following the Montezuma Creek for about an hour. There was a short line to take photos, the person behind us took ours and we took theirs. There were several Navajo vendors there, we bought t-shirts to remember this stop. It was another 1 hour drive from here to Mesa Verde National Park . Because I am a veteran and had the free America the Beautiful Military Pass  we were able to enter this park for free. We started at the visitors center, then took the...