"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime"-MARK TWAIN

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Sand Island, Bluff, UT

 

We were awakened this morning by the sounds of the ravens fighting over something, or another.  The temperature was around 34*, so we cranked up the electric heat for a while.  Didn’t take us long to drink a couple cups of coffee and take Sally for her round.  We had picked up an audio book from Cracker Barrel before leaving home.  Lee Child has a way of making those interstate miles not quite as boring.  We needed to drop it off in Gallup as that was going to be the last Cracker Barrel we would see for a few weeks.  If you haven’t borrowed books from there, and like to listen to audio books, I highly recommend it.  You buy the book, then they refund the cost when you turn it in, minus $3.95 for each week you keep it.

Anyway, that was our breakfast destination.  From there it was to Wal-Mart, then Safeway.  A short driving day through a part of the Navaho Nation.  Very depressing to see old rundown housing, and litter everywhere.  Also my first McDonalds with a security guard on duty, in Shiprock, NM.

We arrived in Bluff around 1 PM.  Drove the B loop of Sand Island BLM campground and grabbed a great site.  Long back-in, with a huge sitting area behind the Casita.  Saw a group of rafters departing from the boat launch as we arrived, but no pics.

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It felt really great to feel that we are now HERE.  No more long days until we start back home.  Just to sit outside enjoying the mild temps and breeze lifted our spirits considerably.

We took a short walk around the loop, seeing the river, and viewing the petroglyphs on the bluff above the campground.

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  Running for a couple hundred feet or so are many different symbols and figures.

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The plaque says they run from 300 to 3000 years old. Some are low enough to have been made by modern man, but some are over thirty feet up on a vertical wall.  No way they could be recent.  These “paddles” were about thirty feet up on a vertical wall.

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A couple more.

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Whoever made them left their mark.  Definitely makes me wonder what was going through their minds at the time.

We plan a quiet evening around a campfire, either wood or propane, it’s yet to be seen, which.  Tomorrow we may get out a explore a little of Cedar Mesa and Valley of the Gods….jc

8 comments:

  1. Isn't it great to arrive where you want to be and just relax?

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  2. Can't believe you all are in UT already! I bet you can't either. Love the Cracker Barrel book program.

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  3. Ahhhhhhhhhh, no more rush! Just taking in each moment as it comes up! I'm going to try those books sometime! Nice to see you out and about....been a tough winter for you! ENJOY!!!

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  4. Enjoy Sand Island! Should have river groups rigging most every day.

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  5. Wish we were back there with you guys!!

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  6. Just finished a Lee Child earlier in the week. Could not put it down!

    One of the eggs, an Oliver, joined us at Elkmont. They had a doberman named "Reacher".....Child's main character.

    Have fun...glad you are out of the high mileage days and into the easy travel time!

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  7. Wow, looks like a really nice place and great campsite.

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Thanks for looking, and comments are welcome.