On the way back to the marina, the boat enters the extremely narrow Driftwood Canyon (above) where there is a natural bridge in the canyon wall (left).

 

After reaching Wahweap Marina at 3:30pm, we drive to the Hampton Inn at Kayenta via Marble Canyon, the next crossing point of the Colorado River (right).

Marble Canyon has two bridges; the original 1928 bridge providing a good vantage point to photograph the 1995 replacement and the river, 467-feet below. We arrive in Kayenta in the midst of a sandstorm, then consume huge servings of black bean soup and salad in the hotel's restaurant.

 

On a very sunny, but cooler day, we drive 260-miles through Arizona from Kayenta to Holbrook,

visiting Canyon de Chelly; the Hubbell Trading Post; and the Petrified Forest National Park.

The 800-foot spire of Spider Rock viewed from the South Rim of the canyon.

White House Overlook.

Yucca Cave.

A drive of about 75-miles south from Kayenta gets us to the Canyon de Chelly National Monument - a part of the National Park system that is staffed by the local Navajos. The approach road and the Visitor Centre are scruffy and there are none of the usual guide maps available. We purchase a 'Motoring Guide to the South & North Rims' and then drive each of these roads: round trips of 37-miles (South Rim) and 34-miles (North Rim) stopping at all the overlooks which provide dramatic views into this immense complex of canyons.

The Hubbell Trading Post is the oldest trading post in the Navajo Nation.

The trading post (above) is closed for an audit and we have arrived too late for a house tour!, but we are able to obtain a guide map for Canyon de Chelly, before driving on to Petrified Forest National Park, which we had not planned to visit until tomorrow.

Our arrival at the Petrified Forest in the late afternoon gives us time to split our visit to this large park into two sessions, with the second tomorrow morning. Plus, we are now in Mountain Time again and therefore gain an hour. At the park's Visitor Centre, we watch a 20-minute film then explore the northern section of the park, stopping at the overlooks between the entrance and the Painted Desert Inn, and seeing some pronghorn deer.

The Painted Desert viewed from Tiponi Point.

The Painted Desert viewed from Kachina Point.

 

Jeanette on the Giant Logs Trail where we find Old Faithful - the largest log in the park, weighing approximately 44-tons.

 

 

 

From the National Park, we use the I-40 to drive to the Comfort Inn at Holbrook where we check-in to a standard motel room before having a good value meal at the adjacent Jerry's Restaurant.