The Jeep Tour, April 29

Our guide Daniel met us promptly at 8:00 at the visitor center in an open Jeep.  Daniel  grew up in Chinle and Canyon de Chelly.  His son is the owner of Canyon de Chelly tours and I get the feeling that everyone in the family does a little of everything.

There is only one way into the canyon by motor vehicle which is just minutes from the visitor center.  The Jeep ride was scheduled for three hours, but if you want more time you can pay for more and they will make it a "custom" tour.

At this point I have seen so much and learned so much, it is all getting fuzzy so I am having a hard time remembering the names of dwellings, rocks etc.  Daniel had a name for almost every large rock and was very knowledgeable.

The Jeep ride normally goes by the White House, and we told him we had already hiked there, so he took us up a different arm of the canyon, I think Antelope Canyon and we also stopped at Kathryns place.  Kathryn farms, raises goats and sheep for wool, and makes beautiful weavings. I forgot to take pictures of her weavings, but if I ever go backto the Canyon I will definitely look her up and purchase one of her beautiful rugs to hang on the wall. They are too beautiful to put on the floor.

I sat in the front seat  of the Jeep on the way out and traded with Sandi and sat in the back seat on the way back.  We went through lots of water.

Saw Antelope:

Lots of mud:

 More petriglyphs

 Bulldog rock

 Lots of mustangs grazing.

 More ruins:

 Mama was not too happy that we were driving through her stream as she corralled her twin calves.

Kathryn's Farm

 The sheep and goats are ready for shearing, but it has been cold so Kathryn is waiting just a little longer to shear them.

 Tranquil view of her farm.

 I'm in the back seat now, holding on.  Hope I don't fall in the muddy water.

 You can also hire horses and a guide to ride in the canyon.  I thought about it...for a second... and then realized I haven't been on a horse for 50 years.  Don't think I could get my leg over the saddle. LOL.

 We are almost back to the entrance of the canyon.

It was a great ride and very informative.  It is a lot different seeing the canyon on its floor verses the rim. I think it would be great fun to go part way in a Jeep and then hike and explore more of the canyon.  I heard that you can even camp overnight with a guide.

So, the Jeep ride ended all too soon,  and I headed back to camp, hitched  up and headed out again.  (Can't let any grass grow under these feet).  The rest of the day will be spent heading for the Painted Desert and Petrified National Forest so stay tuned.