Beautiful Utah

On Monday morning we left Arizona after spending more than three months at various RV parks around the Bullhead City, Mesa, and Cottonwood areas. We drove 250 miles to Monument Valley, arriving about 3:00 PM at Goulding RV Campground. The Goulding's (Harry & Mike) started a trading post on a 2500 acre plot given to homestead by the Navajo Tribe in 1923.  Harry Goulding had helped broker a deal between the Navajo and Paiute indians, who where getting ready to go to war. Harry was also identified as the person who first approached John Ford in Hollywood about filming westerns in the Monument Valley area.  Shorting after traveling to Hollywood on his last $60, Harry was successful in convincing Ford to film in the area. Within weeks after Harry's trip to Hollywood, Ford began shooting "Stagecoach" with John Wayne. Up at the lodge still stands the original trading post/living quarters of the Gouldings, and the John Wayne cabin that was used during the filming of "Yellow Ribbon".

Captain Brittle's Quarters from "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"

Still Shot from the Movie

Original Goulding Trading Post Built in 1927

1927 Trading Post - Now a Museum

The Goulding campground was situated in a beautiful canyon surrounded by high bluffs with the opening of the canyon looking out to the monument valley.

On Tuesday, we spent a good portion of the day driving around Monument Valley taking pictures, and exploring the area. Monument Valley is really spectacular, and of course, I'm especially interested because of the history of filming westerns in this area and Moab.

We stayed at the Goulding Campground Monday and Tuesday; Wednesday morning we drove 150 miles north to Moab. After arriving in Moab, the weather was overcast with sprinkles, so we spent the afternoon getting settled and exploring downtown Moab.

On Thursday we traveled to Arches National Park. For the most part, we drove through the park, but stopped and did some short hikes to the various arches. We didn't do the 1.2 mile hike up to the Delicate Arch. We drove another 1.1 miles and stopped and took a picture from a distance.

Today, we traveled to Dead Horse State Park, which is north of Canyonland National Park. Dead Horse had some beautiful sights and is just north of Moab. Each different location that we travel to just reminds us of how unique the earth is and how varied each of these areas are and how they have been created over the millions of years of the earths activities.  After visiting Dead Horse, we ventured down the road another 15 to 20 miles to Canyonland National Park. There we took a 'short' walk to the Mesa Arch for yet more pictures!

Tomorrow (Saturday), we will leave Moab and move north to the Provo area for the week-end. Then it's onto Tooele on Monday. We'll stay there visiting my brother Kev through Memorial Day, when we begin heading east to Iowa.