Driving south on Route 191 from Moab, UT and the spectacular Canyonland and Arches National Parks is a continuation of beautiful landscapes. There are few people on these roads and just a few small towns on the way to Monument Valley. Sacred Native American lands run through these areas and provide centuries of history.
Monument Valley is a majestic destination. It has wide open expanses and imposing rock formations. Blue skies, high puffy clouds and red sandstone provide a contrast that leaves one breathless. Simple photographs of the rocks are transformed as sunlight plays peek-a-boo with the clouds. The face of the mountain can be cloudy like a frown on an unhappy baby. Within seconds, that frown is replaced with a sunbeam laden, ear-to-ear smile. It completely transforms the scene.
At the end of the day, the sunlight struggles to lay claim to the land it has warmed for hours. It scrambles and scrapes for traction despite the earth’s turning its back on the light. The final stages of struggle are punctuated with the reds, oranges and yellows of the failing sun. Revenge will have to wait until early morning.
