Monday, 22 August

Great night sleep! Departed on time.  This time I stopped in Williams, AZ.  Usually zoomed past.  Quaint little town.  Very proud of being the last town bypassed by Interstate 40.  Lots of Route 66 stuff.  Worth a longer visit.  Grand Canyon Brewery.

Grand Canyon camping was full!  I’m lucky I didn’t drive all the way.  School must not yet be in session in a lot of America.  The view was unchanged.  Remarkable.

Lunch at Cameron.  It was just a tourist stop, but’s it’s become a community. Navajo Taco.  Way too much food for one person.  No dinner for me!

Small rain clouds kept me alert.  Fascinating to see them all over.  I got caught very briefly in only one.

In Tuba City I finally took a new route, towards Monument Valley.  Excellent road and fantastic view well before arriving at the destination, which is also beautiful.  Tent camping in a box canyon at Goulding’s.  Harry Goulding and his wife “Mike” started a trading post here in the twenties.  Showed pictures of the area to John Ford and the rest is movie history.  His potato storeroom became John Wayne’s “Nathan Brittles” home in “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.”  Still stands.  It’s all very nostalgic.

Campsite has wifi, an indoor pool, free showers, etc.  $28, but I guess worth it.  If only they’d put up/take down my tent.