Monumental indeed!

What a difference a border makes.  As we travel from state to state we see the distinct differences between them all.  Utah has so many jaw dropping landscapes, canyons and national parks. We are starting our Utah adventure in Monument Valley.

UTAH!  Life Elevated

 104F? So, does that means the temperature is elevated too? 

The Southeast corner of Utah is certainly remote so we stopped to take pictures of each other.

Where in the world is Carmen?

Maaaaattheeeeew?

The tiny town of Bluff, Utah has exactly 3 hotels and a handful of restaurants. We had a delicious dinner and breakfast at the Twin Rocks Cafe, which is named for the natural twin rock formation that towers above the cafe and trading post.

Off to Mexican Hat!

There is not a whole lot of shade around here. So, a sombrero is certainly a great fashion accessory.

See, it really does look like a guy wearing a sombrero.

Monument Valley lies in the Navajo Nation range. Go ahead and take a moment to add this to your bucket list. It is worth it!


Just look at the vast open plains and mesmerizing sandstone buttes of Monument Valley.

Vroom vroom!!

I had no idea that this would become a monumental day for Matthew and I. He talked about how much he loved Monument Valley for months and months as we were planning our adventure and that it is one of his favorite spots in his world of travels.

At the very spot I had heard so much about, Matthew asked me to marry him!!

I said YES! (of course)

I'm such a lucky girl. My man and noble stead await me for more adventure!

A little back story on us.  We met 20 years ago and dated briefly. Our lives went in different directions until we found each other again.  Our first date was Forrest Gump (yeah we're that age).  After the proposal we looked up the location on Google maps.

 

Forest runs from his home in Alabama to Monument Valley and stops at the very same point. Aren't coincidences fun? 
Here is the exact spot..

We will never forget this day and this spot in the world. 

And now even more adventure awaits us! 
Stay tuned!!

A Million Dollars in Colorado

I lived in Colorado for about 4 months about 5 years ago.

It's a nice state.. I wouldn't mind living there again. But this is my first visit back since then and I was excited to see some spots like the Garden of the Gods and how downtown Denver had changed according to my friend Steve.

Southern Food in the MidWest? Carmen was shocked.. shocked I say!

The Garden of the Gods was much nicer this time.. Or rather last time I went was with some coworkers that I was not particularity fond of..

But this time.. I was with an enchanting redhead... So you know, I 'got' that going for me.

In 1879 Charles Elliott Perkins, a friend of William Jackson Palmer, purchased 480 acres of land that included a portion of the present Garden of the Gods. Upon Perkins' death, his family gave the land to the City of Colorado Springs in 1909, with the provision that it would be a free public park. Palmer had owned the Rock Ledge Ranch and upon his death it was donated to the city.

Click for full size version

After visiting Denver and Colorado Springs we took a ride over to see the Million Dollar Highway.

Amazing Views

Some Camping was done (I think I scared a Squirrel!)

There's a Hole in the mountain!

Tiny Town of Silverton CO

Where you can ride a train.. around a mountain.

That's the whole town

The whole town of Ouray is kind of nice.

After the highway we found some neat locations and photo ops.

I had a Hot Dog.

Rafters Everywhere!

Secret UFOs in Colorado.

Mining Town

11312 Feet and no more Altitude Sickness thankyouverymuchandgoodbye.

 We went to the Four Corners Monument.

There was a line

Wait a minute?

That's not where the 4 Corners are according to my GPS!

So they kinda built their Monument in the wrong place.. out of convenience I guess (actual spot is in a hole.)

Off into Utah and some of Arizona for a while..

More to come!