Arizona...state of desert, more desert, navajo's and canyons...

Hi again

Greetings from the middle of the Navajo nation (in a 4 star hotel run by the Hilton group - very traditional!)

Keep the comments coming in - so we can keep up with what's going on at home and thanks for the driving tips Lisa - got any tips on dealing with fatigued truck drivers that run you and your little Hyundai off the road?? Jowen - you are closer to 40 than I (that was Stacey - what a great sister in law she is - no gifts fro the black men under the eiffel tower for her!) And Dad - as much of a BS artist you are we found a bigger one yesterday - from Michigan!

Yesterday we started with a Helicopter Ride over and in the Grand Canyon - still buzzing from it - was amazing and would do it again...was a great way to experieince the canyon - not as up close as the hike into it that we undertook but a lot more relaxing and exciting with less hassle. The middle of the day we joined part of the organised summer fun that the Americans seem to do quite well - this one was a digital photography course - so watch out Wazza and Jowen - we have new found skills and are ready to compete!!

As for the Canyon itself, words cannot describe it - and unfortunately we have no photos yet....We started 2 days ago watching the sunset at the canyon. It was fantastic and the colours of the Canyon walls continually changed as dusk wore on. Yedterday we had a late start at the Canyon itself thanks to the ride in the chopper which meant it was extremely hot when we got there - about 41 degrees celsius!! On our way to the trailhead for the descent into the canyon we witnessed a couple of French (or perhaps Canadian) tourists who had succumbed to heat exhaustion and were awaiting the services to arrive...it wasn't the best encouragement for our trek but we descened anyway - it all seemed very easy and the views were even better than at thetop of the rim - the Canyon seemed even larger than our first impressions (this thing is HUGE - maybe even Grand?!!)...as for the ascent and return to the shuttle bus, that took a bit longer and we were hoping that there was going to be a mule train come past to pick us up - alas it didn't eventuate and we were reliant on our tired little legs to get us back up....and 40 mins later we made it back!!

The drive between the Grand Canyon and here was spectacular as we skirted the eastern rim of the Canyon - which is a lot lower and flat plateau...a scene out of Bonanza - just Navajo's (and their American Express accepting genuine souvenir stores) - no cowboys. This was interspersed with beautiful rolling green hills of forest and then suddenly desert and windswept plains....then it got dark!!

We are in a small Navajo village called Kayenta at the moment near monument valley. After the shenanigans of Vegas and the efforts of the canyon today has been a bit of a rest day- lazing by the pool and catching up on the mundane- aka laundry! Despite our foray into suitacases instead of backpacks and having so far stayed in 4 star hotels we are staying true to our backpacking roots and have converted the room to a chinese laundry that would rival the best China town has to offer. As a side note - last night in HBO was a documentary that showed Australians at their best - the Corby's!! What an eloquent family they are!! A great advertisement for Queensland!

Now off to the supermarket (also genuine navajo store - with inflated prices no doubt) to get supplies for Monument Valley tomorrow.....looks like crackers with philly and tomato again and the coke (as in cola)!! Dad - the coca cola over here tastes different - apparently there is a lot more caffeine in the mix over here - and less bubbles!

Anyway - best be off!!

Cheers
Stace and Jeff