No prizes for guessing where we were on Tuesday…

But I am Staggered by the change in the weather by Wednesday…

We’re in Utah and a little under prepared for snowstorms. The boys are wearing almost all their clothes at once, hands covered with socks underneath rubber gloves.

Picking up from where I left off last time, White Sands Monument. One of the world’s great natural wonders – the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world’s largest gypsum dunefield.

Through the entrance gate and after 16 miles of road into the dunes we finally picked a random area and pulled up next to the only other vehicle there, our ‘dream’ RV, an uber cool airstream.

Striking up conversation, as we do,  we were surprised to find out they, were English, the first Brits we’d met since leaving home. Narrowing it down, when we mentioned being English ourselves, ”Yes, where do you live in Kent?” ….”Yes, where in Southborough…?” they live in TUNBRIDGE WELLS!!  Oh and live next door to a friend of mine!

Meet the Lewtas family, Pete, Rachel, Daisy, Holly and Jake.  We’re very much looking forward to seeing them again in the UK!

The boys enjoyed a bit of sand surfing..

The perfect place and light for a family shot we though, surprisingly few good ones given the 8 thousand photos we’ve taken and mostly because we’re a couple of numptys they looked like this

and finally after 63 self timer shots we got this

Sadly that was the last shot our camera ever took. Hmm, high winds, the  mix of sand dunes and camera lenses…as I said, a couple of numptys!!. You will now be blessed with images courtesy of google or shoddy iPad shots…no prizes for guessing which is which!

Onto Albuqerque, the surprise destination of our trip. Who knew?? Very cool Mexican architecture, incredible Museums and I MEAN incredible, the best we’d ever been to and that’s saying something after the Smithsonian. Hip restaurants, fantastic shopping. Meant to stay one day and were there for 5!

This was a interactive sand box using topography software at the Explora Museum. Just superb! You Have to go.

Finally leaving Albuquerque we heading to 4 corners, the only place in the US where the square states of Utah, New Mexico Colorado and Arizona all meet in one point…so here is the obligatory photo. Obvioulsy there’s a foot one too but we don’t want to spoil you.

 

Russ is in heavy metal heaven! Every yard, car park and sidewalk is a resting place for some of the most beautiful antique restoration projects.

We set off through the most striking mountainous scenery we’ve EVER seen and visited. First there was Mesa Verde, the numerous ruins of homes and villages built by the Ancestral Pueblans. There are more than 4000 archaeological sites and 600 cliff dwellings at the site. We took a tour and climbed down, and sure enough my vertigo kicked in as I climbed down the 20 foot ladder made of wooden branches attached to the cliff face (though i couldn’t see how). This is America people surely more health and safety! NO body harnesses, no disclaimers, what is going on?? Terrific.

Then there was Monument Valley, where we risked life and limb to bring you this foot photo

Of course we couldn’t not try and re-create this Forest Gump scene

It seems I’m missing my followers ….

I think I’m out of date order here but Goosenecks, the results of 300 million years of time, where the San Juan River winds and carves its way through the desert 1000 feet below.

Again vertigo in full swing as Russ parked perilously close to the edge in extremely high winds.

Then there was Antelope Canyon, a Slot canyon, the Navajo call it sé bighánílíní, which means “the place where water runs through rocks.” I’m pleased the Americans re-named it for the purposes of conversation for us simpletons. It periodically flash floods during the summer months, apparently we were safe now, although not so from the falling rocks….again people what is going on!!! No hard hats, no safely nets,  no disclaimers! Are we even in America??

Google images or ipad…hard to tell huh!

Obviously it was time for Jonah to need a wee …5 minutes into an hour long tour down there, surprisingly there were no restrooms. The guide said he would have to hold it. He ain’t met Jonah!!

Not on the rock Jonah, not on the rock! (I’m probably incriminating ourselves here so may have to remove this next week)

Crikey it goes on and on…next was Lake Powell so we parked up for the night and stared at the stars

It looks like someone may need to re-draw the water line!

More vintage lovlies catching my husband’s roving eye

 

Next there was Red Rock…they’re genius with their names here!  

Apparently this was the easy route up …

but the view was worth the climb

 

So today we’re sat in a toasty warm Sunny watching the boys get cold and wet outside in the snow debating whether to hike up Bryce Canyon in layers of summer clothing and ill equipped footwear. A duvet day with cup of tea and a movie gets my vote!

I hope you’ve all been checking the map. Valuable loafing time is spent updating this daily.  My own son emailed today asking where we are….LOOK AT THE MAP SUNSHINE…LOOK AT THE MAP!!!

And finally we love getting your comments, basically it good to know we haven’t been forgotten and more importantly we know who’s been reading it and who has not. Who we will bring gifts for and who we will not! Kidding :)))