Day 4

Moab, Utah, to Tuba City, Arizona; 426 miles

OLIVIA: Well, this day sure had a lot to offer. It all started off with an early visit to Arches, again, so I could get some much-needed photos. Then we headed out and went toward Newspaper Rock, which was actually pretty cool :) Then we headed to Mesa Verde and explored the road and a few very short trails, and I'm proud to say that I was able to rescue an empty water bottle from an ancient ruin... it just didn't look right. My dad and I both rescued water bottles from national parks today. His was in Arches. After Mesa Verde, we hit the road to head to 4 corners. There was quite a bit of nothingness and road construction. Those two should never mix. We did 4 corners, and headed out toward somewhere in Arizona, as far as we could get really.. and there was more construction. it was no fun. Hot, hot air in a black car with the windows down and no wind and the top up so you don't get sunburned and the car off.... IT GETS HOT!..... so do the seats when you go to get out of the car, to go explore, and the sun is aiming right down on it. Anyway, after 4 corners, it was a straight shot to Tuba City, which actually has nothing to do with Tubas, it translates into Twisted Waters.... what a bummer. Goodnight Andrew.

SCOTT: A full day, highlighted by wildlife, delittering, and long, long stretches of road through big-view country. The wildlife started with a couple from north of Seattle also driving a top-down Mustang in Arches. They were on their way home. Then came the lizards. And a really big cockroach. The delittering started with a water bottle I saw in Arches, just sitting by itself on the red rock, looking as out of place as tourists do. I grabbed it to dispose of later. In Mesa Verde, as we were looking at one of the excavated pit houses -- that are surrounded by metal railings so you'll keep out, a woman dropped her water bottle inside the railing. oops. olivia was able to squeeze through the top part of the railing and reach down and retrieve it. the crowd -- maybe a half-dozen people -- applauded appreciatively. Arches first thing in the morning was as good the second day as it had been the first. Newspaper Rock in canyonlands was spectacular for what it is, ancient rock art. Mesa Verde gave Olivia a glimpse of cliff dwellings and pit houses and a better understanding of the folks who built and lived in them. Four corners is interesting, even if surveyors or someone has taken GPS readings and discovered that the true four corners are 17 miles away from the four corners as we know it. but no one seemed to care. Tuba City is interesting, the largest navajo community in arizona. we'll explore a little in the morning before heading to the grand canyon. good night, linda and george and jean and ray...