The Desert Wears Me Out

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Weeks of driving and hikes in hot, dry air and direct sunlight caught up to me today.

I spent it recuperating.

Just as well, because another cold front came through this afternoon bringing rain in its wake.

While rain clouds are the literal source of life to the Navajo and Hopi who live here, they can wreck havoc with travel (see Oct 6^th).



I stayed at the Thunderbird Lodge in Chinle, one of the better lodgings in the area.

Having said that, it’s basically a better than average motel with beautifully landscaped grounds.

Given the relative lack of hotel options in Chinle, it’s also expensive.

The lodge is owned by Navajo, but the culture only shows through artworks in various places and the well stocked gift shop.

The place also has a very good cafeteria with a wide variety of food, although it’s all American.

The checkin desk has a big warning sign to remove all valuables from cars; apparently the entire city has a major vehicle break-in problem.

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