We started the day with lattes from our favorite new café, The Peace Tree Café. Then off to Colorado National Monument. Luckily we arrived around 9 am, before the heat was in full force, so we got in a few hikes. Today we learned that river guides cannot be trusted when it comes to geology. So here goes, the basement rock is Pre Cambrian, overlain by the 210 million year old Chinle formation, then the 200 million year old Wingate formation, the 190 million year old Kayenta formation, and the 165 million year old Entrada formation. It’s enough to make me feel newborn! We also learned that “Love does not conquer all,” through the experience of John Otto, the “founder” of Colorado National Monument. Apparently he caught the eye of a pretty young thing and married her in a canyon at the Monument (hence, the name Wedding Canyon), but she could not bear living in juniper lean-tos on the ground, and the marriage only lasted 3 or 4 weeks. So, I thought that the adjacent canyon would be Divorce or Annulment Canyon, but no such luck – it is Monument Canyon. We hiked the Coke Ovens Trail, and met up with several dashing workers, who were repairing the trail, and encouraged Stacie to apply. As the temperature exceeded 100 degrees, we hiked to Devils Kitchen, where we almost got cooked – scrambled hikers anyone? Now, in the coolness of the hotel, it all seems like a dream. We encountered a little car delay and are waiting for a part to be Fed Exed, but hope to be on our way again by noon tomorrow – keeping our fingers crossed.
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