It's always an adventure when with my husband!

As we had our own private tour guide (Melvin) we were able to see sights and learn a few tid bits that we would not otherwise have learned. On our second day we drove through a canyon, Canyon Dechelly. Most people drive around the upper rim and look down, not us, we drove through the canyon. David had upgraded our rental from a little 4 banger car to a Jeep Larado with 4 wheel drive and it was a good thing as the terrain was interesting in the canyon. This is a view of just a few of the 'gullies' that we drove through.

And the only wildlife that we saw in the canyon...man this was a big bull!

And our veiw as we drove through the canyon, quite impressive.

Years ago, our private guide tells us, the Anasazi (meaning the ancient ones) people lived in this canyon. Below is a picture of the communities that they lived in. These shelters are high up in the mountainside and one wonders how building them was possible.

They also told stories with these hieroglyphics. Again, these are written high up on the mountainsides!

And a picture of a ceremonial hut that the native americans use. It is called a Hogan and the doors always face east.

Now with so much to look at one can understand why our driver.....David.....has a difficult time keeping his eye on the path. While driving out of the canyon (thank goodness we were driving out not in!) we all were tossed around in the Jeep because David had hit something and hit it good. He had hit a very large stump with the left front tire.... damaging the rim and flattened the tire. Now remember we are in a canyon, cell phone service is non existant. Thank goodness we were close to coming out of the canyon and close to a town. David and Melvin got the tire changed and the rim banged back to almost normal and Rachel and I laughed for a good long time. I had to get a picture of the only injury that was incurred. David was bounced around so hard that he hit the top of his head on the roof of the Jeep...see the red mark?

After our canyon tour we were invited to Melvin's mom's for a traditional native american meal of mutton stew, bread (which was like our pita bread), steamed vegetables and mush. The meal was fabulous and Melvin's mom is a great host. Melvin's family works very hard at holding onto the old ways. He and his mom speak to each other in their native dialect, Melvin has built a sweat lodge and they have a ceremonial lodge (a Hogan). It is a very peaceful place.

BUT, getting to her house was no picnic. It seems that we brought the Minnesota weather with us as the day started out sunny, it then began to rain, then sleet and finally snow.

The storm as it made it's way towards us.

And the snow as it came down.

And last but not least, a cool looking tree with it's knarled trunk that Melvin spotted.