Friday, September 20 – We had an appointment this morning to get our new tire mounted on the 5th wheel before pulling out of Moab. When Paul was doing his pre-travel inspections he noticed a big bubble on another of the 5th wheel tires.....YIKES! 
We called Chip at Grand Tire in Moab to arrange installation of a second tire. Both tires are on the front axle of the 5th wheel. We're not sure if that's simply a coincidence or an indication of some problem. Paul is considering all new tires but wants to wait for a more economical location.
Our trip to Mexican Hat, UT, was uneventful. Paul did stop twice to check the torque on the wheels as recommended by the tire installer. No problems were found either time. Surprisingly, we had to ascend a fairly long 8% grade between Bluff and Mexican Hat. Again, our Ford 350 handled it without any problems.
Going down
We are in the Valle RV Park in Mexican Hat, UT.
Mexican Hat Rock
Certainly not a resort! We don't stay in those anyway. Pretty much a gravel parking lot. There are about 12 sites but 7 of the sites are closed due to electrical problems. We are in site #6 at the end of the row – a 30 amp, FHU site. It is adequate for the three or four days we will be here. We are close to most of the attractions we are interested in visiting. Very poor Verizon phone/internet service, if any! But hey, we have satellite TV so what the heck!
Looking left. Nothing right.
Can you make out what is way across the canyon from us on Navajo land?
Did you guess correctly? There are long-horn sheep also, but we haven't seen any yet.
We drove over to Monument Valley this afternoon after we got setup in the campground.
First off, it's the Navajo Nation so forget about using the America the Beautiful pass…$5 admission per person. The buck doesn't stop there!
The Visitor's Center is poorly done unless you want to spend money in the gift shop. Due to all the rain Utah has had recently, the road out to the monuments is considered impassable.
We watched some brave souls drive their vehicles on the tour....ouch! I value my truck more than some people value their vehicles, I guess. You can go on a tour starting at $75/person in one of the Indian Jeeps. It's all about money here in the Navajo Nation. We left very disappointed but so happy this was not our first visit.
Here are some sites from the Visitor's Center.
West and East Mitten Butte
This evening's moon rise over the canyon.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!
We were there in May of this year. Quite the countryside. Enjoyed, though as you mentioned, little expensive for the tour. We just enjoyed view from the restaurant.
ReplyDeleteouch. . .so sorry you had "one of those days". . .
ReplyDeletebut hey. . .you still got some awesome photographic marvels. . .really nice!
Glad Paul caught the bubble. (also known as a disaster waiting to happen) It is a real shame that everything on the reservation has a price on it, including the four corners monument.
ReplyDeleteHey you have a tree at your site what else y0u need??
ReplyDeleteBeautiful area have fun..
Glad Paul checked those tires. That could have really been serious. I can understand why you want to wait til you get to a more economical place to replace all the tires.
ReplyDeleteWe drove through Monument Valley and it really is a rough road. What amazed me is the rental RV's that they took down through there. Jim took it nice and slow and everything went okay for us.
Seeing a bubble on your tire like that is scary, but I know you were grateful to find it on a check up and not a blow out! Just love the red rocks of the west...great pictures!
ReplyDeleteAmazing, we have some of those same pictures. We took them in April.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that you have had yet another RV tire issue, but thankfully no blow out on the freeway. Monument Valley holds some very special memories for us but don't recall having to spend that much for a tour. I guess inflation has arrived at the Navajo Nation as well. :)
ReplyDeleteOoooh, tire problems. I hate tire problems especially when one is dragging one's house around on those tires (or exploring one lane, washboard, dirt roads far from any help).
ReplyDeleteWe just put all new tires on Beluga, its a big outlay of money, but we decided that peace of mind is worth more....
Thanks for taking us along, love your pictures.
Sue