Monthnotes 21 Apr 2024

Spring is definitely here now in northern Arizona.

Since last time, we took a bit of a break and went on a road trip up to southern Utah to explore some areas we skipped past on a previous visit to Moab and Arches National Park.

Bluff, UT / Four Corners

Navajo National Monument. This pic isn't faded. It was snowing!

First up was Navajo National Monument. We weren't quite expecting snow, but that's what we got. The ruins here are phenomenal. This wasn't originally on our itinerary but worth the stop. May visit here in the future when the weather is better to hike down closer than this observation spot.

Goosenecks State Park, Utah

Next up was Goosenecks State Park, named after the winding path the river takes through the landscape. Very similar to Horseshoe Bend that's a distance away.

Bears Ears National Monument is an area with a lot of different areas to explore that aren't on most traveler's radars, with Arches, Canyonlands, and other more notable areas being bigger draws which aren't far away.

Valley of the Gods

A drive through Valley of the Gods gives you some picturesque views like this one. It's described as a mini Monument Valley.

House on Fire

One iconic place to visit in Bears Ears is House on Fire, which is a ruin built into the rock. And at a certain time of day you can take a photo which makes it look like it's on fire, which is how it gets its name.

Natural Bridges National Monument

The primary destination of our trip though was to visit Natural Bridges National Monument. We decided to do a full day of it and hike the nine miles to each of the three natural bridges there.

The hike itself, climbing down into the canyon then walking beneath and through each of the bridges, was amazing. One of my favorite hikes ever.

Supapu Bridge in Natural Bridges National Monment
Kachina Bridge in Natural Bridges National Monument
Owachomo Bridge in Natural Bridges National Monument

Movies

  • Falling for Figaro is a date night film.
  • Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire I guess is continuing a franchise with these characters. They are starting to feel more and more like the 70s Godzilla films, with better effects. Fun movie with monsters fighting, but I couldn't tell you much more than that.
  • Monkey Man was really good. Describing it as John Wick in India is both accurate and misleading. The movie is drenched in Indian culture, which gives it a unique feel.
  • Damsel was okay to a point, but crosses a line in the middle where it becomes a bit dumb. Literal eye rolls on my part.

Reelhouse Foundation Films

You spend a lot of time in this car during The Hitch-Hiker
  • The Hitch-Hiker (1953) was basically an ad for not picking up a hitchhiker. What's most interesting about the film though is that it was directed by a woman I didn't know much about, Ida Lupino. I'm sure she was a pioneer for women. Surprised I haven't come across her name before.
  • Missing in Action (1984) was viewed in honor of co-star, M. Emmet Walsh, who recently passed away. While he's been in too many films to count, I think Blood Simple will remain my personal favorite. This particular Chuck Norris film isn't a great film but making fun of it with Chuck Norris jokes adds a new dimension to this and every other Norris film.