19 June - After a long drive through the north-eastern corner of Arizona we crossed the state border back into Utah and the famous rock outcrops of Monument Valley came into view. The evening sky was very hazy - caused by some far away forest fires we were told.
After a long day's driving we were pleased to find an RV park at Gouldings, part of a large tourist accommodation complex.
In 1921 Harry and Leone (“Mike”) Goulding set up a ranch and trading post here in Monument Valley, Utah. They were instrumental in bringing the movie industry here, starting with “Stagecoach” in 1939 which made Monument Valley and John Wayne superstars. Many more Westerns followed, including Johnny Depp’s The Lone Ranger (2013).
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This was the cabin John Wayne used over the years while he made many Western films here in Monument Valley. It was very basic and spartan inside!
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| ... and here I am with "The Duke". Beautiful Hollyhocks too, they seemed to thrive in gardens in this hot desert environment, we admired them several times on our trip. |
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