Edge of the Cedars and Monticello, UT, Temple - April 18

One of the more brilliant museums we've been to, the lowly and humble Edge of the Cedars Utah State Park, sits within a neighborhood in Blanding, UT, is housed within a magnificent red-stone building, and hosts the excavated and partially restored ruins of what was once a large Ancestral Puebloan community about 1000 years ago.  The museum is beautifully decorated with replicas of several of the local pictograph panels we've visited...





...houses millions of artifacts including this red macaw feather apron (the macaw feathers having been traded with peoples from Mexico from over 1000 miles away)....


...a hogan to explore...



...and the ruins of Great House with several rooms and entrances which housed more than 80 people.



But the best part was the reconstructed kiva (living quarters) which visitors are allowed to climb down into.  Every other kiva site we've ever been to is completely unapproachable.  It was a trip highlight to spend a half hour in this kiva looking at the workmanship as well as the brilliant air-circulation system built to handle ventilation and fire smoke.  How cool is that!  Well done with this state park, Utah!






 To cap the day, we spent almost four hours in the wee Monticello Temple doing quite a bit of saving work for our kindred dead.  We met and visited with some lovely people there, as we usually do in these sweet temples.  Twas a perfect way to end this six-week tour of the uncomparable American Southwest.





While out visiting some ruins, we ran into a couple who happened to be from Camas, UT.  When Aaron mentioned he has a good friend from Camas who he ranched alongside for many years, this small world we live in meant this couple knew Aaron's friend as well.  We visited with the Marchands for quite a while, then ran into them again at Edge of the Cedars.  It is indeed a small world, especially within the LDS church.  We run into people all the time who become instant friends.


Today marks the last day of our southwestern circuit.  From the Grand Canyon south through Arizona's parks and temples, to Big Bend and one stellar kayak trip, and finally up through the Trail of the Ancient's through Navajo and Hopi country, the temples and parks visited have all been unique, enlightening, and enjoyable in different ways.  I enjoyed Petrified Forest Nat'l much more than I thought I would.  We survived a heavy late-season snow storm in The Grand Canyon, we have met mighty delightful folk all along the way, and my lovely husband didn't let recent foot surgery prevent him from enjoying most of the trip and especially a kayak journey down The Rio Grande.

We'll take a couple of weeks off at home to regroup, then begin our journey to five of the eight national parks in Alaska beginning with a cruise to Glacier Bay National in early May.  

See ya back here then!

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