In the kingdom of sand...

We crossed the bridge (click here to refresh the memory - Crossing the bridge...), returned to the trailhead and soon found ourselves on Highway 163, heading towards Monument Valley. Everything around us looked quite unusual. The colors faded and the sky took on a grayish hue. The haze had hidden many details and we couldn't see very far.

 

We planned to pass by the iconic silhouettes of Monument Valley, but as we got closer we found that we could barely see them. We drove into the snow storm and everything was hazy and there was sand hanging in the air all around. It was absolutely crazy!

Everything looked so different from what we used to see when in the area. And the driving experience was also not normal. It was like driving through fog or drizzle, but instead of mist we were surrounded by fine sand...

Not only was sand in the air, but a thin layer of sand dust covered every surface inside the car. It was a completely new, and interesting experience and we were glad we caught this storm.

We were actually lucky because Monument Valley was still visible and looked even more mysterious than usual.

We planned to take a short detour to visit the place where four states meet. The Four Corners Monument is the only place where you can be in four states at once ;) Yeap, some people do that, placing their left foot in Arizona, right foot in New Mexico, and hands in Utah and Colorado. Sounds fun, doesn't it? :)

Surroundings there are dull and boring, so no one leaves the plaza where you can find something interesting in the market. We've been here many times, but mostly too late, so the place was closed. This time we decided to make a detour and visit the monument during the day hours :)

 

Here is the centralpiece that marks the intersection and helps you to travel between four states in just four steps.

The pictures were taken on May 25, 2012.