h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I visited Arches National Park almost 10 years ago and had one of the best days of my life. I was staying with some friends in LA, and I rented a car for a week and headed off towards the Grand Canyon. It was purely by chance that I actually went to Arches - I hadn't originally intended to, but I met someone the previous week over a and breakfast in a motel, and he said that I should definately take it in, as I'd mentioned that I was going to drive through Monument Valley. I'm so glad I took his advice. That whole area of red rock country is simply spectacular, and has to be seen to be believed. I can't wait to get back there and spend longer than the 6 hours I did last time at Arches.

I don't recall seeing any pictures in the entry, but do you know there's one of Arches in the h2g2 library? It's right here http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A426494

Nice entry

Thank you, G!!!

I spent two holidays in that area (1995 and 1997), and there are some places I'd love to go to again (that does *NOT* include the Grand Canyon).

To the picture: Just have a look at the original "Director's Cut" of my Entry, found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A599745 . I included that very picture, and I'm somehow sorry that it didn't make it into the edited version. But maybe that's just a rule that I don't know about.

Did you like Monument Valley?

Jeremy

Picture has been added.

Thanks for a great entry, too.

Thanks, Ashley, I'm glad you liked it!

During my two stays in the USA I visitad many of the NPs, so there's still a lot to write about. It will take some time, as my h2g2 participation isn't as intensive as it used to be, unfortunately.

Jeremy

I did like Monument Valley, although all I got to see of it was what you can see from the one road that goes through it. I think I got there at just the right time too - late afternoon. If I remember rightly, the road runs roughly SW to NE, so as I was heading north, the sun was getting low in the sky to my left, and the quality of the light plus the long shadows from the buttes made it quite breathtaking Even more so as I'd studied North America in A-level geography and had learned a lot about the formation of the area. I remember the scenery just south of Medicine Hat being especially beautiful.

Someday soon, maybe a couple of years, I'm going back to south east Utah with more time to spend there. I wish I could remember the name of the small town I drove through between Monument Valley and Moab... Bluff maybe? Yeah, I think it was Bluff. There's a small rock formation nearby called The Navajo Twins. Driving through there I experienced the most amazing sense of calm and peacefulness. There's one motel in Bluff I think, and I plan to stay there for a couple of days. I think I wrote down the name and phone number of it in my Rand McNally, but I don't have it any more.