Day 4:
After staying through the sunrise, I decided it was finally time to leave the Grand Canyon and head toward my next direction, Four Corners, USA. But as I was leaving the park, I had the brilliant epiphany of trying to sell my park pass, which was good for 7 days, and decided to maneuver just outside the park gates in hopes of stopping a passing car. Now, although the thought may have been a nice one, the actual act of getting tourists to 1. stop the car and 2. trust you enough to purchase a ticket, quickly became apparent as car after car passed me. I quickly felt like some kind of con artist as I stood by the side of the road, waving my arm out as cars passed by. It's funny how jaded society has become that most people won't even stop for a young girl parked on the side of the road. What if I had needed help!
After 20 minutes, 2 No's, and a lot of cars passing by, I decided to be a good Samaritan and make someones day by giving away the ticket. Another 15 minutes passed, more cars flying by, and finally I gave up hope. As I started my car back up and headed down the road, I kept having the strange urge to flag down every passing car on the side of the road, or putting up a sign in my windshield saying "free Grand Canyon pass!" It's funny how even trying to be nice can be hard work sometimes!
I set my GPS for Four Corners, USA, said my silent goodbye to the Grand Canyon, and headed off into the desert.
2 hours of nothing but dryness. Have I mentioned how much I HATE the desert? It's so desolate and depressing. I could feel myself starting to get anxious again. Four Corners was coming up and I was more than happy to get out of the car, take my pictures, and get out of the barrenness. I pulled up to the entrance and was surprised to see a rickety station with a sign requesting an entrance fee. I was expecting some podium on a spot of land! It's amazing what people will charge for. I paid the entrance fee and headed inside, you only get the chance once to be in 4 places at the same time! The monument itself is a large cement platform with all four states reaching one round center. Each state flag is flying high around the platform as well. It really is a cool sensation once you get past the fact that it's literally in the middle of nowhere! Around the monument were more rickety shacks boasting Indian fry bread and genuine Indian pottery and jewelery. I couldn't help but feel somewhat sad for this lost culture, still suppressed and banned to live in the most barren parts of the country!
I took my pictures and quickly hopped back in the car, ready to head to some civilization with thoughts of a shower and huge bed swimming through my head!
The Farmington Marriott proved to be more than adequate. Road trip luxury! I took my time in the shower, had an amazing dinner of New Mexico tortilla soup (a must have!) , and sat by the fireplace in the lobby sipping hot cocoa while uploading my pictures from the day. Once again, I basked in the glow of life's simple pleasures, thinking of the giant bed awaiting me that I would have all to myself. A girl can only feel so lucky! I was so enamored and thankful for a good night's sleep, that I overslept. Now if only time could be slowed down too in order to take full advantage of each moment! On to Colorado and the ancient dwellings of Mesa Verde....
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