My ass hurts from all that driving

I'm back. Hurrah! I missed all of you terribly. The trip was fun, and I definitely want to go back again, but it feels good to be home.

We left early Monday morning and drove all the way to Page, Arizona. As we pull into the restaurant in Page, my car starts making a god awful noise, and I'm thinking "Shit, there goes the vacation". Kendall makes me stick my finger through the hubcaps and feel if there is any pad left on my brakes. All I feel is HOT metal. So we see a Big O tire, and it's only 4:00 p.m. Arizona time, so we decide to try and get them fixed pronto.

We walk into Big O and wait at the counter. And we wait, and we wait, and we wait. I'm all for going to eat, and try again in the morning, but Ken wants to get them fixed NOW, so he marches through the EMPLOYEES ONLY door to the garage. I can only hear his side of the conversation but it goes something like this.
Ken: I need my brakes fixed today
Big O dude: mumble mumble mumble
Ken: You don't look busy
Big O dude: mumble mumble
Ken: I need to speak to your boss
Big O dude: mumble mumble (a note of distress in his voice)
Ken: What is your boss's number, I'll call him at home
Big O dude: mumble mumble!
Ken: You bet your ass I'll call him at home, now what is his number
Big O dude: mumble, mumble mumble (a note of resignation in his voice)
Ken: Hey, thanks man, I really appreciate it.

Ken then sticks his head back into the waiting area, and tells me to pull my car around, they were going to fix my brakes right now. Thirty minutes later, we had new brakes. Ken supervised the entire installation, making sure it was done correctly, then tipped the guy $10 after it was all finished. Sometimes it is nice to have a pushy man around to get things done. I would have never dared to walk into the garage and threaten the mechanics into submission.

We left Page and drove to Navajo National Monument. I hiked around there, looking at petroglyphs and Anasazi ruins while Ken stayed with the dog (who was not allowed on the trail). This arrangement pleased everyone because Ken doesn't like to hike, and I don't like to hear him complain when I force him to hike. When I got off the trail, I purchased a Navajo cookbook from the gift shop, and am looking forward to making fry bread. I can also now cook a prairie dog, as there is a recipe for that in the book, but as the Utah Prairie dog is an endangered species, I don't think I should try that dish just yet.

Then, on to Monument Valley proper, stopping at all the Native American vendor booths all along the way. We must have stopped fifty times, and I eventually purchased a beautiful silver bracelet. Again, Kendall sprung into action, haggling with the vendor. Summary of the conversation follows.
Kodi: How much for this bracelet?
Native American woman: $65.00
Kendall: We'll give you $30.00
Native American: I can let it go for $55.00
Kendall: $35.00
Native American: $50.00
Kendall: All I have is $40.00. That's as high as I can go.
Native American: okay

I was blushing the entire time. I hate when Kendall haggles with people. He grew up in this area, and he tells me the Native Americans expect you to haggle with them. I don't know about that, it seems somewhat like taking advantage of them, but Ken says that haggling is part of their culture.

Monument Valley was stunning. I know this is a cliche, but it was truly breathtaking. I can't wait to post the pictures I have of it, though I really don't think they will do the place justice.

We spent the next night in Mexican Hat, then toured around Hovenweap for a few hours, which was very cool AND they allow dogs on the trail. I pondered on going to Mesa Verde, but Kendall wanted to head back to Page and head home the next day. I decided that Mesa Verde could wait. We had seen so much already, so we decided to head back.

Now I'm here, a day early and very happy to be home and sleeping in my own bed tonight. I'll post pictures soon.