Sunday, August 30, 2009

My Town Monday: Rainbow Bridge, UT

A photo of Rainbow Bridge taken with my camera. So....I guess the guy in the electronics section at Costco was right to change my settings. A blanket apology to everyone whose picture I took with the whacked-out settings. I did not mean to give you scaly, reptilian skin and then post your photo on blogger and facebook!

A few fun facts about the RAINBOW Bridge National Monument (surely you saw the colored letters coming!):

-It is the largest natural bridge in the world (290 feet high, 270 feet across). It is nearly as tall as the Statue of Liberty (which I have never seen) and the US Capitol Building Dome will almost fit under the arch.
-It is formed of two types of sandstone (Navajo Sandstone for the bridge part and Kayenta Sandstone for the base)
-The bridge itself is about 200 millions years old
-The bridge was formed by water flowing off the Navajo Mountain and cutting a course through the sandstone on its way to the Colorado River. This same process along with some weathering will eventually cause the demise of the bridge.
-The bridge is considered sacred by the Navajo Indians because it symbolizes the gods of cloud making, rainbows and rain. You can just imagine how important water is in the desert.

-There are many many more facts, but I can already feel your collective bloggy fade!

Me with a couple of my kids. I am the woman in the yellow hat. (Who has obviously read too many Curious George books!)



Me and my good friend, Eileen. She is the woman in the yellow beach cover-up.



On this hike back to the floating dock where our boat is parked, Child #2 piggybacks Child #4 because she STUBBED HER ROYAL TOE. Yes, every family deserves a princess.

There is a picture missing. A picture I never took. Why? BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THERE WAS A DILOPHOSAURUS DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT FIFTEEN SMALL YARDS TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRAIL NEXT TO THE BRIDGE! I am so annoyed with myself.

And I'm seeing a disturbing pattern: I eat sushi across from Keanu Reeves, but don't see him! I'm a few yards away from a real live dinosaur footprint, but I don't see it! I think we'll all feel better if I get with the program and start NOTICING THINGS. End of rant.

For links to the other MTM participants, please head over to our My Town Monday blog which was set up by the lovely and talented Clair Dickson.

Sources: my own camera (on its proper settings)
Eileen's fancy schmancy camera
http://www.nps.gov/rabr/faqs.htm
http://www.utah.com/nationalsites/rainbow_bridge.htm
http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/rainbow-bridge-national-monument.htm

27 comments:

  1. Wow! What setting is THAT!

    Lovely, Yellow Hat

    Aloha-

    Comfort Spiral

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  2. Wow! That's gorgeous, Barrie! I'm definitely putting that on my must-see list!

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  3. I always thought Rainbow Bridge was where animals go when they pass away and frolic and play with the other animals. To find out that there is a Rainbow Bridge within view, wow! Loved the pictures. They are beautiful.

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  4. I love that area - sounds like you had a blast and that yellow was the color to wear. You are way too funny! Love the things you "don't" see. LOL!

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  5. Hi, thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting today. I love your photos. Thanks for sharing. I take so much the area that I live in, that every now and then I have to be reminded that there is a old other world out there in the west. Hope you have a great day!

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  6. Keanu and the dinosaur print? That's why it's best to travel in a group - extra pairs of eyes.
    Awesome bridge!

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  7. That is beautiful! Do they let people hike across the bridge or is that a no-no?

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  8. Those are great pictures! Too bad you missed the dinosaur footprint. That would made a great picture! I guess that just gives you an excuse to go back there, though, right?

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  9. Since I can't take off for the awesome Rainbow Bridge at the moment, I'm thanking you with a virtual "Ah!" Lovely.

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  10. Hi Barrie,

    In case you did not see it, I did a MTM post about the Statue of Libetry last June. Here is the link.

    http://www.womenofmystery.net/2009/06/mtm-statue-of-liberty.html

    Terrie

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  11. It's beautiful. I didn't realize it was so big!

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  12. You give all the descriptions, and I still can't make sense of it or see it as being as immense as it must be in person. Distances and sizes are so deceptive in landscapes like this, but beautiful.

    P.S. I'm the one who never notices hippo attacks or celebrities either. For me, it's because I'm often lost in my own mental creations and reality can be too distracting : )

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  13. Great pictures, Barrie. I'm so glad your camera got fixed. The Rainbow Bridge is spectacular, and now you have an excuse to return: "I need a picture of the dinosaur footprint!"

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  14. great shot of the bridge, I love your informational blurbs--and the hat works too.

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  15. Utah is so gorgeous. I have never been to the rainbow bridge, but if I do go, I'll remember to look for the dinosaur print. Thanks for the tip!

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  16. I love seeing things like the rainbow bridge in person pictures just can't capture how amazing they are.

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  17. Beautiful pictures! *sniff* Reminds me of home. :D

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  18. This is very cool, Barrie. I miss MTM and hope that my life calms down enough for me to get back on board :-)

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  19. wow...so so cool..

    looks like awsome fun!!

    shraddha

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  20. I miss stuff all the time. It's like I'm mostly blind. Glad you're liking Utah! I like this state, too. :D

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  21. You bare absolutely no resemblence to The Man in the Yellow Hat. Just thought I'd clarify.

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  22. What stunning scenery! How nice of one child to carry the other. I never notice things either - I think writers spend too much time inside their heads.

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  23. Barrie I like your town!!! Thanks for sharing, this is neat post type. Anna :)

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  24. Lovely photos, and I love your humourous comments, especially about Kenu Reeves. I've done the same thing here in Toronto with Harrison Ford and Tom Selleck, oblivious until a friend points it out to me.

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Comments are always welcome!