Independence Monument

... last year decided he wanted to go again this year and I decided to join him, which means this will now be a roughly six-month trip, with stops added in Bisti Badlands, Page, AZ, Monument Valley, Death Valley, the San Francisco Bay area and Maker Faire.

... we were from. While there are some igneous rocks at lower points in the valley, the spectacular rock formations, including Independence Monument, are red sandstone.  If one looks closely one can see the different layers of sediment that were ...

... were close to the campground.  We walked the Window Rock Trail then on to Bookcliff Shelter with great views of Independence Monument in Wedding Canyon, where John Otto the founder and first caretaker of the park was married.  Then we walked ...

   Along the way, we had passed the Independence Monument again and it was so beautifully lit up. I immediately told the guide to pull over and rushed to take some nice pictures. I 'rushed' because it was raining but definitely satisfying ...

... killing more time and staying out the midday heat waiting for the palace to open at 2pm. The road led to the Independence Monument which was a giant pineapple shaped stone structure set in a traffic roundabout. Crossing the street to the rear was Wat ...

... and ice cream. Oh, so good! Town is quiet on a Sunday night and we sleep peacefully. Day 86: In the morning, we hitch from Independence to Bishop with Lee, a guy who used to guide with a friend of ours -- what a small world. Lee drops us off at Dennys ...

... evening of the 3rd.  We had ringside seats.  The next morning we hiked with our dogs to the overlook of Independence Monument.  It is a monolith shooting straight up for 500 feet.  Well, two dozen rock climbers scaled it with a flag ...

... with canyons more than 500 feet deep.  Many unusual formations were created by erosion.  Isolated monoliths include Independence Monument and Balanced Rock.  Juniper and pinyon pine comprise the chief forest cover with yucca and wildflowers ...

... it being so close to the royal palace but it was very pleasant nonetheless. We walked down through the park to the Independence monument. Apart from a few flowers set around the bottom and a solitary guard in the middle there was nothing happening. I'd ...

... or so to the main overlook.  I ended up sitting on top of the canyon wall a little to the south and east of Independence Monument.  That gave me a great view of the east face of the Monument.  I believe it rises some 450 feet from the ...

... of the sites. But, the good news is that not much time is needed to see the “crown jewels” of the Independence National Historic Park. Tom managed to find a parking spot that was only a block from Independence Hall. We rushed over to the hall ...

... Canadians celebrate. Especially our Canada Day. I know that our Canada Day has a lot less emotional significance that the Latvians Independence Day, but the most celebrating I'd heard all day was a few whistles from the crowd during the fireworks, and a ...

... inside As described by LP, 'a vast beaux-arts-style chateau originally built to house the French colonial governor. After independence King Sisavang Vong (and later his son Sisavang Vatthana) of Luang Prabang used it as a residence when visiting ...

... a morning metro to the National Archives, current home of U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and of course, the Declaration of Independence.  I would highly recommend venturing inside for anyone that plans to visit.  They have so much to see, ...