Four Corners Monument (4-Bagger)

You've heard of a 2-fer?  Well this is a 4-bagger.  Yep, four states in one visit.  So even though it is a kitschy, touristy thing to do, we wanted to do it anyways -- because, well, we're tourists after all, and we're not above kitsch ;-)

Four Corners Monument, intersection of UT, CO, AZ, and NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Clever People, intersection of UT, CO, AZ, and NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Couple of Tourists, intersection of UT, CO, AZ, and NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

And One Clown, intersection of UT, CO, AZ, and NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

So after taking the maximum three photos (keep it moving people), and buying a few trinkets from the Navajo artisans that sell their wares at the monument, we were on our way toward Glen Canyon Recreation Area, where we read about a good boondocking location.

Heading Out, intersection of UT, CO, AZ, NM, and RT 160, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Interesting Landscape, RT 160, Navajo Territory, AZ, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Colorful River Bed, RT 160, Navajo Territory, AZ, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Coal-Fired Power Plant?, Navajo Territory, Page, AZ, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Glen Canyon Dam, Page, AZ, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

We noticed a large coal-mining operation as we were driving through Navajo territory, and sure enough, there is a railroad that runs between the mine and the coal-fired power plant pictured above.  It is not an attractive sight, and there is some hope that it might not be in operation much longer.

It was surprising to us, given the hydro-power from the Glen Canyon Dam (just a few miles away), and of course the potential of solar power in this part of the US.  Oh well, I guess in the end it is mostly an economic decision (coal is currently more costly than natural gas), since the EPA certainly won't be applying pressure from the current administration.

Now, about that good boondocking location ...