Raenell Wynn Smith: 'Cat Tracks ... Monument Valley ... John Wayne Country ....

East and West Mitten Buttes, Monument Valley

A couple of years ago Jim and I planned an extended trip to see this beautiful country we live in. We always enjoy driving because (1) Jim wouldn’t get in a plane (although he is the airport manager here in Childress); and (2) we just enjoy the sights and adventures of driving ... sometimes taking unplanned detours, but always amazed at the wonders we encounter, the people we meet, and just what God has in store for us. We are never disappointed, but always in awe and are sometimes left speechless just to take it all in.

This time we were going to see John Wayne Country – Monument Valley, on the Utah/Arizona border. Jim and I are both great fans of John Wayne and have seen his movies multiple times, over and over. Good, clean entertainment when the TV fails to produce anything worth watching. As Jim was getting our schedule ready, preparing places to stay and events to see, we decided to stay a couple of nights at Monument Valley. FYI – there is only one hotel/motel located there. Albeit very nice and adequate to accommodate quite a lot of tourists, it just happened they were booked up. The lady told Jim that there were no rooms available. We were very disappointed and decided to check out the nearby alternative conveniences.


Eagle Nest, Monument Valley

We then got a call from the lady at Monument Valley telling us she had come upon an available accommodation for us, but that she wanted to tell us more about were we would stay. It so happens this small place has an airport… just a strip for landing and taking off to deliver tourists “who fly” to their destinations. This is located about a half-mile mile from the hotel/motel. The facilities were made available for pilots who stayed overnight or for extended lengths of time waiting on their guests, but it had not been booked so she asked if we would be interested.

She was amused by Jim’s answer. He then told her that he was manager of the airport here in Childress and that staying at the airport would be just fine, that although he worked in a hangar he had never spent the night in one --- yet. We expected nothing fancy, but we were pleasantly surprised by the facilities when we arrived. We felt like we were royalty. The “suite” was indeed more than adequate. We had our own kitchenette, bathroom, large bedroom with two Queen-size beds (comfort to die for) and a sitting room with all the essentials of entertainment. Besides the sleeping arrangements we had an unobstructed view of Monument Valley to our East where we were able watched the sunrise over the Valley in the mornings and the sunset over the mountains to the West in the evenings.


Merrick Butte, Monument Valley

We walked each morning to the hotel/motel for breakfast and each evening for dinner and decided we, as native Americans, were of a minority. People from all parts of the world were visiting, Dutch, German, French, Italian, and Orientals. The only people we could communicate with were each other and the restaurant employees. It was a most memorable experience.

We went on to travel to the Grand Canyon and then to Sedona, Arizona. We came back to Texas through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. We would certainly recommend Monument Valley to anyone who has not seen it and -- be adventurous! Don’t be afraid to step outside the usual and let God surprise you with the unexpected. He certainly did us. May you enjoy each day and take in all that is about you wherever you go.

Jim & Raenell


Sedona, Arizona