Moab on the Colorado River

It was a morning to catch up, make a run to the grocery store, do a little street walking and checking out a few shops on the main street.  We asked a shop owner about the best place for a good burger in town for lunch and without hesitation, he told us to go to "Milt's Stop and Eat."  We hopped in the truck and found it on a side street away from down town.  Great fun and good tasty burgers with fresh cut french fries.  Tiny place with two tables and a few bar stools, decor has not changed since the 60's. Was the place to be, it was full of satisfied people.

After we were all thoroughly stuffed, we decided to take a drive down hiway 128' a scenic road along the Colorado River.  More of that iconic Utah landscape.  Stopped at Red Cliff Lodge and toured thier little movie museum.  Interesting to hear about and see all the memorabelia from the many movies that were filmed over the years near Moab, many of them on the Red Cliff's property.  Latest one was the newest Lone Ranger with Johnney Depp.

   Will and I remembered being here at the Lodge in July of 2007, when we had a lovely romantic dinner to celebrate my 60'th birthday.

Its still a wonderful view from the dining room windows.

Dead Horse Point

This is Dead Horse Point State Park a few miles from Moab.  We freshened up after our morning hike and then went for a drive.  This is a grand view of a gooseneck of the Colorado River.  Long way down there!!  Every where you look is a dramatic view in Utah.  Geological time and distances out here are just too much for my brain to grasp.

They are mining Potash out there--so we are told.  Looks like a settling pond of some kind. Sure is big.

Arches

Ready for another day of hiking.  Jack and Wanda enjoy hiking as much as we do and we are pretty compatible on the trail.  A three or four hour hike is just about right.  Yesterdays amazing hike at Wild Horse slot canyon was hard to top but today's came mighty close.  They had done this one before a few years ago and remembered it as being memorable.  We went to the last parking lot in Arches NP to the Devil's Garden trailhead and did the trail to Double O Arch and then on around the "Primitive Trail." 

We had to get around a "tank" that was surrounded by slick rock.  Will is navigating pretty well.  Come my turn, I was not so graceful.  We all got to giggling so much I found myself in a compromising position that took some to get out of!  Just glad no one else had the camera--I didn't get wet!!

 

This is Landscape Arch.  They won't let you get up and under this one any longer as big chunk fell out of it several years ago.

A lot of this hike was scrambling over slick rock and out over the top of fins and boulders.  You just had to keep your eyes ahead looking for the next karn that marked the trail. 

Stopped for lunch in a sheltered spot, told the waiter we'd like a table with a view.  Pretty incredible.

Think we could see all the way to Colorado.

We are on top of the world here, previous picture is our view.  Not for anyone afraid of heights.When we finished we probably went 7.5 miles.

Goblins, Wild Horse Canyon and Moab

 

Moving day.  Up early and heading to Moab.  Beautiful Utah wherever we look.  But we have to stop along the way at Goblin Valley State Park to look at the "Hodoos".  Walked around the rock "garden" finding all kinds of animals and characters in the odd shaped eroded rocks.  We are bundled up as the wind was really icy.

 

this is the park where the scout master got in trouble recently for pushing one of these over and the incident went viral. 

 

Next stop was Wild Horse Canyon for a hike up a slot canyon. 

 

We hiked for about two hours and would have gone farther but we ran into a length of trail in the canyon that was under about 3 feet of water.  Some people were slogging through it--mostly teenagers--but we turned around and went back at that point.  No desire to get wet. 

Then it was time to scoot into Moab.  By this time the winds had come up and the last 100 miles were not an especially fun drive.  Cross winds made it a stressful trip.  But we made it ok and looking forward for warmer temperatures at this lower altitude.  The first person that complains about being too warm now is going to get a smack!!!

 

Capitol Reef

Was cold again this morning with some fresh snow.  But roads cleared off fast and we were on our way to Capitol Reef.

This is another amazing place.  Sun is shining now but that wind is still bitter.

Took a couple of short hikes, felt good to get out and view the incredible array of color in the landscape.  The snow on the Henry mountains in the distance gives it an other-worldly look.

 

Capitol Reef's main geological feature is the Waterpocket Fold, a name given to a huge uplift fault that occurred here gazillion years ago.  We hiked to find some of those small waterpockets--tanks created in the drainages by "kettles" in the rocks that trap water that a myriad of creatures use to survive in this harsh landscape.
 We are headed to Moab now where we hope we will find some warmer temperatures.

Bryce in the snow

We are so glad we did what we did yesterday in the warm (windy) sunshiine because we woke up to snow showers and darn-right cold temps!  Hung around camp for a late breakfast of breakfast burritos and then went back to Bryce to check out visitors center and some quick looks at some overlooks and the photo ops of snow in the canyon.  Too cold for any leisurly hiking around.  Still managed to use up the day.  Wanda made a seafood chowder for dinner and we dined in style.  Perfect night for it.  We will be unhooking our water pipes tonight as temps expected in the mid 20's.  This winter storm is suppose to be short lived and pass thru quickly so hoping we will be back in warmer temps tomorrow.

Horseback Ride in Bryce Canyon

We moved this morning to Bryce Canyon National Park.  We stayed in an RV park outside the Park because we needed hook ups here as the temperatures are near freezing at night and I want to use the furnace.  And my electric blanket.

  We called ahead and reserved a trail ride in Bryce Canyon and arrived just in time to make our reservation.  Was hands down the most scenic horseback ride we have ever been on.  Our first glimpse of the canyon was on the trail and was a spectacular way to see it.  Its just a down right amazing place anyway.

I'm bonding with my horse, Lucky Strike.  He was great.

Sand, Springs, Scenery

We went exploring today.  First stop was Pink Coral Sand Dunes State Park.  

We enjoyed hiking around the dunes and the short nature trail that taught us all about how these dunes got here and the the flora and fauna that live here.  It is the finest sand I have ever seen--I wanted to take some home with me.  Don't know what I would do with it, but it is cool stuff.  And very pretty pink sand.

Then made our way back across the border to Arizona to visit Pipe Springs National Monument.

This was Paiute Indian country until a Morman settlement was established here by the important water source.  It grew into a large church sponsored ranch where tithes of cattle were received from area Morman ranchers.  Butter, cheese were produced and cattle raised to support the new Morman temple being built in St George.  This later became a hideout for polygamous wives when it became a felony for men in Utah to have plural wives.  Interesting that the infamous town of Colorado City is not far from here where a Morman-fringe group still resides.  I am thinking that leader is still in jail on charges of abuse.

Made our way back on a byway that was recommended by park ranger at the Dunes.  Interesting what you find when you ask a local what there is to see.  We found this ghost town and cemetery.  Also from Morman settlement days.  So many graves of children.  One family lost 5 children to Diptheria in less than a month.  Other people died of Indian attacks.  Life was hard for these pioneers.

And just before we got back to camp we spied a herd of 16 Big Horned Sheep.

Zion

It was cold this morning, good morning for a driving tour to the Kolab Canyon part of Zion.  You have to drive out of the park and reenter on the far northwest side maybe a 40 mile drive.  Neither of us had been there before to see that part of the park.  Beautiful hanging valleys, canyon views and sandstone cliffs.

By the time we got back to Zion proper it was warm enough for a hike.  Jack and Wanda suggested a great one--Angels Landing.  Its probably the most famous hike in Zion and for good reason.  It switch backs all the way up to the top of a huge tall mesa called Angels Landing for some incredible views of the valley below.  Wanda and I went all but the last half mile where the trail stops and continues up the slip rock along a system of chains bolted into the rock to hang onto to get to the very top.  The guys went all the way up and were pretty proud of themselves!

That little white stick, and that little orange stick is Will and Jack up on the very top.  Now they have to get down.

We saw these guys along the entry road this morning.