The Beehive State, aka Utah.

Trip Start Oct 23, 2007
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of United States  , Utah,
Monday, November 19, 2007

First of all, sorry folks for taking so long on getting this going again.  This entry has to do with our drive to Utah and the time spent there.  We left Boulder, CO on Tuesday morning.  Now one must understand that the weather was pleasant and warm there.  The fact that I (John) was wearing shorts and flip-flops was not a big deal.  Something else one must understand is that I have never driven through the Rocky Mountains in late October.  Call me naive or ignorant, but for some reason I was not thinking snow.  Obviously I should have; and not just some snow, but A LOT of snow.  The situation was not helped by the fact that the tiny engine in our car was ready to kick both of us in the shins.  We had driven 2/3's of the way across the country and now we were ascending the largest mountains in North America.  Did you know that a loaded down 4Runner will only do 50mph in fourth gear going up those mountains?  Neither did I until it happened.  We were driving along smoothly when all of a sudden, traffic stopped 50 mph
50 mph
 .  Apparently, there was and accident inside a tunnel.  We sat in stopped traffic, in the snow, in shorts and flip-flops, at 12,000 ft. for about an hour.  One could guess as to how awesome that was.  Now Asheville is in the mountains but not 12,000 ft.  Just sitting there we had occasional trouble breathing.  This was all soon over, because my trusty navigator noticed a mountain pass that went around the tunnel.  But it also went on a windy, two lane road that was 1000 ft. higher.  And I believe we all know what that means...more snow.  Now I fancy myself a mountain driver, but I am forced to say I may have resembled a Floridian going over that pass.  I am so ashamed.  On the other side of the pass, traffic was moving again so we filled up and began phase two of our trip to Utah. 
We drove through Vale (nothing to sneeze about) and then down the mountain(s).  It was a supremely paculiar day.  About and hour and a half after driving through Vale, we were in the desert.  Snow to desert in the same day...very strange.  This was however, our favorite part of the trip.  I saw red rocks, plateaus, and tumbleweeds...all things I had never seen before.  It was amazing.  There was also a sudden and profound sense of praise for God who we deemed the Ultimate Artist.  My words do not do it justice; the pictures will have to do.  Our destination was Moab, UT, which is between Arches Nat'l Park and Canyonlands Nat'l Park.  After following the Colorado River for about 20 miles we came to Arches, which was our first stop Another Canyon
Another Canyon
 .  After having to avoid a baby mountain goat, we headed to the Delicate Arch.  Of the five days in a row that we went hiking, this was my favorite place.  It was beautiful the way such blue sky shown against such red rock formations.  Lauren and I were able to hike around a good bit and get lot of different views.  The Delicate Arch is great because it sneaks up on you.  Kind of the way the Biltmore house does.  You go around all these different turns and then you are suddenly blasted with the view of this one lone arch and deep in the background is the snow-capped peak of the highest mountain in Utah.  Spectacular!!! 
That night we got a hotel room for the first time on the trip.  Thank you to all our friends and family.  Thank You.  The next morning we slept in for a little bit and then hit the road for Canyonlands.  The park is literally land with a bunch of canyons.  Not really fond of the name.  I thought something like Canyon-Great or Super-Canyon or Canyons-R-Us would be better.  (Shout out to my boy Michael Scott).  This was Lauren's favorite place we hiked.  It was also awesome.  The rocks were rouned like one would see in a creek or river, except these are gargantuan.  We hiked to a spot called the Needles.  They were tall and narrow rock formations all grouped together.  I do not know why, but it remined me of the Jungle Book.  I am rediculous.  
In terms of all the states we visited, Utah was our favorite.  I know, I know.  Most of you are thinking, "What about Nebraska?"  It was a close call, but Utah won out by a nose.  Our next stop was Flagstaff, AZ at Lauren's Aunt's house and the Grand Canyon. 
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