Moab
Trip Start
Jun 08, 2008
1
11
16
Trip End
Jun 20, 2008
Moab,
Utah,
United States
Monday, June 16, 2008
We were able to get some cell phone coverage and touched base with a couple of family members. That was great!
The temps on this leg were up to 100. We saw something we haven't seen before...a dust storm warning sign. There was a three mile section of highway where dust storm warnings were posted. As we have never experienced a dust storm, that was a novelty. If one hit, we were advised to drop our speed to 30 and not stop...yeah, right! LOL
As we made such great time in our travels to Moab, we stopped at the Canyonlands National Park on the way into Moab. We were in the Island in the Sky section. Amazing scenery, wonderful vistas, and, well, you've heard it all before. Too beautiful to put into words.
There was an arch (Mesa Arch) at this park with a "short" walk of a mile, easy paths, etc. I was feeling spunky and decided I could withstand the heat and go for it. And I made it...barely! This arch was so cool. We were able to walk right up to it. Through it you looked down a thousand feet to the bottom of the canyon. We were also able to see another arch in the distance.
On the way to the arch, we were reminded of how important it is to never underestimate the heat. We came upon a woman prone on the ground with her traveling companions around her. They were shielding her with an umbrella. We offered our water and cell phone for 911, but they had water and had already contacted the park rangers for help. Within 10 minutes we heard sirens and somehow, I can't imagine how, they got her off that steep path and got her some help.
After that adventure, we turned the a/c on full blast and traveled to the Grand View point and saw...well, a Grand View! It was quick trip to the rim for the both of us and then back into the a/c and on to Moab. At Grand View, we were able to stand in the searing heat and look out at mountain across the way which was over 10,000 feet and covered with snow. Guess where I wished I was standing at that point? Yep, the snow! LOL
As we were coming into Moab, we saw the entrance for Arches National Park and a bridge which crossed the Colorado River. We decided to wait to tour Arches until later in the evening when it was cooler. That proved to be a very good choice!
We checked into our hotel and went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. A man we had met at Fruita/Capitol Reef recommended this restaurant to us. What a great recommendation! I have baked rigatoni (enough to feed 3 people) and Joe had chicken cannelloni. We were both stuffed and very pleased with the service and meal. Jay's Pasta is a place to try if you are ever in Moab!
Moab is a very sport-oriented city. Everywhere you look, there's rock climbing companies, biking tours, jeep tours, etc. It is filled with lots of specialty shops (expensive) and young people. It is a city full of energy.
After dinner we walked over the Colorado River via a new bridge opened in May, 2008. It is bordered by tall chocolate brown cliffs on both sides.
We then hit Arches National Park. We arrived about 6:30 p.m. to find the visitors' center already closed...um, I need maps to travel...now what? We ventured out into the park without a map. Granted, there are many signs in the park to guide people, but we were trying to maximize our viewing of arches with the daylight left.
We stopped at Balanced Rock which is exactly that...the largest round rock I've ever seen balanced on a thin straight rock. It is amazing. Erosion has created it, but looking at it you would swear an alien space ship dropped this rock where it is just to baffle us earthlings.
We drove next to the one of the most famous arches ever, Delicate Arch. We didn't have enough time to do the round trip three-mile hike to stand under it, so we went to the lower viewing area and saw it from a distance. Pretty impressive no matter how close you are to it!
All through the parks are signs warning of flash floods. We had noticed some dark clouds building and decided to call it a day. We stopped to take some pictures of a nearly full moon over the landscape when we were treated to the spectacular sight of lighting across the sky. WOW! Then it started to rain...okay, time to leave. All those warnings of flash floods were going through my mind. It sprinkled just enough to wet the windshield, but the wind kicked up and we were in the middle of a real dust storm! Ha, good thing I read those signs about how to survive being in a dust storm! LOL Our car's windshield was even hit by a tumbleweed being blown down the road! Right out of the wild west! LOL
Tomorrow is Arches again to finish up there and then off to Bluff, Utah.
