Day 18 – We went off-roading

I took a couple of pictures of the view we have from our camper.  Looking one direction you see the La Sal Mountains, turning to the right is the wall of a canyon.  We have enjoyed our stay in Moab so much we extended our stay for two more nights.

Rick wanted to drive the canyon floor by the Elbow Bend in the Colorado River we saw from Dead Horse Point, so we took off around 10:30.  We turned off the main highway on to a paved road – Potash Road.  The first thing we came to were people climbing the bluffs beside the road.

 

In the same area are some Indian paintings on the stones.  There are two groups of paintings on these bluffs marked by state signs.

Soon the pavement ended and we were on dirt road.  From Dead Horse Point State Park we had seen some salt evaporation ponds – they force water below ground into salt deposits and then pump the water back to the surface into ponds were the salt is recovered after the water evaporates.  We had to drive around the ponds – the sign said it was five miles but it seemed longer.

On canyon floor

From Dead Horse Point State Park

We had a few rough spots to go over, but it was mainly on the floor of the canyon.  At one spot Dorrie took this picture of a rock she said looks like a butterfly with its wings up.

Dorrie's butterfly rock, even can see the small head  on the right side

We were passed by a motorcycle and met another SUV going the other way.  Finally we got to the bend.  Even on the canyon floor the river was about 150 yards below us.  It was a cool sight.

From the canyon floor

From Dead Horse Point State Park overview

We continued on the Jeep trail and the going got much rougher as we started the climb up the canyon wall.  We went up about 2,000 feet and ended up in Canyonlands National Park.

 

Just a note, we may be in areas where I will not be able to post daily.  In fact when we move from here we may stay in a campground that does not have cellphone, TV or WiFi reception. 

Day 17 – Down Day

This was our down day.  Since leaving home we seem to have been either moving to a new location or out sightseeing.  We did laundry, cleaned floors, washed the windshield, and bought more supplies.

Dorrie and I were at the camper after finishing our laundry when Mary called to say the Schwan Man was up at the office.  We went up and purchased almost $50 of frozen foods.  We each had a individual pizza for lunch – we love those little pizzas. 

Rick talked to someone who suggested a Jeep trail to take into the canyon near Dead Horse Point, so we will try that tomorrow.

Sorry for the boring report today, but we needed a day like this and most likely will have them from time to time.

Day 16 – Canyonlands National Park

The wind howled all night and morning was overcast and cool – about 54 degrees.  I remember looking at the weather app on my phone and it said Fenton was 34 and Moab was 54.  The picture below shows the wind blowing the flag at Dead Horse State Park.

We went to Canyonlands National Park via the north entrance and drove towards the Upheaval Dome.  We stopped at a few viewpoints after driving onto the Island in the Sky area.  You enter the Island in the Sky by driving over an area they call The Neck – a narrow strip of land just wide enough for two cars to cross with a small shoulder on each side.

The Neck

We walked back to Mesa Arch – an impressive arch with the view of the Washer Woman Arch through the Mesa Arch.  The walk was .6 mile long at around 6,000 feet above sea level, with the  wind blowing up the red sand that is all over the area.

Mesa Arch

Washer Woman Arch seen thru Mesa Arch

Close up go Washer Woman Arch

Next stop was Upheaval Dome, reached by a .3 mile walk one way.  Dorrie had it with the wind and sandblasting, so Rick and I set out to see the Upheaval Dome.  The path was straight up, or so it seemed.  The park service placed stones to create steps, but at times the steps were 15 to 18 inches high.  By the time we got to the first viewing point I was huffing and puffing like a steam engine.  And did we see?

 

I don’t think it was worth the climb.  And going down was just as hard as going up.  Next we drove to the Green River Overlook – photos below.

 

Next stop was Grand View Overlook – more photos.

 

Leaving the park we went to Dead Horse Point State Park.  The park got its name when wranglers herded some wild horses onto the point of land that had a narrow land strip leading to the point.  They would block the narrow point to trap the horses so they were easier to capture.  At one time the wranglers forgot to return in time and there is no water on the point, so the horses died.  There are some great views of the Colorado River from the park as shown below.

Horse Shoe Bend in Colorado River

Day 15 – Arches National Park

We went to the Arches National Park today.  I don’t have words to describe the landscape and the pictures cannot capture the beauty so I am just going to let you view some pictures.  I will say it was a really great day – the sky was blue without a cloud and the temperature got up to 70 degrees.  If I know the name of the structure, I will include it but I will not know all of them.

Three Gossips

Sheep Rock

Balanced Rock

 

North and South Window

North Window

We named this St. Francis, with animal on shoulder

South Window

La Sal Mountains seen from the South Window

Tunnel Arch

Pine Tree Arch

The most famous - Delicate Arch

Turret Arch

Skyline Arch