Next stop and we’re in Moab where we’ve been many times before. With its close proximity to both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, it is one of our favorite places in the Southwest. On our last trip here in the fall of ’06 we were caught in a severe thunderstorm when we attempted to photograph Delicate Arch at sunset. Read about it here: http://tinyurl.com/43n8ud This time the weather cooperated and we managed to get some good photographs of the arch in the late afternoon glow.

DELICATE ARCH







A POPULAR PLACE AT SUNSET

Another reason for coming to Moab is the abundance of 4-WD trails. With names like, Steel Bender, Metal Masher, Cliff Hanger and Hell’s Revenge you immediately get the idea that some of these trails just might be a tad bit difficult and evidenced in this video: http://tinyurl.com/4j579d We opted to try out some of the more tame ones given our desire to drive home in the same car we arrived in. One of those roads took us to Gemini Bridges, set of natural stone bridges, while another took us into the La Sal Mountains for some striking fall color.

PUCKER PASS

THAT'S CATHIE OUT THERE

IN THE LA SAL MOUNTIANS

We managed to get in a great hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, south of Moab. We hiked to an area called Chesler Park, a 6 mile round trip hike with some really striking scenery. It rained on us some during this hike, and the forecast was calling for rain over the next several days.

CHESLER PARK

CHESLER PARK

When we arrived back in Moab and the cell phone started working, we were notified that Cathie’s mother was in the hospital in San Diego. After several phone calls we learned that she was in the ICU at Kaiser Hospital and we decided to head for home. The next morning we hit the road at 5:30 AM arriving in San Diego about 8 PM. Although it was touch and go, Cathie’s Mom now appears to be out of the woods.

Not ones to let a little emergency put a total kibosh on things, we intend on returning to Utah once everything is OK on the home front.