MORE MOAB

Sunday was Mother's Day and it had started raining the evening before.  It rained all night and for most of the day.  Almost 2 inches of rain and lots of snow in the La Sal Mtns above Moab.  The weather kept us inside for most of the day.

The next day, Monday was cloudy and cold but we were determined to get out.  We picked a easy graded road through the Sand Flats off road area.  A BLM operated fee area with campsites and lots of trails to explore by bike, ATV or 4-wheel drive.  As we were just passing through, we escaped the fee.  Our chosen route started to gain elevation heading up into the La Sals.  We started encountering snow and muddy conditions.  We came to a spur road leading to a viewpoint but it looked real muddy. Then along came a ranger who turned down the muddy track.  Well, we figured they must know the road was passable so we followed.  Big mistake.   What a mess with deep muddy ruts and slippery conditions.  At times we were going sideways.  Never made it to the viewpoint and barely managed to get turned around.  No photos as we had to keep moving.

JEEPS IN THE OFF ROAD AREA

NICE SNOW PATTERN

THE MUD

Later at the self car wash there was so much mud in the washing bay, we need 4-wheel drive just to get out of there.

Last year while in Moab, we met Don and Dorothy from Alabama who were camping next to us.  At that time we camped with them for several days and made new friends.  Well there here in Moab again so we hooked up with the for dinner at our townhome.  Turns out that they had recently purchased a new Jeep Rubicon so we figured that they should tag along with us on our excursions in case we needed to be rescued.  So the next day we met up and explored Hidden Canyon and Bartlett Wash. Nice semi changeling route through sandy washes with some rocky sections.  A very beautiful area.

PIT STOP, EVERONE'S FINDING A SPOT

THE BOYS

THE GIRLS

HIDDEN CANYON

We stopped and to a walk up Hidden Canyon.  My guide book said you could drive up the canyon to make a loop, but not so anymore.  Guess it's time for a new guide book. Beautifu narrow canyon with flowers blooming.

On the way back down the canyon, Diane spotted two owls in a tree that had watched us walk up the canyon.  Pays to keep your eyes open.

Last stop on the trip was Thusher Tunner, a natrual crack in the rock wall passing through to another canyon.

TUNNEL ENTRANCE

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

THE EXIT

See Don and Dorothy's blog TRAVELING DOROTHY

To be continued...............

ON TO MOAB

A week after the toenail incident I am now able to put on my shoes, but the hiking boots are still not in use.  It's disappointing as that was one of the main reasons for this trip.

We left Zion and headed east on the very scenic Hwy 12 to Torrey, Utah.  The original plan was to spend one night in motel in Torrey then a night in Capitol Reef National Park.  Due to the toe and the weather forecast, we opted for both nights at the motel. Good choice as we had cold temps with rain and snow.  We did do some exploring in the 4-runner.

CROSSING THE FREMONT RIVER

STORM CLOUDS

Next the plan was to take a hike into Horseshoe Canyon  but now that was out of the question we opted to camp at Goblin Valley State Park.   We arrived early in order to get a campsite at this very popular park.

 CAMP VISITOR

The next morning, after a restful night, and breakfast of blueberry pancakes, we packed up the 4-runner and headed to Moab.  We are renting this townhome and sharing the digs with friends Gary and Diane.  After settling in, we planed our first excursion into red rock country.  In case you didn't know, the Moab area is a mecca for mountain biking, river rafting, the Colorado River runs through town, and 4- wheel driving.  The region is crisscrossed with off road trails ranging from easy graded county roads to others with names like, Steel Bender and Metal Masher.  We opt for the ones on the easy end of the scale.

First up was Gemini Bridges and twin rock bridge very popular with both bikes and off road vehicles.

On way to Gemini Bridges we were climbing a rocky and steep road when we were passed by a mountain biker.  These guys are tough.

After the bridges we headed down Pucker Pass into Long Canyon before heading up Onion Creek

PUCKER PASS

LONG CANYON

ONION CREEK

And that' just the first day.

On a different subject, I have been following a blog for 5 years now about a man, Ara and his dog, Spirit, who travel the country on his BMW motorcycle and side car.  I especially like his photography.  Anyway over the year we have crossed paths, but never running into him.  Well the other day after reading his blog and discovering he was in Moab I thought we might run into him.  As luck would have it I saw him approaching us at and intersection, so I flagged him down.  We introduced ourselves and had a nice conversation with him on the side of the road.  You can check out his blog Here.  

To be continued.....

FIRST STOP, ZION

As is our custom when we hit the road, we were up early and pulling out of the driveway at 4 am.  After a stop for breakfast in Victorville we traded off driving and arrived in Zion right at 2 pm.  We set up camp in the Watchmen Campground, where a reservation is a must at this time of the year.

We have a 4 inch foam pad that fills the whole floor of the tent and is really comfortable.  After the early start and long drive we slept soundly.

Up early the next morning and after breakfast we headed up Zion Canyon via the park shuttle for our first hike of the trip.  We chose to climb the 4 miles up to Observation Point on the Mesa above the canyon.  Over 2,000 feet in elevation gain on this trail which at times hangs precariously on the cliff edge.  We've done this hike before, so why did it seem harder this time.  The spring flowers were in abundance which helped to keep me from looking over the edge.

THAT'S THE TRAIL

Going up the issue is endurance, going down it's your knees.  Trekking polls make a big difference.  We made it back to camp in time for happy hour, so all was well until...... this happened.

While walking around the campsite in my open toe sandals, I rammed my toe into the back of the other sandal.  In case you're wondering, I had only one glass of wine at the time.  After a few choice words and attracting the attention of most of the campers in Zion I realized that I had nearly torn my toenail off.  So off we went to the urgent care in nearby Hurricane.  Dr. Dunn said, "It's gotta come off".  So without me looking he stuck many needles deep into and all around my toe.  Cathie who was watching later told me that he started with the needle in around the joint and while jiggling, inserted it WAY in underneath what was left of my nail.  Once the toe was numb, which took being stuck with some more needles, he made quick work of removing the nail.

THOSE TWO LITTLE RED MARKS ARE WHERE THE NEEDLES

WENT IN....OUCH!!!

Nurse Alice rapped it all up and we were done.  Not done with the trip, it will continue.  Dr. Dunn said in about 5 days I should be able to get a shoe on and start hiking again.  In the mean time I'll be wearing my sandals.

THIS TIME IT'S UTAH..........AGAIN

In a few days we'll off on a road trip heading to Utah.  Our definition of a road trip means that we leave the RV at home, throw some camping gear in the back of the 4-Runner and rough it some.  You noticed I said, some.  In between roughing it, we will take appropriate breaks in motels, B&B's and a week in a condo while in Moab.  We've done this before and leaving the RV behind allows us a bit more freedom exploring some of the more out of the way places.

Friends Gary and Diane will be meeting up with us for the cushy part of the trip in Moab, where we will be exploring some of the jeep trails in red rock country.  Anyway we will be on the road for about 3 weeks and as the mood strikes I'll be posting our adventures here on the blog.

BORREGO WITH FRIENDS

It had been over a month since we went anywhere, which in our book is a long time, so we decided to head out again.  This time over the hill to Anza Borrego with friends Gary and Diane and neighbors/friends Willie and Patty.  Willie and Patty had recently purchased a motor home and wanted to go on a shakedown cruise so it was all the excuse we needed. The plan was to include some four wheeling, some exploring, some partaking in happy hour and some swapping of lies around the campfire.  We managed to follow the plan without any difficulty at all, especially the happy hour part.

CAMP AT BLAIR VALLEY

For those readers who are unfamiliar with Anza Borrego Desert State Park, it is the largest state park in the country and is located in eastern San Diego County.  Having lived in San Diego for our entire lives, Cathie and I were surprised to learn that Patty and Willie had never been to Borrego, so we took it upon ourselves to remedy the situation.

Any tour of the Anza Desert region must include a stop at the Pumpkin Patch.  After following various 4-wheel drive type trails, we took a break to walk among the pumpkins. This Unique landscape is the result of wind and water continuously eroding the surface soil and revealing these globular sandstone concretions. Such concretions are believed to be formed by the natural cementing of sand particles to a small object such as a piece of shell, a grain of sand, or even an insect.

PUMPKINS

I know that California is the Nanny State, but seeing a toilet with handicapped parking out here in the middle of the desert is beyond belief.  Can you imagine the cost of construction in a location 10 miles or more from the nearest paved road.  The bathroom is a nice touch, but a concrete apron painted with the mandatory blue symbol?  There's something wrong here.

BREAK TIME

We then made a stop at Seventeen Palms Oasis, located in the badlands east of the town of Borrego Springs.  As the spring here was unreliable, early travelers with extra water would leave it in large glass jars. Thirsty visitors came to rely on the jars hidden in the shade of the palms.  The desert wanders would leave notes attached to the jars. Today the custom of leaving messages in the prospector's post office is carried on by visitors.  In the post office barrel hidden in the 17 palms among the bases, lies a visitor's log book, notes and of course, bottles of water.

PATTY READING THE MAIL

SANDSTONE CLIFFS IN CANYON SIN NOMBRE

We to another excursion to the southern part of the park where we traveled down Canyon Sin Nombre, a beautiful canyon with high sandstone walls.  After Canyon Sin Nombre we headed up Arroyo Tapiado which along with the aforementioned canyon are located in the Carrizo Badlands.  Hidden in the mud hills of the arroyo are numerous mud caves, carved out during the infrequent rains.  You can explore the caves if you have a mind to, but some of them are pretty scary.  We checked out Chasm Cave, easy to enter through a very narrow crack in the arroyo wall.  This cave is large with high ceiling and a beautiful skylight.

LUNCH IN ARROYO TAPIADO

ANOTHER BREAK, SHEEP CANYON THIS TIME.

We spent some time checking out the numerous metal sculptures which are found on open land around the outskirts of Borrego Springs.  Philanthropist and Borrego resident Dennis Avery purchased over 3000 acres around the town to prevent the land from ever being developed.  Calling the land Galleta Meadows Estate, he opened the land to the public.  In 2008 he hired artist Ricardo Breceda of Parris, California to build metal sculptures of prehistoric beasts that once roamed the Borrego Valley.  Today there are over 130 of these sculptures spread out over Galleta Meadows for the viewing pleasure of those who discover them.