Sunday, August 30, 2009
Canyonlands National Park and Colorado River
Canyonlands is remote - the nearest large city is Salt Lake (we are camped in Moab) - and getting here is not the easiest trip. But oddly enough we have run into more Europeans than Americans. We have met (and visited with) people from Germany, England, Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, Spain and Italy, to mention a few. All flew into San Francisco and either rented cars or RV's and are following a similar trail through the Great Southwest. Many have kids in tow (their schools don't start until mid-September) and all are happy to practice their English with us.
This evening we took a jet boat ride on the Colorado which followed with a "Dutch Oven" meal that was as good as any we have had. Since we are nearing the end of the tourist season, there was only 6 of us on the boat - one couple from Louisiana and the other from Germany - an international group if ever I saw one!
Home in 5 days!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Moab Utah - Arches National Park
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Moab Utah Riverside Oasis RV Park - Arches
Only a couple small towns were between us and Moab, and their existence evidently depended upon a water table that rose to the surface - there were no rivers nearby. Where there was water, plants flourished - the land is volcanically rich. But water is a rarity and mostly reserved for people and animals. The desert wins 98% of the time.The La Sal Mountains are the prominent formations, but there are other rocks, like Monument, that suddenly jut from the landscape....
Monday, August 24, 2009
To Monument Valley, Utah
I hung out the truck snapping pictures almost continuously, asking Mike to “pull over” whenever there was a chance. Mike is blaming my brother, Boyd, for this treeless trek (he’s been here and loved it!) I blame the geology gene that my family possesses. I love the vast, tree-void, rock-filled expanse that is South Eastern Utah.
The Navaho Nation own most of the land we have crossed today, and my first thought was “Leave it to the
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Durango Silverton Train
Hanging out the window afforded my many wonderful photo ops, but also resulted in cinders in the eyes. I WILL be painting mountains for quite a while when I return to the studio! And my mother promised to find the slides we took of the original trip years ago. With any luck, we'll get the projector working again and relive some fond memories!
Today we leave Durango and head out for southern Utah and Monument Valley. It's been uncommonly hot in this part of the country and even topped 100 two days ago in Durango. The nights have been nice though, and in the shade during the day, it is not unpleasant. I think Texas is actually cooler, though!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Durango and the Glider Ride
Lttle did I know what was in front of me!
The take off behind the tow plane was pleasant enough - a little bumby since it was on a grass runway, but not at all scarey. I was in the front of the plane with the pilot, Jon, directly behind me. The foot pedals and stick were functional in front of me, but I kept my hands and feet clear!
The tow plane quickly found a thermal and Jon instructed me to release the tow rope by pulling the red lever on the console. I did as instructe4d, the tow plane fell away immediately and we were gliding!
The flying was thrilling at first and I enjoyed viewing the Animas River Valley below. That was until Jon found the thermal updraft and started flying in a tight circle to ride it upward. WHEW! I later found out that MORNINGS are the best time to fly gliders - afternoons get rather bumpy and sloppy. NOW they tell me.
We circled upward, adding 1000 feet quickly to our altitude, with Jon continuing to ask me, "You all right, Darling?" To say I was dizzy was an understatement, but I refused to admit queasiness and even sang "God Bless America" with my happy co-pilot!
To say I was relieved when we headed for home is an understatement. The landing was a controlled crash, since a glider has only a wheel on its nose - no other landing gear. When the canopy was opened for me to disembark, I refused help getting out, but my legs were rubber and Jon commented that I looked at bit pale and would I like a glass of water. I nodded yes and collapsed into a lawn chair on their patio.
I will never fly in a glider again.
Mike laughed at me all the way home and is still laughing.
I will parachute with Merideth next.....
Friday, August 21, 2009
Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings
The buildings were constructed over a period of only 100 years starting around 1100 A.D. Before that time, the residents lived in the area, but on top of the Mesas, as farmers and hunters. Archeologists still speculate what encouraged the move to the cliffs and again what made them leave the area entirely 100 years later, leaving their homes undiscovered and untouched for 600 years.Hundreds of actual dwelling sites have been documented, and we explored two of the more famous ones: Balcony House and Cliff Palace. Both sites required visitors to go down a steep, hang-on-for-your-life stairway and climb up and out via wooden ladders. Mike gamely ignored his fear of heights and managed both. Good thing we have been doing some major hiking and altitude acclimation already.
Friday we explored Durango and did a bit of housekeeping and laundry. I flew in a glider - more about that later. Saturday we ride the train....