QC03-10 And the push for home

September 29, 2010 (Wed) Bryce Canyon NP to Arches NP (297/7099 miles) 41/93° - This morning we watched the sun come up over Bryce Canyon at Sunset Point. It was chilly but very special! There were more clouds in the sky than there have been all week making for a beautiful sunrise -  more than just the red sun peeking over the rim of the canyon. Then we had breakfast in the parking lot and headed for the dump station to take care of Q's sanitary needs. Too late! There were four RVs in line ahead of us! We decided to take care of that duty when we got to Arches. The only problem with that we discovered, there is no dump station in Arches!

The campground at Arches National Park campground is at the far end of the park (18 miles out). Non-camping visitors drive out to a view point just beyond the campground (Devil's Garden) then have to turn around and go home. We are here for two nights!

The ranger talk in the amphitheater was about some of the poisonous creatures here in this national park - Rattle Snake, Black Widow spider, and Scorpion. It was a very interesting talk, mostly because it was aimed at the third or forth grade class on a field trip in the park. The ranger had a good time with the kids and in the end both they and we understood the poisonous creatures much better. 

We had our own personal slide show when we got back to our motor home, reviewing all the pictures we've taken the last couple of days.

September 30, 2010 (Thu) Arches National Park (2) - Today we explored the park. We started in Devil's Garden just north of the campground and worked our way down the 18 miles or so to the entrance, stopping at almost every turn-out (and even places we weren't supposed to stop) to take pictures. It was amazing how many times the photo op turn-out was 1/2 mile or more past the best vantage point! There are many walks/hikes in the park ranging from .3 miles to over 7 miles long round trip. We avoided the long ones, but did take advantage of most of the short ones. The longest we took was to where we could see the "Delicate Arch", one of the signature arches of the park. It was less than a mile round trip but moderately strenuous because of the climbing.

Since the park had no RV sanitary facilities, we decided to go into Moab - 3 miles from the park entrance - and pay a commercial campground $5 to use theirs - the cost of not waiting in line at Bryce Canyon! Since we were so close to town we went on into Moab to get lunch for us and gas for Q. We ate at a little place called "The Love Muffin Cafe" (who could pass up the opportunity to eat there?) and had one of their specialties called the "Spring Love BLT" (I think). In addition to the usual ingredients it had avocado and onion and was served on a marvelous home made bun. Joy thinks we might stop there on the way out tomorrow and pick one up for our lunch on the road.

Just as it as getting dark - we hadn't drawn the shades yet - there was a knock on our window. A white haired gentleman was there and introduced himself as our neighbor and said that he was from Germany. He asked if we had a bottle of wine he could buy. Evidently he hadn't been able to buy wine before coming the 18 miles into the campground. Joy said no, she was sorry. He asked if we had a beer he could buy. "As a matter of fact we do but I won't sell it to you, I'll give it to you." After some discussion he accepted the gift. As he walked by the window, he tapped on it and said to Joy, in his thick German accent, "In the cathedral of my heart, I will light a candle for you every day." Wow!

Q068572 Devil's Garden CG, Arches National Park (UT). #27/37 dry $10.00 A (x2)

October 1, 2010 (Fri) Arches NP to Franktown, CO (409/7508 miles) - Some clouds in the sky made for a beautiful sunrise - captured on film... er, in bits. The campground is located amongst the rocks, very large ones, behind "Skyline Arch". Before we took off we hiked up the dunes to it - not a long hike but strenuous because there was a steep climb in parts and no trail to follow - and took pictures. Finally we were ready to go.

We didn't get our Love Muffin sandwiches because our route didn't go through Moab as we thought. SR128 follows the Colorado River north through beautiful deep canyons that hint at the spectacle of the Grand Canyon to the south. There are BLM campgrounds all along the river where rafting/kayaking enthusiasts hang out between adventures. We followed the river (more or less) across Utah and well into Colorado, leaving it just before the hard assent into the Rockies. The mountains were mottled with the yellow of Aspens in full autumn color.

Environment shock! From the relative calm and serenity of a beautiful national park to the madness of heavy city (Denver) traffic - in the dark no less - in one day. We arrived at nephew Jeremiah and Kim's about 8:00 completely dragged out.

October 2, 2010 (Sat) Franktown, CO (2) 47/67° - Woke this morning to find we had another flat tire, the second on this trip! It also was inside rear but on the other side. We couldn't help but wonder how long it had been flat. It was OK when we got gas in Grand Junction but that was before the steep winding mountain roads! It turns out that it probably was flat for quite a while. The tire  was ruined. We will limp home now with no spare!

After getting the tire fixed, the day was mostly sitting around chatting, reading and relaxing.

October 3, 2010 (Sun) Franktown, CO (3) 47/74° - Our excursion today took us to Evergreen, CO, a small mountain town/tourist attraction west of Denver, with Jeremiah and Kim. It is one of the few places in the Denver area with a Gluten Free Pizza restaurant. The pizza was delicious and the atmosphere was interesting. The landscape around the town was beautiful especially with many houses clinging precariously to the cliffs. Other than than that it was another day of relaxation.

Q079030 Jeremiah and Kim's driveway (x3)