Southern Utah--Moab and Capitol Reef

Today was first rain during the day so we slept till 10 am and I washed my hair--curling iron etc.  I must have really been looking "not my best" because Pete commented on how nice I looked!  We are eating well.  Had eggs, bacon, biscuits, tomatoes for breakfast and homemade spaghetti tonight (frozen ahead at home).  Everything is very simple in 100 square feet and everything needs to go back in its designated area.  Not hard to keep it clean and everything is very handy.

The Moab Visitors bureau is very helpful guiding all the disappointed tourists to alternate areas since the National parks are still closed--not just the campgrounds but even the roads.  Today we went to Corona Arch and the area was spectacular.  We hiked up 1.5 miles to the arch and most of it was not just a rocky trail but pure rock and people had piled rocks (called cairns) to show you where to go.  This one had an area where they put a thick cable for you to hang onto as you sidestepped along the rock edge, another cable to help you pull yourself up a 15 ft. cliff with footholds carved into the rock.  There was also a short ladder to get up one smaller cliff.  See picture with Pete carrying Bailey.  Bailey was the only dog up there and she did great.  There were lots of Germans and others whose language we didn't recognize.  They were disappointed but impressed with the beautiful sites on STATE land and we feel the same.  I can't imagine areas being much better than what we are seeing.

There are no bugs at this altitude.  Sometimes we are hiking up at 2 miles above sea level.  Pete's pictures look like they were taken very close to the edge of trails that drop down 600 feet--and they were!  He is such a guy!  I am usually no where near the edge!

We left Moab via a scenic byway--route 128.  It was along the Colorado River with a beautiful bike trail and on the way to Bryce Canyon.  We  stopped at Visitor Center (all so helpful) and learned 5 National parks in Utah were open thanks to funding by Utah so we stopped in Capitol Reef National Park.  It is wonderful.  Campsite was $5 and gorgeous--see picture.  We drove scenic road, hiked Grand Wash trail for three miles--see Pete and Bailey after the hike!  We then hiked up to Gooseneck area where there were 10 artists from all over painting.  They were enrolled in a class--instructor from Sedona--see picture.

Don't forget to click on the pictures to enlarge and see
all at once!

 Thank you Utah for opening the National parks--we are off to Bryce tomorrow morning.



View Grand Wash Trail 20131012 in a larger map



View Corona Arch Trail 20131010 in a larger map