Moab Meanderings

Colorado River

Petroglyphs 

Black Crowned Night Heron

We woke up bright and early because Rose, in her (in)finite wisdom decided that we should take the 8 AM jet boat ride on the Colorado River. We arrived at Canyonlands by Night and Day, the tour company, to find that there were only six other people on our tour. Our guide, Rory, arrived and we boarded the boat. Cruising the river between red canyons was a really cool experience, literally and figuratively.  They had warned us to bring light jackets on the tour because it might "get a little cool". Understated to say the least... Early into our cruise, we saw petroglyphs and a black-crowned night heron. His little red eyes were kind of eiry. As we continued down the River we saw Jug Handle Arch, turkey vultures, some nesting Great Blue Herons, Thelma & Louise Point, Dead Horse State Park, and entered into Canyonlands National Park. The cliffs and geological formations were beautiful. Rory told us a little about how the movie industry affected Moab. He listed off a lot of movies filmed in the nearby vicinity, including Thelma & Louise, The Lone Ranger, 127 Hours, and Mission Impossible II. He also showed us a grotto where they hold a yearly music festival. They transport nearly 200 people to it via jet boat as well as at least one baby grand piano. The acoustics were wonderful! During our return to the office, we went at full speed. It got really cold! Brrrr! Who would have thought we would need coats in Utah during June? 

Great Blue Herons 

After we got back to the office, we asked the girls behind the counter for restaurant suggestions. They told us about a little shop called Milt's Stop-n-Eat. We decided to swing by there for some food before continuing our adventures. Let me just say, best meal of the trip so far! Home made burgers, home cut fries, and made fresh for you after you place your order. Yummy! 

Mom all wrapped up!

Next stop, Arches National Park...

Balanced Rock 

Mom & I at North Window

As we entered Arches, we received the brochure and map, but Mom already had a geocache picked out for us to do. We passed the Petrified Dunes, and decided to grab the cache and then do a short 0.3 mile hike around Balanced Rock. It was pretty hot & humid by that time (to think we were freezing earlier in 
the day), so we took the picture taking and hiking slowly. After we finished admiring Balanced Rock and all of the desert vegetation, we headed for the Windows Area of the park. The parking lots were full when we arrived, but luckily the Subaru doesn't mind parking a little off-road (only in permitted areas, of course). We then decided to hike up to the North Window, from which we would have a nice view of Turret Arch. Mom and I spent a while basking in the warmth and beauty of the arches and headed back toward the car. I rehydrated, applied some more sunscreen and then set out on the well-populated short hike to the Double Arch. It was so neat! Gazing up at the arches and the blue sky, it almost felt as though I were on a completely different planet. Afterward, I returned to the car and Mom & I headed back into Moab. We decided to do dinner at the Moab Brewery (also suggested by the girls from the boat tour earlier). Really good food, Mom had a sunflower cilantro dressing on her salad, which sounds weird but tasted yreally good. After enjoying some homemade gelato for dessert, it was time to go back to the hotel to relax and call it an evening.

Double Arch