My Great American Trip to the Southwest
Part One thru Six
Part Seven
Part Eight: The Drive to Moab, Utah (July 22, 2010)
Over the course of the next few days, specifically up the UT191 corridor, I’ve seen Mother Nature in all her geological glory like I’ve never seen in my entire life. From the Mesas of northern New Mexico to the Bisti Badlands, to Shiprock, to the monoliths of Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods, to the fault/fold of the Mexican Blanket, to the hills of white rock just south of Monticello, Utah, to the majestic and massive mountains of the La Salles to the east of UT191 just south of Moab, Utah, to Wilson’s Arch also just south of Moab, to the vast canyons within canyons within canyons at Island In the Sky at Canyonlands National Park. What’s even more astounding is the fact that I haven't seen anything yet! Jason kept telling me that the geography and landscape between Natural Bridges National Monument and Zion National Park would be even more stupendously different, “the most drastic changes in the geography and environment that one will ever encounter,” he said. Already overwhelmed by what I had experienced, my mind just boggled at the thought!
Part Nine: Moab, Utah: Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky and Mesa Arch) and Arches National Park (July 22-24, 2010)
Argo still wasn’t running hot when we arrived in Moab, luckily enough for us; however, we seemed to encounter a very “New South Wales” moment in Moab when garage after garage were either closed or too busy to see us until well after the weekend. Nevertheless, we persevered and found a small shop who’d work on the car on Friday. So it looked like the two-or-so days we had hoped to save by skipping Moab, we’d be spending it there anyway. C’est la vie!
Off we went to scout out lunch, which we found at this fantastic little joint called Milt’s Burgers just a few blocks away from downtown Moab. After a quick, yummy bite to eat, we headed off to Arch View RV park, past Arches National Park, in order to crash for the night, as well as doing some much needed laundry. Thing is, it was on the way out to the RV park that Argo finally started acting up, the heat gauge starting to spike. Luckily enough I knew that if you turned on the heater full-blast, that that would help “cool” things down a bit. Sure, we were sweltering hot in the cab of Argo, but her temperature dropped enough that we made it to the park without a hassle. Go me! :D
The next morning we got up nice and early and headed back into town. Dropping Argo off at the shop, we hoofed it on down the Pancake Haus, a fantastic little diner right in downtown Moab. The only downside was that my post-pancake-brain-dead-stupor left me unable to get any work done when we went to the Moab Library (which won Best Small Library in 2007… and totally deserved it!). Then again, my lunch of a milk shake and french fries didn’t help matters much either ;) Anyway, while in town we did get to stop by the Tom Till gallery. What an amazing photographer and artist! Though I have to be honest and say that much of Jason’s works is equally impressive. I don't know if I have the patience or the passion to drive my work to that level of impressiveness... but again, I still think I take pretty good shots for a rote amateur!
Now Moab’s a nice enough town, a bit too touristy for my tastes; however, it has a distinct air of hippie-ness that I’ve always enjoy. Moab is to Utah what Hot Springs is to Arkansas what Austin is to Texas. So yeah, I knew I’d fit in well here. Still, it wasn’t a nice enough ambiance to it that I probably be happy to stay and live.
By the time Argo was fixed and we finished up at the library, we had just enough time to head back out of Moab to Canyonlands National Park, specifically to Island in the Sky. There we spent the next several hours experiencing one of the most glorious sites one could have the privilege of witnessing. As the sun was setting, it marched its way across the canyons and streams, causing stunning shadows and creating the colors and textures to pop in amazing vibrancy.
Moon and Tree at Green River Overlook, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Moon and Mountains at Green River Overlook, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Green River Overlook and Moon, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utahby argoshots
There were two places in Canyonlands that I wanted to go visit. The Needles, which is much further south than Island in the Sky; however, it’s another 70+ mile drive from the main road, and White Rim Trail, a 2-3 day off-road adventure requiring one to bring several day supply of food, water, gas and other necessities in case something goes wrong. Because it’s only like a $1500 towing fee if you get stuck out there! While The Needles sounds a lot of time, the next time I come back to Moab, I ~plan~ to do the White Rim Trail. Oh hells yeah!
The only problem with photographing the sunset is setting up camp in the dark. In this case, we hadn’t even found a campsite and the ones within Canyonlands were full. We knew that there were campsites located on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management); unfortunately it took us well outside of Canyonlands, down an unmarked dirt road tucked back in a copse of scrub trees. We were just enough off the main road that we would be undetected, at least by anyone who wasn’t trying to find illegal campers.
Since we wanted to get shots of the Mesa Arch at sunrise, it was a stupidly early morning. We were off and on our way by 5:30, arriving at the parking lot by 5:45 or so. However, it was totally worth it! Oh my goodness, what a site! Over the next two or more hours, we easily took tons of pictures of the sun’s glorious colors painting the arch as the surrounding cliffs and overhangs. Just amazingly spectacular!
Mesa Arch at Sunrise, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
After Mesa Arch, we shot over to the Grand Viewpoint and spent a bit of time exploring. For myself, it was an exploration of both landscape as well as pushing myself out of my comfort zone by confronting my fear of heights. Yes, that's way, way high up there and I was very close to the ends... go me!!
Tina at Grand Viewpoint, Canyonlands National Park, Utah by argoshots
After hitting the Arch View RV park for a quick shower, we headed off to Arches National Park. What a disappointing experience after Canyonlands! Not only was it horribly overcrowded and overrun with tourists. I was excited to see the sites; however, the crowds and the heat really got to me and I couldn’t wait to leave.
Part Seven
Part Eight: The Drive to Moab, Utah (July 22, 2010)
Over the course of the next few days, specifically up the UT191 corridor, I’ve seen Mother Nature in all her geological glory like I’ve never seen in my entire life. From the Mesas of northern New Mexico to the Bisti Badlands, to Shiprock, to the monoliths of Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods, to the fault/fold of the Mexican Blanket, to the hills of white rock just south of Monticello, Utah, to the majestic and massive mountains of the La Salles to the east of UT191 just south of Moab, Utah, to Wilson’s Arch also just south of Moab, to the vast canyons within canyons within canyons at Island In the Sky at Canyonlands National Park. What’s even more astounding is the fact that I haven't seen anything yet! Jason kept telling me that the geography and landscape between Natural Bridges National Monument and Zion National Park would be even more stupendously different, “the most drastic changes in the geography and environment that one will ever encounter,” he said. Already overwhelmed by what I had experienced, my mind just boggled at the thought!
Part Nine: Moab, Utah: Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky and Mesa Arch) and Arches National Park (July 22-24, 2010)
Argo still wasn’t running hot when we arrived in Moab, luckily enough for us; however, we seemed to encounter a very “New South Wales” moment in Moab when garage after garage were either closed or too busy to see us until well after the weekend. Nevertheless, we persevered and found a small shop who’d work on the car on Friday. So it looked like the two-or-so days we had hoped to save by skipping Moab, we’d be spending it there anyway. C’est la vie!
Off we went to scout out lunch, which we found at this fantastic little joint called Milt’s Burgers just a few blocks away from downtown Moab. After a quick, yummy bite to eat, we headed off to Arch View RV park, past Arches National Park, in order to crash for the night, as well as doing some much needed laundry. Thing is, it was on the way out to the RV park that Argo finally started acting up, the heat gauge starting to spike. Luckily enough I knew that if you turned on the heater full-blast, that that would help “cool” things down a bit. Sure, we were sweltering hot in the cab of Argo, but her temperature dropped enough that we made it to the park without a hassle. Go me! :D
The next morning we got up nice and early and headed back into town. Dropping Argo off at the shop, we hoofed it on down the Pancake Haus, a fantastic little diner right in downtown Moab. The only downside was that my post-pancake-brain-dead-stupor left me unable to get any work done when we went to the Moab Library (which won Best Small Library in 2007… and totally deserved it!). Then again, my lunch of a milk shake and french fries didn’t help matters much either ;) Anyway, while in town we did get to stop by the Tom Till gallery. What an amazing photographer and artist! Though I have to be honest and say that much of Jason’s works is equally impressive. I don't know if I have the patience or the passion to drive my work to that level of impressiveness... but again, I still think I take pretty good shots for a rote amateur!
Now Moab’s a nice enough town, a bit too touristy for my tastes; however, it has a distinct air of hippie-ness that I’ve always enjoy. Moab is to Utah what Hot Springs is to Arkansas what Austin is to Texas. So yeah, I knew I’d fit in well here. Still, it wasn’t a nice enough ambiance to it that I probably be happy to stay and live.
By the time Argo was fixed and we finished up at the library, we had just enough time to head back out of Moab to Canyonlands National Park, specifically to Island in the Sky. There we spent the next several hours experiencing one of the most glorious sites one could have the privilege of witnessing. As the sun was setting, it marched its way across the canyons and streams, causing stunning shadows and creating the colors and textures to pop in amazing vibrancy.
Moon and Tree at Green River Overlook, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Moon and Mountains at Green River Overlook, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Green River Overlook and Moon, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utahby argoshots
There were two places in Canyonlands that I wanted to go visit. The Needles, which is much further south than Island in the Sky; however, it’s another 70+ mile drive from the main road, and White Rim Trail, a 2-3 day off-road adventure requiring one to bring several day supply of food, water, gas and other necessities in case something goes wrong. Because it’s only like a $1500 towing fee if you get stuck out there! While The Needles sounds a lot of time, the next time I come back to Moab, I ~plan~ to do the White Rim Trail. Oh hells yeah!
The only problem with photographing the sunset is setting up camp in the dark. In this case, we hadn’t even found a campsite and the ones within Canyonlands were full. We knew that there were campsites located on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management); unfortunately it took us well outside of Canyonlands, down an unmarked dirt road tucked back in a copse of scrub trees. We were just enough off the main road that we would be undetected, at least by anyone who wasn’t trying to find illegal campers.
Since we wanted to get shots of the Mesa Arch at sunrise, it was a stupidly early morning. We were off and on our way by 5:30, arriving at the parking lot by 5:45 or so. However, it was totally worth it! Oh my goodness, what a site! Over the next two or more hours, we easily took tons of pictures of the sun’s glorious colors painting the arch as the surrounding cliffs and overhangs. Just amazingly spectacular!
Mesa Arch at Sunrise, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
After Mesa Arch, we shot over to the Grand Viewpoint and spent a bit of time exploring. For myself, it was an exploration of both landscape as well as pushing myself out of my comfort zone by confronting my fear of heights. Yes, that's way, way high up there and I was very close to the ends... go me!!
Tina at Grand Viewpoint, Canyonlands National Park, Utah by argoshots
After hitting the Arch View RV park for a quick shower, we headed off to Arches National Park. What a disappointing experience after Canyonlands! Not only was it horribly overcrowded and overrun with tourists. I was excited to see the sites; however, the crowds and the heat really got to me and I couldn’t wait to leave.