Motorhoming to Colorado and Beyond 2011

We left Horsethief CG around 11 am planning on driving to Golden Spike CG in Brigham City, Utah. Dry camping for six days results in a lot of laundry and we were in need of groceries as well.

The ride to Brigham City was quite beautiful with unending mountain views.

 

 

Golden Spike CG turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. Despite being a small CG with just  60 sites and sitting in a very busy area behind a Flying J it had the most beautiful manicured lawns and the park was immaculate.

Once settled in I started my laundry and cleaning the MH. Ron took Jewel for a walk and met some very interesting people.

ZoAnn and John are full- timers heading to Alaska. They are the fourth couple we have met going to Alaska in their MH. We spent about two hours talking to them and found them to be quite interesting people.

Another couple we talked with , Debbie and Lek, are on their maiden voyage with their MH heading to Yellowstone. They are trying land travel and told us they had done an 18 month boat trip on the rivers of the US in their 40 foot boat. Another very interesting couple.

Since we spent so much time talking we didn’t get to the grocery store so will have to do that in the morning.

 

 

 

It was nice having full services again. One does get spoiled with electricity. LOL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow will be filling the MH with gas (good price at $3.53) then to Wal Mart for groceries. Then on to the Golden Spike National Historic Site.

We have been in the Moab area for 10 days and love it here. Today we will be going into Dead Horse Point State Park. The state park sits in the middle of Canyonlands National Park because it was here before Canyonlands was declared a National Park in 1964.

Last night we had a terrific windstorm that rocked the MH most of the night. The wind in this area is almost a constant but last night was the worst. We could hear thunder rumbling in the distance and woke to 40 degree temperatures, quite a change from the 70’s and 80’s we have been experiencing.

Dead Horse Point State Park towers 2000 feet above the Colorado River and provides some of the best views of the canyon country of southeastern Utah and Canyonlands National Park.

The legend of Dead Horse Point stated that in the 1800’s, cowboys used Dead Horse Point to catch wild horses. With sheer cliffs on all sides and an access only 30 yards wide, the point made a perfect horse trap. Cowboys herded horses onto the point and built a fence across the narrow neck to create a natural corral. According to legend a band of horses left corralled on the waterless point died of thirst within view of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below.

The bright blue pools in the background in the canyon are where they harvest Potash a sodium/potassium substance used for fertilizer. We can’t believe they have that in the middle of this spectacular scenery. I guess because Dead Horse is a state park they don’t have to follow the rules that apply to  national park land.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are wild flowers every where growing along the toad and out of the rocks.

We spent  approximately two hours at Dead Horse. We saturated the area and headed back to the CG to get ready for our move tomorrow. Will continue heading West and see what we run into before getting to Kelly’s.

 

Back at the CG I spent some time cleaning the red sand and dust out of the inside of the Jeep. Ron rearranged the compartments under the MH and started a great last night camp fire for us.

 

 

 

 

 

While I was cooking dinner Ron took Jewel for a walk. During that walk she disappeared causing Ron’s heart to sink. Of course she wasn’t leased (breaking the rules again – Ron!) She had been hunting a critter under the rocks and he coaxed her away but when he stopped to tie his shoe she went back. He retraced his steps and found her. Now we have a red-headed dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent a relaxing evening planning our exit from the area. Tomorrow we are back on the road again.

Our internet connection has been sketchy because of the remote areas we have been staying in. Today is June 2nd but I am catching up on the events of May 29th.

Our son Tom, let us know that the weather was pretty awful in MA with several tornadoes causing serious damage and deaths. We hope that all of you that are following our blog are OK. We did get TV reception briefly this morning and were shocked at the damage. Hopefully that is the end of the bad weather.

We decided that we would like to try out the Shafer road with our Trail Rated Jeep. We spoke to a Ranger at the visitor center and she told us the drive was quite nice and recommended that we drive out to the picnic area adjacent to the Colorado River. She did mention that the Colorado was at flood stage and there was a possibility that the picnic benches might be under water. WHOA!!! Under water didn’t sound so great to me but we decided to go as far as we could and hope for the best.

I asked the Ranger how far the picnic area was and she could only give me the time in hours it would take to get there – 3-4 hours one way. Yikes – can we handle that?

Well, we got our day permit  and off we went. I had packed a lunch, plenty of water and jackets if needed. Since we would be traveling in the canyon it was probably going to be more hot then cold but we were prepared for anything – or so we thought.

The initial part of the road was OK but a little rough – then we got to the section of road leading down into the canyon on the side of the cliffs with really exaggerated switchbacks, steep roads that were suppose to be two way. Not sure who determined the roads were wide enough for two-way traffic because they weren’t!

 

 

 

 

The ride down was nothing if not beautiful, precarious, bumpy, narrow and heart-stopping and a few  more adjectives I won’t add in. Both of us were more then surprised at the challenging terrain. Sure looked really smooth from 1500 feet above the canyon. OMG - NOT!!!!!!!

The views were stunning but each road obstacle interfered with totally enjoying the views. Since this was our fist official off-road trip we weren’t mentally prepared.

Ron asked several times if I wanted to turn back – of course I did but wouldn’t admit it.

We were out in  the middle of nowhere with a rare sighting of another SUV, truck or human. There were several bicyclists on the road  but they were few and far between as well. Not sure why they would traveling the nasty road but they were. The challenge I guess.

We were travelling between 5-15 MPH that made it so slow-going. In three hours we only traveled 18 miles with an additional  6 miles to our destination.

 

At that point I had had it and was claustrophobic sitting in the Jeep so for sooooooo long. Needless to say I was a little testy and Ron was trying to deal with his grouchy wife.

 

 

We finally arrived at the turn to the Colorado River with 4  miles to go. Little did we realize that the last four miles to our destination would be the most difficult.

We traveled down a very steep narrow one-way dirt road with U –shaped switch- backs (Thank God no came the other way), then over really big rocks with the bottom of the Jeep hitting the rocks, the uphill over large rocks as well.   We stopped at one point so Ron could survey the road. I got out and walked up while he drove.

 

 

 

Around each bend we hoped to see the river. We passed another truck and the driver told us the picnic area was a disappointment after such a long ride. We were committed with only one mile to go so off we went.

Finally, the Colorado River!!!! The road leading in was being overtaken by the overflowing Colorado so we didn’t  plan on staying long. The area itself was a bit of a disappointment  but we had our lunch and chatted with the Park Rangers that were monitoring the area. There were some other people there that were being questioned  by the Rangers. They were showing the Ranger papers and answering a lot of questions. It looked a little scary.

 

 

 

 

On the way out we noticed that the river waters had crept even further onto the road and  most probably would eventually be high enough to close the road.

 

 

Our main concern was traveling those last four miles up from the river. We had never done anything like that  in the Jeep. With each road obstacle Ron told me to close my eyes as he hit the gas to get us up the hills. Unfortunately because I had my eyes closed I didn’t video tape our ascent.

 

Once past that four-mile challenge the ride back to the Visitor Center 1500 feet up didn’t seem so bad. We actually enjoyed the ride back and the  were delighted by the views.

 

 

 

Later that evening we decided to ride into Moab for dinner. Since all the restaurants were packed and super expensive we decided on Denny’s. Yes, Denny’s- its’ one of our favorite places to eat!!!!! I had breakfast and Ron had the best meatloaf he has ever had – Even better then Not Your Average Joe’s.

After dinner we took a ride down Route 128 to look around. We had heard it was a lovely scenic  ride and it was true. Right there along the road ran the Colorado River. Yes, the Colorado that we drove 24 miles one-way  over impossible terrain to see. How dumb are we. (LOL)

Back at the CG we marveled at our day and the challenges that were presented to us on our first off-road trip. Ron admitted to me that evening that he was a little skeptical about continuing our journey but didn’t want to be the one to call it off. Neither one of us did and we are both glad we finished our first off road-trip that turned out to be a great adventure.

Today we decided to do the Grand View Rim walk in Canyonlands. It was hard to imagine that any other view could top what we have already seen but once again we were not disappointed.

 

 

 

 

The Rim Hike took about 90 minutes crossing some rough terrain but the views were spectacular. Of course Ron had to do his Mountain Goat act and climb to great heights!!!!! Fun for him – nerve-racking for me.

 

After hiking back to our starting point we decided to take a look from the Green River Overlook. Both the Green and Colorado Rivers snake  through the park. Where they both converge is called the confluence which makes for great class- five white water rafting.

Both rivers are at their peak and near or above flood stage from the mountain snow run-off. Several communities in Utah are already under water with roads closed to motorists.

Then it was on to Buck Canyon Overlook – Everything here is uphill and strenuous. Not losing any weight though!!!

Another great day In Canyonlands National Park. Every vista was different, magnificent and our most frequently used word is WOW!!!! This area is considered the Grand Canyon of Utah – and it sure is. It has exceeded our expectations and in many ways we find it to be much prettier then the Grand Canyon.

Tomorrow we plan to do some off-road traveling along the Shafer Trail. it doesn’t look too bad from 1500 feet above so it will be interesting to experience at ground level. Ron is very excited to finally take our Trail Rated Jeep on that journey.

I believe I mentioned the No-See-Um’s that bite  and hurt like the dickens. Well we found a picture in the visitor center and a sampling of those nasty little critters. Ron is still experiencing pain from the bites on his head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather in the Moab area has been spectacular  with temps in the 70’s and bright sunshine. So bright that Ron and I  have sunburns. Very unusual for us. We have been wearing sunscreen and hats but being so high in elevation really makes a difference in the intensity of the heat from the sun.

Canyonlands if far more expansive and beautiful then we could have imagined. The topography is very different from Arches and stunning at every turn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decided to take a hike over the Upheaval Dome Trail. It has two parts – the lower trail and the upper trail. I planned on the lower trail but Ron wanted to do both.

The theory is that the Dome is either the result of an asteroid or ice that fell from the  sky  causing  the massive crater 6 billion years ago. The crater is huge and  very impressive.

Again Ron was not satisfied with just these views so it was up the mountain we went.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The walk down the mountain was a little easier and I’m glad we did make it to the top. The views were spectacular and breathtaking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we finished the two hour hike we stopped for a picnic lunch. Later we stopped at the  Mesa Arch Trail and were once again not disappointed in the views.

Words and pictures cannot describe or capture   how beautiful this was. The arch sits at the edge of a cliff that looks straight down into the canyon.

 

 

More Wild Flowers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back at the CG Jewel was being Jewel brought her squirrel outside. She always stands it on its legs then leaves it there. If you tell her to get her squirrel she looks at us like we’re nuts. (Maybe we are!!!)

 

Tomorrow we go back into Canyonlands for more hikes.