Scenic shot from a freeway break
The rest of these below are in Arches. I'm just going to let them speak for themselves. But note that I'm actually *in* one of them! Doesn't it look like Mars?
So, after I got up, I went and updated the web site, and then got on the road. Today was almost all interstate -- my stop last night was right at I-70 (where US-50 and I-70 become the same road) and so it was I-70 all the way here to Moab today (except for the last 30 miles). It was a short drive, only 160 miles or so. Including a stop to fill the fuel tank (only got 8.8mpg on the last tank -- but it was very mountainous -- last fillup was at I-80 and US-50A, just a little ways east of Reno), and a couple of stops at scenic pullouts on the freeway, I pulled into the KOA campground in Moab at about 1:15pm. I set up camp, unloaded the BMW, and headed for the Arches National Park.
Okay, so I was using the GPS and all that, so I don't think that I somehow made a wrong turn and headed to Mars -- but this place just doesn't look like earth. It's breathtaking, and like nothing I've ever seen. Lots of red sandstone, and natural terrain formations that are, well, look at the pictures. I took a *lot* of pictures at Arches (and I'm not done, I'll get to that) but only a few are on this web site.
In my rush to get out to the park, I forgot a hat, and the one little bottle of water I had wasn't nearly enough. There's very little shade, and it was a lot hotter than I'd realized. So, when the batteries in the camera gave out at 5:30, I decided to head back to town, pick up some supplies, and get something to drink. The campground is another 3 miles beyond town, and I've got plenty of stuff to drink in the motorhome, but I was dying. I will go back to Arches in the morning and see the other half of the park, and maybe do a longer hike than the short ones I did today. I'll be better prepared.
On my way back, I stopped at a mountain bike store to try to figure out what I was going to do about the fact that the trails aren't really all that close to town. First of all, I'm camped 3 miles from town, and then, the trailheads aren't close to either town or to the campground. And me without a bike rack. I tried to solve the bike rack problem for the BMW, but no one makes anything that fits really well (except for BMW, who has this hideously ugly, and very expensive, roof rack system). Anyway, I'm going to rent a standard strap-on rack from this bike shop in the morning on my way back to Arches. In the afternoon, I'll do a short ride, and if it seems like I'm in better shape than I think I am, I'll do one on Wednesday morning too before I get out of Dodge and head to Colorado.
It seems like there's so much to do here that I either have to blow off seeing stuff in Colorado, or I have to postpone my arrival in Topeka until Friday. Right now I prefer the latter.
Anyway, it's only 6:30. I just needed a break and some food, so I'm back at the motorhome for a snack. The weather is just perfect right now in the shade though, so I decided to jot down some thoughts here on the computer out at the picnic table before I head back into town. Tonight I'm going to eat at a local brew pub (I like doing that -- whenever I travel, I try to find a local brew pub). I may do a nighttime guided hike that I saw an ad for, but the one tomorrow night sounded more interesting. I'll let you all know later what I decided!
It's 9:15 ... back from dinner and shopping. Yes, another refrigerator magnet. And a couple of T-shirts. This is a really neat town. Maybe when (if?) I grow up I'll retire here and run one of those mountain bike/atv/jeep/snowmobile tour companies.
Speaking of which, change of plan for tomorrow. There's a mountain bike trail that I found on a local mountain biking map that is within easy riding distance of here. But the ride is rated difficult for both endurance and technicality. That wouldn't have bothered me a few years ago, but I ride so little these days that it scares me slightly. But instead of doing the whole 17+ mile loop that the official ride recommends, I'll just ride part way (uphill) and turn around at some point (maybe at the summit).
Alternately, I think I want to try one of these 4-wheel-drive tours (Jeeps and/or Hummers) that they run around here. Why mountain bike on slickrock when I can use an engine? :-) I picked up 4 brochures from these companies. I'll call in the morning and see which ones have room in a half-day tour tomorrow.
Or ... the company that does the Hummer tours also let's you spend a half-day driving their "off-road racers," which look like a sand rail outfitted for dirt roads. "This is unlike anything you've ever done. When you feel and see the performance of this racer you'll know why we love it!" Maybe this is for me :-)
I'll let you all know tomorrow what I decide!