Someone is excited to go to Arches.

Wide awake at 4:30 AM, in the car 10 minutes later , even Beau didn’t wake for a pee or a bone! 4:45 enter Arches National Park, not the first one ???? 5 other early risers shone their headlights on a steep uphill road. No ranger was up this early and it was clear roads ahead into the park. What to expect, I like to be surprised and not study the areas we go to, in depth. Yes I might miss some things , but for me to be surprised is half the fun. Of course I’ve seen the classic pictures of the wide Arch spanning it seems , many hundreds of feet ,with an eternal sunrise or sunset shining through it . What a shot that would be. Better to go into it fresh without ideas of shots already taken. Hard enough to get a few originals, most shots have been taken thousands of times in one way or another . I can’t wait what Arches will show me .

Very disappointed that this park again was made up of a bunch of Hollywood backdrops. This just can’t be real , moonlight illuminating the towering red rocks , don’t think so. Vista’s right out of Rawhide , great painting !! Is that John Wayne on his horse infront of a stove pipe rock , looking mellow but dangerous

I DON’T THINK SO ……?

All joking aside , it was so much better then I had ever imagined , wouldn’t it be nice to share this with Mother , Brother and friends. Well ….. modern tecnology to the rescue . Quick facetime call with Holland and mama and brother joined the rising sun at Arches . What a treat !!

Arches National Park is located in eastern Utah, USA. It is known for its stunning natural arches, spires, fins, and balanced rocks. The park covers an area of over 76,000 acres and includes over 2,000 natural sandstone arches.

The park owes its unique landscape to geological processes that started around 300 million years ago. The region was once covered by an ancient sea, and over time, layers of salt deposited in the area. As the sea evaporated, the salt deposits were buried under layers of sediment.

Around 65 million years ago, the uplift of the Rocky Mountains and the tectonic activity in the region caused the overlying rock layers to buckle and shift. This movement, combined with erosion from water and wind, carved out the landscape that we see today, creating the spectacular arches and rock formations.

Arches National Park was designated a national monument in 1929 and then established as a national park in 1971. The park’s unique geological features and natural beauty attract visitors from around the world, making it a popular destination for hiking, photography, and nature appreciation.

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Best Early morning with my Bestie !!

What is The Indian Lady mesmerized by ???

Bryce Canyon

Five AM is normally not a time I can get Deidre out of bed! This day was different as we are going to Bryce canyon. Heard so much about and the anticipation was high. First half hour in the dark to the Carmel Tunnel, steep switchbacks and deep drop offs , of course on the passenger site!! Once through the Tunnel daylight greeted us, lighting up another perfect Hollywood backdrop, in one word ……………..(you fill it in ). amazing.

A nice two hour drive to get at Bryce around 7:30 am. no traffic, very few visitors. What I expected , not. What it was , again undescribable. check out the pictures and maybe you get an idea. As the grand Canyon is a giant cleft in the face of the US , Bryce is one side of a much smaller cleft. A Single Canyon Wall facing open space . Made up of thousands and thousands of drip towers we use to make on the beach when we were young and happy with just sand and water.

These drippers were hundreds and hundreds feet high and bright colored . Sandtowers of all size and crazy colors. We drove from vantage point to vantage point and shot loads of pictures and selfies . Short hikes is all we want to do today. Great hikes are started from the rim , Horseback riding brought us to the real west. what a site . Look for yourself , our plans for the day didnt just start early , they ended real late , but thats for tomorrow ! Enjoy and go plan a visit !

Bryce Canyon’s stunning rock formations were sculpted over millions of years by the forces of erosion. This process began as water, wind, and ice gradually wore away the sediments deposited in a vast lakebed. The unique hoodoos and spires that define the landscape emerged as harder rock layers resisted erosion, leaving behind the intricate and mesmerizing formations that visitors admire today. Erosion, particularly from freezing and thawing, continues to shape Bryce Canyon, ensuring its ongoing allure and beauty for future generations to enjoy.

See you tomorrow!