utah – The Long West Coast Summer Trip.

THE …. Arch !

So this is THE Arch you see in all magazines , advertising ,etc. It is the Arch to end All Arches . Its called ….. The Greatest Arch.? The Monster Arch ?, The magnificent Arch ? , The Optimus Prime of Arches ? , The Empire Arch? wouldn’t you think !!!

Nope , it’s called : 🌻The Landscape Arch🌼, if I was that Arch , the biggest natural stone span in the world, the image seen by Billions of People, The pride of UTAH,…..I’d be ashamed and hide to never be seen again.

I AM ARCH.

seriuos , its a short walk from the carpark through amazing terrain, first it seems kind of weird , all pictures I’ve seen have blue sky behind it . Our first look at the “Arch of Doom “had more similar colored rockface behind it. Nice but eh. Walking a little more and the sky opened up behind the “Arch of superbness” . The end of the path gave us the picture book image of the greatest Arch in the world. Yowser and a feeding Fawn and mama to boot . There you go , the image I thought about, but kind of knew I could never get . Not just the awesomness Arch but a Deer in the foreground . Never seen Before ( prove me wrong !!!). Unfortunately , the deer scooted off and my million dollar image dream disappeared. Stayed around for a 15 or so minutes . Soaked up the dreamscape and tried sharing with Mam in Holland . Our Everest of Arches failed to deliver decent internet. Ah well , gotta send some pictures , she loves Deer and Nature. Walking back on the path my friend “Bambi mama” was snacking on a sagebrush , not only pretty but delisciuos ( The brush that is) Hmmmm, Could I get to the other side of her and get my shot ?????

Blending gracefully , Not the best shot but it’ll do for a first time visit .

Left home at 5:40am back at 9am whole day still ahead and beautiful cool memories in the bag. Tomorrow Dead Horses ?????!!!!!!!

Next up ….Artsy Fartsy stuff , sue me!!

Hello MOAB !

Heard a lot about ye….. Touristy… check, busy …. not so much, ….centrally located for all things rugged, dusty , muddy ,red clayish …Check. So close to some of the most breathtaking scenery ever. No seriuos ….Ever! We’re parked 2 miles from Arches National Park, which has a different personality every hour, with the sun illuminating dusty red massive rock faces, bathing them in soft light , stormy clouds hiding the sun and changing the landscape to a threatening dark moonscape. Vultures cruise above, chipmunks eat berries and scurry in their holes. At night the stars rule , scorpions look for a tasty meal and rattlers dance the tarantula. What a place . Being so lucky to enter the park early morning and late at night I get to see it in all its shapes and forms . Sure I take too many pictures , but who cares . Tonight sunset at the Arches ….. enjoy !

Global warming has begun to impact Arches National Park, posing a threat to its unique ecosystem. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns have the potential to disturb the delicate balance of the park’s flora and fauna. Increased heat and drought could lead to the decline of certain plant species, while disrupting the habitat and behavior of wildlife. Additionally, the accelerated rate of erosion caused by extreme weather events can further accelerate the natural processes that shape the iconic sandstone arches and rock formations. It is crucial to prioritize sustainable practices and climate action to mitigate these detrimental effects and preserve the natural splendor of Arches National Park for future generations.

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.

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!

Arrived at Zion National Park

Zion River RV Resort in the town of Virgin Utah, a nice place to set up house for a long week. 12 Miles from Zion park, 2 hours from Bryce Canyon and close to a supermarket, firewood and nice grill evenings ! As we are traveling for a long time and staying for a week or more at most all locations , we are never in a hurry to go go go , what you do when you only have a few days. So day one was relaxing , quick shopping and getting a small repair scheduled for the RV ( yes again !) I still have ants in my pants and want to go sight seeing, Bit nervous about a check engine light that came on pulling into the campground. I took a nice drive to springdale at the entrance to Zion , went to some galleries and to the supermarket ( mostly to use the Bathroom ) . Nice healthy dinner at night at a great restaurant ( not a sketchy touristy one ) beautiful food and felt good eating out again for a normal price . Next day , sunday , took a longer trip in the valley , took some pictures and Deidre was taking the day off, shes working most all days and after a busy season she needs a break ! Amazing trip planned to Bryce Canyon and a stargazing evening, but thats for later, enjoy the pictures

Tomorrow Bryce !!!

95 Degrees never felt so cool!!

“What happens in Vegas , is sooo HOT !

115 degrees hot !!!”

-“There is no global warming “

Just outside Zion.

Zion National Park is located in the southwestern United States, in the state of Utah. This breathtaking natural wonder is famed for its stunning red cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and lush hanging gardens. The park’s origins can be traced back to the late 19th century when it was first settled by Mormon pioneers. Originally named Mukuntuweap, it became a national monument in 1909 and was later designated as Zion National Park in 1919. With its rich history and unparalleled geological formations, Zion continues to captivate visitors from around the world.

Got a whole new appreciation for 65Degrees early mornings. what a delight. Fed Beau , quick walk with him and found a nice drive to golob reservoir. 24 miles uphill , different landscapes, steep red cliffs , green meadows , horse, cows and a beautiful translucent blue bird . Back at ten prepared for tonight Barbeque and nice glass of wine . Starts to feellike a real vacation.

Leaving Las Vegas

Day 11 and ready to leave, after the first three days taking care of repairs and suffocating in the extreme heat. Deidre’s arrival got me a perfect guide and amazing nights in Sin City. The sphere done right , talked with a robot , saw a 16K movie , made us feel we’re in a giant spaceship floating over the desert and in the oceans. What a trip !Jimmy Kimmels comedy club was fun, the high roller gave us an amazing view of the city and the sphere. wow! Great dinners taught us hype isn’t everything, oriental foods stole the show for us. Momofuku is prime , what a view and what delisciuos food!! closing out with a much self hyped magic show by Chriss Angel, a bit dated but very personable Angel! ready for nature and some great National Parks, ZION here we come!

Great girlfriend , never complaints!! oops going to get in trouble!

Zion National Park is a breathtaking sanctuary of towering red cliffs, lush forests, and meandering rivers. Hiking trails wind through the dramatic landscape, leading to iconic landmarks such as Angel’s Landing and the Narrows. Visitors can revel in the park’s serene beauty, explore its diverse flora and fauna, and witness the awe-inspiring vistas that have captivated travelers for generations. Zion National Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, beckoning all to discover its timeless splendor.

Road to Virgin !