Wednesday 24 October 2012

The Road Trip - Arches & Canyonlands

Well we set off from Little America in SLC at 8:30 am on the Monday to go and pick up our camper van at the airport, where LT's booking thingy told her it was.  We trawled all the luggage over to the car hire place aaaand nada.  Niet. Not one sign of the car hire place, so we phoned them.  It turned out they were about 20 miles south of SLC, not north where the airport was...  A $60 taxi drive later (when the driver got lost several times) and we were there.  We needed to grab a pile of things before leaving the city with the camper van, including food, so we hit up Target, Walmart and Joann's.  Living the high life, that's us...

It was a loooong drive down to Moab, and when we got there it was dark.  Which might have been how LT managed to hit an immovable object with the passenger side wing mirror.  I couldn't possibly comment though.  Anyway, it did give us some excitement the next morning as we headed to Canyonlands National Park because we got to stop in at the sheriff's office to report it as per the insurance instructions in the RV.  He was perplexed as there's some law in Utah that under $1000 wasn't reportable, but he was nice and made something up for us.  LT and Laura thought he was kind of cute too, and they did wonder how we might get to see him again...

So after that the adventure really began and we drove up to Canyonlands National Park.  On the way down the road we spotted the perfect place for lunch, so we stopped and enjoyed the view:



Then we headed down to the gate and we got ourselves a national park pass as we were going to be in so many, so now we can come and go through loads of them.  We stopped at the visitor's centre first and admired the view from there:

Me with Laura cluttering up my photo
Next we drove down to where the famous arch is that everyone likes taking photos through at sunrise:


Before we drove all the way to the end of the road.  Doesn't it look like some huge dinosaur thing has been crashing through the landscape behind me?


I met a new friend up there as well.  This is a chipmunk - Laura can't tell the difference between them and squirrels and bandicoots - stupid woman!


Finally we went to upheaval dome, a big dent in the ground:


After a less than stellar meal at the microbrewery in Moab we hit the sack so that we could be up bright and early to go to Arches National Park.  Deirdre, Laura's annoying donkey, decided to bomb my photo here.  She got more amorous as the day went on, it was rather worrying...


These were taken as we drove around:


Don't you like our home away from home?


We hit up Delicate Arch viewpoint from the bottom next:


Before LT and Laura insanely decided they needed to walk up there.  It was a veeeerrrry long walk (ahem, were you walking or hitching?! - LT)  Details...  Anyway, we finally made it to the top 5 miles later (it was only about 2 1/2 each way - LT)  Stupid people can't mark paths properly, we got very lost both ways:


After we'd worked our way out of there we went to look at a bunch more rocks.  Can you see the people climbing here?


How about now?


Look, smoke signals, must mean dinner's ready!


Our final stop was the Windows, so here's one of them eyeing us up:


And then Tunnel Arch - doesn't it look like Africa?


That bloody donkey leapt in again!


This was our view from the campsite before we left the next morning, just in case we hadn't seen enough red rocks...


We made sure we stopped in for a healthy breakfast to see us on our way - cinnamon buns and lemonade :oD  It was a fun wee cafe we'd found the day before when Laura was craving take out caffeine on our way to Arches, so we had to stop in.  Can you see the jewellery for sale underneath me?  The tables all had glass tops and artistic things inside for sale, plus the wall was covered in artwork and photos.  Can you also see the woolly hand warmer on Larua's latte?  We did have a giggle at that!


Next stop Mesa Verde, Colorado...

10 comments:

Alan said...

Coo flip Jack, what a trip. Seems your staff and mine like to see lots of rocks and things.
I agree with you about the donkey, I would be worried too if a blue donkey started getting amorous. Keep the photos, 'cos nobody would believe you otherwise. They'd think it was the effect of too many micro brewery visits. Pink ephalents, blue donkeys, they're all the same.
You're unfair to Laura though, cos she was keeping you off the ground.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Hugs,
Jock

Ann said...

I think you are at risk of reaching rock bottom on this trip. Can't she take you somewhere where the ground is a little softer and the landscape a bit greener - it would bring out the colour of your fur so much better.

Isisjem said...

Fabulous pictures. Although you do look worried next to that donkey in the first picture Jack. Now you can tell me has LT been good or has she been buying up half the US?

Canadian Abroad said...

Been years since I have had Minute Maid Lemonade. Oh the memories. Looks like you are having an absolutely wonderful time, Jack. Hope the donkey controls her amorous impulses!

The Bear's Blog said...

Hi Jack,

We think your donkey friend is very nice and why don't you make it an enjoyable trip and make friends with her. Maybe, just maybe you would have loads of fun and could share secrets and stories about your humans. (o:

Hugs
Prudence ♥

Alan said...

HI again,

I liked your little chipmunk friend. Could he sing?

Also, do you sleep above the cab in your home from home. It looks quite exciting.

Hugs again,
Jock

Jenelle said...

Looks like your gals are taking you to some interesting places Jack. :) Be careful next to all of those cliffs!

ginger@bearbits said...

Hi Jack,

What fabulous scenery you are getting to enjoy. Lucky for you to have such a marvelous staff that will expedite your adventures and keep you from having run-ins with the law. Are you sure you weren't driving when that passenger side mirror got banged a bit?

Nevermind, I don't need to know. I can see you are having tons of fun and really, those minor incidents are really just non-essential nuisances.

You'll get better at driving once you get used to using a stick to reach the accelerator.

Other than that I'm glad to see you enjoying your adventure!

~ginger

linda said...

wow jack is having fun hope you two are as well .........oops three !!

maddyrose said...

Hi Jack,
WOW! What an adventure you're having. Those are some really big rocks you climbed around on! How did they get all of the holes through them? Did Laura and LT get to see that sheriff again? Of all the pictures on this post the one of the cinnamon roll was the yummiest. Did you eat it all? Stay close to LT and don't get lost.
Hugs,
Bellamine & Wendy