Southeastern Utah, June 2011

Hi Everyone!

Today I thought I'd post a few pictures of the trip I went on with my dad a week or so ago. We were just gone for four days, as I had to be back for medical stuff, but it was wonderfully relaxing!

The pictures above are from the first day. Top: Sego Canyon pertroglyphs, just outside the town of Thompson Springs, Utah. These images were made by Indians a long time ago (hundreds of years ago? Thousands?). I'd never seen petroglyphs this color before. Bottom: Later we went to Canyonlands National Park outside of Moab, Utah (got the new Jeep out in its' natural habitat).

That night we had dinner at Milt's Stop and Eat. Really cool old diner (actually old, not new trying to look old), and best hamburger I've had in a long time. 

The next day we went south from Moab, to Natural Bridges National Monument, where we did an incredibly long and tiring hike (top). On the way there we saw Newspaper Rock (more petroglyphs; bottom).

That night we had hamburgers again in Blanding, Utah at the Patio Drive-in. My dad said to the cook, "That's the best hamburger I've had in a long time. It's even better than Milt's up in Moab." And the cook laughed and said with a smile, "Well, I KNOW that."

This night and the next we stayed at one of my favorite places in the world, Recapture Lodge, in Bluff, Utah. It's not fancy, but it's so laid back and it's right on the river and everyone there is soooooo nice (lots of European tourists). And there's noting better than their hot tub under the stars after a long day of hiking...

Day 3 clockwise from top: (1) One of the bridges in Natural Bridges National Monument. If you ever get a chance to go, I would highly recommend it...lots of great (though somewhat tough) hiking and the rock bridges are amazing. (2) Anasazi (Indian) ruins in the rock cliffs at Natural Bridges. (3) Valley of the Gods. This is a drive you can do not far from Monument Valley, with the same type of incredible rock monoliths, minus the busloads of tourists. I'd never been here and it was amazing. (4) My dad hiking outside of Bluff. This was one of the first things we did this day...we were in search of a place called Monarch Cave, but ended up on these enormous slabs of rock above it. Still an awesome hike.

And then the last day, before heading home, we went to Hovenweep National Monument, which has incredible Pueblo Indian ruins. Had always wanted to come here and it did not disappoint.

Would highly recommend a trip like this to anyone who's interested...we had the best time.

XO

Hiking in Moab, UT

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Today I wanted to share a few pictures from Moab, UT, where my parents and I went hiking on Friday. Friday was the anniversary of my brother's death, and has traditionally been a really tough day for me (although this year it wasn't too bad...a few days before was much worse.)

Anyway, I don't know what to do with painful days except to try to go and make some good memories with the people you love who are still alive, so off to Moab we went.

First was Arches National Park, which I've been to a number of time. I think Delicate Arch is one of the most beautiful things on the planet, so we went there.

Photos, clockwise from left: My parents on the trail up to Delicate Arch; a cool old, old, old tree on the side of the trail, Delicate Arch with me (tiny, tiny) at the base.

After Delicate Arch, we got lunch in Moab at the Moab Diner. There was a car show in town (actually starting Saturday), but I got a few pictures of cars on the street. Love the colors on old cars, and their logos...kind of along the same lines as my obsession with old hotel signs.

And then in the afternoon, we went hiking again just outside of Moab in Negro Bill's Canyon,  where I'd never been. There's a beautiful stream that runs through, which is unusual in this part of the world. And at the end of the trail is this unbelievable arch...it's hard to show in pictures...imagine a huge arching rainbow overhead.

Photos, clockwise from left: Me at the base of the arch (and source of the stream); the stream meandering through the canyon; the arch from below.

All in all a lovely day.

Hope everyone's week is fabulous!

XO