Desert Southwest 2010

 A road trip to southern Utah. Caravanning with Everett and Barbara Chun and meeting up with Dennis and Connie Figueira who will be driving in from Las Vegas.
Trip Details:
Distance: 2,657 mi  Not counting side trips and wanderings. (probably closer to 3,000mi)

 

Day I: Tue: On our way !! Bellevue to Twin Falls Idaho. On the road at 0705. Drove to Snoqualmie Pass to meet Barbara and Everett for breakfast. The lodge was closed for renovations. So we headed to Cle Elum to have our breakfast and morning meeting. The drive went great with Anita and I taking shifts. Sunny all the way. Arrived in Twin Falls 12hrs and 629mi later. GREAT day!! Looking forward to tomorrow as it will be the first time on this road and all new scenery and adventures.  Hopefully tomorrow will bring some more and better pictures. Today was spent trying to cover some distance. I just had to do the motorcycle and sidecar picture. The folks had crossed the country a couple times in and on that rig.

Day II: Wed: Twin Falls Id. / Moab Utah  An 0830 departure and after a 470mi adventure we arrived in Moab, Today's drive was interesting and a little more relaxed (not quite as far to cover) It did get a little interesting as we drove thru Salt Lake City we got hit with a major rain shower.  Had a picnic on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. It was a little too cold to take a dip but I did taste the water and it was surprisingly not as salty as I thought. Arriving in Moab. It was just like a story book. After seeing lots of beautiful country we rounded a bend and imidatily we were surrounded by mega clifs and beautiful rock formations. Tomorrow it is off to Canyon Lands and Arches national parks.

Day III: Thur. Sun and Fun! We all jumped on the Rav 4. And were on our way to do some park exploring. Started in Arches National Park. WOW! 3mi up the road from our digs. I would try to describe this place but that would only repeat what every brochure says. We drove, hiked, and were in constant ahhhhh in every bend of the road and turn of our heads. Oh yes there was not much time without laughs and sharing our day with great friends. After Tommy’s legs felt like they should fall off and I finally caught my breath from hiking around at 6000 feet. We headed up the road to Canyon lands Park. On the drive to the park entrance I could only think I had better check in on Sparkey! Then as we rounded the first bend into the park itself all that tiredness vanished and once again I was taken by ahhhhh. The late afternoon sun was warm and the still air was cool. “Just how I like it” You could just sit on the edges of thes canyons with magnificent views and only think “What could be better than this” Perfect. As the sun was setting, 150mi and 8hrs of wonderment behind us we headed back to the hotel and out for dinner at the Moab Brewery. I only wish those who did not join us and those who will still join us could be here now.

Day IV: It’s Friday morning. And I am hanging in the hotel lobby having coffee and taking advantage of good WIFI as the room WIFI sucks. It is fun sitting here listening to all the chatter from the breakfast area filled with excited voices from many lands, There are people from 20 to 80 dressed in everything from hiking gear to there PJ’s. When we get rolling this morning we are going to tour our way south to Bluff Utah. 2hrs from here but I am confident it will take most of the day as driving in this part of the country is totally filled with unbelievable sights. Oh yes It’s around 50degrees out now and should be in the mid 80’s and sunny for todays highs.
  I was right. It did take all day to make it to Bluff. About 1/2 way down we headed back into the south end of Canyon Lands. Here were were pretty much down in the canyons as opposed to being on top yesterday at the north end. It’s now a little after midnight and I am sitting out on the porch of our digs. The room is still a little hot. So I came out to cool off and check out the stars. Well its cool out here under a star filled sky. We did not make plans where day five will take us as yet. But as it stands we will venture somewhere in the general direction of Mt Carmel. To meet up with Dennis and Connie. on Monday Day six. From there we will venture out on daily adventures for the next four days. Well I am getting cooled down so I think I will call it a night.  186mi 7hrs

Day V:  Saturday This morning we got a early start. We left Bluff and headed north and Barb and Ev started a little later taking a southerly detour to Monument Valley. Once again it took us 8hrs to cover 231mi. For me the highlight of the day was the Mokie Dugway.  That is a gravel road switching back and forth up the sheer side of a mesa some 1500ft Very Cool. Other than that it was just another day driving thru a postcard. What could be better. Its now 10pm and we are waiting to see B & E. They should be arriving here in Torrey 

Day VI: Torrey to Mt. Carmel. GOOD MORNING TORREY!!! Its 6:45 The sun is just coming over the mountains . Everyone is sacked out and I am sitting in the car listening to Pandora,  playing with my computer. Also waiting for the coffee shop to open. Anita and I should be out of here sometime after seven. Stopping in Bolder for breakfast at a highly recommended place. Then continue on thru Escalante and on to Mt Carmel where we will meet up with the Figuearas and hang out for the next 4days.
We got out at 0800 and drove to breakfast. And once again a 35mi drive took over an hour and a half. Just too much beauty to make any time, After breakfast Anita and I headed on. Barb and Ev stayed back to take in some Anatzi Indian culture. We arrived at Mt Carmel and the Sugar Knoll B&B around 4:30. Yet again another 191mi day took over 8hrs. This is sort of our average speed 20 some MPH over great no traffic highways. I guess that says it all. Barb and Ev showed up around seven and Connie and Dennis arrived around 8. We spent the rest of the evening hanging around the campfiere, catching up and planning our next day.

Day VII: Monday Zion Park. Breakfast served at 8am. Off to Zion with the whole gang (Anita Tommy, Barb ,Everett and  Connie & Dennis) After arriving at the visitor center we all boarded the park bus’s (the only way other than on foot to check out the park) Connie Dennis Anita and I found the easiest hike and spent  2hrs laughing and pushing ourselves up the trail. Barbara and Everett went on a three hr Big Boy hike. Hey it was 100 degrees at 6000ft plus! Hey wimpy is a good thing. All in all. Another GREAT day.

Day VIII: Tuesday SLOT CANYONS.

WOW oh WOW!! This was the one thing I really wanted to do. Connie and Dennis headed off to Brice Canyon National Park. The rest of us with our trusty Inn keeper/ Guide. Jumped into our 4 wheel vehicles and headed down the road behind our B&B. Not 200yds down the road we were crossing a stream. We continued up a ATV trail for a mile or so and arrived at Red Canyon Slot Canyon. By this time after bouncing over rocks and ruts our wheels were in 9in deep soft sand and we were moving like we were in deep snow. Mike grabbed his trusty old aluminum ladder and we headed into what looked like a cave in the hillside. As we entered the slot canyon the opening may have been about 8ft wide and the walls 50ft high of beautiful sculptured rock. For the next two and a half hours we proceeded through the canyon climbing over piles of rocks, small areas of water from the last flash flood and areas that you had to turn sideways to squeeze through. Every turn and twist was an “Oh My God Look At This !!!!” experience. And no way one could get over some of those rock piles to another level. Without the help of all of us and the trusty ladder. We sweated, Laughed and experienced contorting ourselves like pretzels. I just can’t put into words how great this was even after standing on the edge of 1000ft cliffs and looking over  unlivable landscapes painted with all colors and shapes. The only thing I can say. If you EVER get the chance to visit a slot canyon JUST DO IT!! That evening we all went out to dinner and came back to the B&B.  Sat around the fire and shared our experiences.

Day IX: Wednesday Mt Carmel Idaho Falls. Anita and got up early and at day break we headed north. After 10hrs and 500 plus miles. We ended up in Idaho Falls. Made quit a few stops. Including 520 I street Salt Lake City Utah. My birth place and first home. We also stopped by the Hill air force base museum where they have one of  the two remaining C124 globe masters. The aircraft I spent my Air Force days on back in the late 60s. Had a good dinner and went for a walk along the Snake river in the still warm evening air. Yet another great day. 

Day X: Yellow Stone  Out early from Idaho Falls on our way to Yellow Stone National Park In hopes of catching a glimpse of some critters and a geyser or two. Well we were not disappointed. We first happend upon a bull moose munching some goodies in the reeds. We then came upon a bunch of stopped cars full gawkers. There were a bunch of buffalo. Then out of nowhere came one monster  buffalo out of the trees and he was running down the side of the road along side the car. You could hear him breath he was so close. Very cool. Finally as we were nearing the north entrance of the park there was a road sign saying no stopping. Not a hundred yards went by before everone was stopped. I thought there must be a accident but no. It was a large black bear feeding just off the road.  We also spotted a number of elk. A couple cyotes and various other critters. It was a true success. The weather has been record breaking. Just plain GREAT. Well after 10 fast hours on the road we called it a day here in Anaconda Montana. “Anita’s birthplace” Sometime tomorrow it will be off to Spokane. Oh yes it was a 224mi day.

Day XI: Off to Spokane. Had a good breakfast at Donavan's and did a quick photo shoot around Anaconda. Somewhere around 8 we headed out for Spokane. As normal we just dilly dallied along checking out things and places. Made it to Spokand around 5pm and immediately gave the RAV-4 a much deserved bath. Stopped by Mary’s. More or less just said Hi. Then off to the hotel for our overnight.

Day XII: Spokane. Anita’s Mom’s Memorial 

Day XIIl: Sunday Oct 3rd Spokane - Home. Hung around Mary’s until noon. Then headed back to Bellevue in an uneventful nice drive home. All was well with the house other than some signs of a mouse house sitting while we were gone. Oh yes I flipped on the hot water circuit breakers in hopes that we would have hot watter in the morning, But was presently surprised when the water was hot with in the hour.