October 8: Moab

 Not much movement this past week - basically stayed in Moab to explore. It is a beautiful town - mountain biking mecca of Utah, big off-road destination, arches around every corner, hipster town, 2 local breweries and some great art. Spent the first few days at Goose Island campsite next to the Colorado river - was all dry-camping so no water/electricity - and had to run the generator for 30 minutes each morning and afternoon.

Goose Island campsite

The resident turkeys - family of 2 that have been there for years.

Morning

There was an evening Dinner and a Boat Ride on the river each night, and a truck would drive on the road past the camp to spotlight the rock walls - was eerie.

Looked like an africa expedition, but poor guy never leaves Utah. Might work for the Boston roads, but really..

 

Had to 'commute' about 4 miles to the 'office' to get reception and electricity.

View from my commute

My office

My commute

Had a easy walk up Grandstaff Canyon trail to see the Morning Glory arch - as one would expect - magnificent. Basically a 4 mile walk there and back ending at a rock face that had the arch.  There were some tourists rappelling down the wall behind the arch.

Adventure tourists

Clear water out of the rock

The walk was relatively easy - flip-flops...

The arch at the end of the canyon

On Thursday I moved to a RV park in town - Moab Rim RV park to charge the batteries fully, do some laundry, etc. Spent the next 2 nights there as well in their dry-camping section - for $30 you basically just get a parking spot, but you can still use their bathrooms and WiFi - so not a bad deal.

The view was maybe not the best, but there was snow on the mountains.

Breaded pork chops

Went to the Blu-pig on Friday night for some great blues.  Steve Mensch - cannot get a better last name for a blues singer.

The Mensch

Did a long cycle trip on Friday down the road that follows the Colorado river.  Saw some amazing petroglyphs - from 5000BC and beautiful rock faces.  Had to turn around after the road turned into a back-country dirt road 'sinkplaat pad'.

The pool in the pic below was at the end of this canyon

Crazy reflection

I will not be jumping off there.  Apparently the parachutes make quite a bang when they open (and they probably also make a bang when they do not open...)

The birth rock - 5000BC

My fillings were rattling loose

Moonflower panel

Campsite at Moonflower canyon

Sunday I packed up and headed for Dead Horse state park.  Apparently the place where the final scene of Thelma and Louise was shot.  Spectacular scenery, but not sure how those 2 girls could get up to any speed in that terrain.  Was a great ending for a movie though.

Gave the Whale a Sunday morning wash

My first dinosaur footprints

Amazing that a company is actually mining fertilizer down in the canyon

2000ft down

Cannot see it well, but it is 2000ft down on either side of the road - the neck

Amazing textures