Moab, Solo
I left Monday morning around 10 and got to Arches National Park around 2. It was a great drive, with clear skies. It was nice weather while I was there. After a stop at the visitor's center, I went right to Delicate Arch. I made the 1.5 mile uphill hike in about 30 minutes. Once I was getting close, I got excited. I knew that around the bend I would see the Arch. It was exciting to see it again. The family and I saw it for the first time in 2009. When we went in 2010, it was too snowy to hike. I was up there by myself. Not another sole was there. I tried to take pictures with me in it, but decided to focus on the arch instead. I walked around to the other side and saw a view I had not seen before. It was windy, but nice to be up there.
On the way down I passed some hikers. I drove into the city and checked into the motel, did some work on the computer, then got some dinner. I watched TV and went to bed.
The next morning I went to the Moab Library to administer the test to 4 students. They got done within an hour, so I packed up and headed back to Arches. It was another gorgeous sunny day and the contrast between the red rock and blue sky was amazing. I hiked the Park Avenue trail, an easy one-mile hike. As I hiked and looked at the towering rocks and blue sky, I wondered how people can think God does not exist. It was evident to me there, that He does exist and that Jesus created this beautiful world.
I had to drive an hour south to Monticello. Along the way I stopped at Hole-N-the-Rock, a real eyesore. It is a "museum" of a house some guy carved into the rock in the 1960's. I bought some cute earrings for Em and a cowboy play set for James, so it was worth it.
As I continued to Monticello, I was really low on gas. I prayed I would not run out. I was happy when I saw a gas station over the hill. I filled up, got some lunch at the Juice Tree, and went to the library for the next round of testing. Again, they finished fairly quickly. I left around 3:30 with Dead Horse Point in mind. I had read about it and heard about it, and wanted to make it there. To get there, I drove a little bit north of Moab onto a side road where people enter Canyonlands National Park. Along the way there were cattle in the road. The drive was not very scenic and I was wondering when I'd get to the point. I didn't pass any other cars and when I pulled into the Visitor Center parking lot at 5pm, no other cars were there. I ran in and paid the entrance fee, then took a look. It was neat, but as the Ranger told me, it was not "the famous" scene. She directed me a mile up the road to the lookout point. Again, I was the only one there. The lookout was amazing. It was like the Grand Canyon. I was there as the sun started to set. The scenery was gorgeous. I cannot believe I have live in Utah my whole life and never seen this place. I spent several minutes up there taking a lot of pictures. I used the self-timer to get some shots of myself. It was neat and strange at the same time, to be there all by myself.
I left DHP and drove to Green River. By that point, I had 3 more hours to go and knew I would not be good to continue home. I had a previous reservation in that town. There is nothing there, really. I checked in, got dinner at the gas station Subway, and showered and went to bed. I left around 8:30 am and made it home to get James from the babysitter at 11:30 am.
I enjoyed this little trip. Though the main purpose was for work, I am glad I planned ahead and made time to see some of Arches and to see Dead Horse Point. It was worth it!
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