This has been a week of big temperature variations: Moab is hot hot hot – every day has been over 100F (38C) from Noon to 6PM, but after one day and driving 200 miles later we are now having 40F at night.
However the constant is the southern Utah landscapes are jaw droppingly fantastic. This is not just the famous National Parks, but National Forests, State Parks even the Interstate Highways (specifically 70) and everything in between have spectacular views.
Consequently we have 100 photos this week - hope that you enjoy
Saturday August 14th - Moab and Arches
We decided to get up really early before the triple digit heat does us in! We drove into Arches up an amazing road with the sandstone monoliths on one side and petrified sand dunes on the other and everywhere you look you see these red sandstone giants.
We drove to Wolfe Ranch first and walked the 3 miles/4.8 km trail to see Delicate Arch, when we finally got to the top via a very windy narrow cliff path, we climbed up to get into the hole of where the Arch is ready for our photo ops. There were quite a few people ahead of us, which was OK as we could recover in the shade of the rock and drink much needed water. The danger signs here are not about nature, no bears, no snakes, no scorpions, the killer is HEAT, so hot!!
After this we drove to and pulled into every view point, sorry there are a lot of pics and we are trying to think of different poses, hard when there is only two of you travelling, but we will see what we can do 😊
Next we drove to The Windows Section, via Garden of Eden, Parade of Elephants and Double Arch and North and South Window, so many Arches and Towers.
We got back to our KOA campsite and took it easy from midday onwards as the heat was so intense.
Sunday August 15th - Moab
Neither of us slept that well as it was so hot, we decided to take the day off sightseeing and find a hardware store and see if they have some sort of portable air-cooling system. We found our life saver, an evaporative cooling system, best $280 we have spent so far. Cheaper than staying in an AC hotel room.
We also found the best AC equipped coffee, bakery and breakfast/lunch place – Sweet Cravings. Unfortunately, our supper options were limited to Ribs, Steak, Fries. Now we have a cool air machine, I can now manage to turn on the gas stove and cook in our aluminum can – more money saved 😊
Monday August 16th - Moab and Canyonlands
We drove to Canyonlands National Park, Island in the Sky area where we saw the Mesa Arch, Upheaval Dome, Grandview Point and a few others. This national park is quite accessible and we keep bumping into people we see on other trails. The parks are feeling less crowded here, I am sure the heat keeps a lot of people away. On the way back to down through Moab we stop at Sweet Cravings again for an iced drink and some AC action. Then back to our campsite and our cool air machine.
Tuesday August 17th - Devil's Garden, Arches
We leave our wifi behind and showers for the Devils Garden Campground inside Arches, our campsite is on the curve and we are leaning a little sideways into the sand dune and rock, this loop feels a little non-earthlike.
We get on our bikes, it’s still early and cycle to the trailhead and walk to Landscape Arch, taking in a few more Arches on our way back, we have run out of water just doing these small hikes the heat is extreme and we see some people who do not look well. We get back to our bikes and fill our water bottles at the filling station and ride back into Devils Garden and yes to our cooling air machine that works on 1.5 watts which means our Solar Renogy system can drive it without using up too much power, we just have to monitor our water use with it, as it takes 9 gallons to fill the reservoir for 5 hours non-stop – which we don’t do. There is a threat of Thunder and Lightning storms which start off with a sandstorm and we literally have to batten the hatches for the afternoon and evening. We decided to watch Total Recall as the red sand dunes and rocks remind us of Arnie’s movie about Mars.
Wednesday August 18th
We left Devils Garden on our way to Capitol Reef National Park, we could see the storm clouds everywhere and again the USA does not disappoint with the changes in scenery from Moab desert to green forests full of silver birch (like a scene out of The Revenant) , the roads are windy and steep, we go up to 9000 ft and then down a little and then up again, Ruby (Ford F150) is doing us proud. We get to our Singletree Campground in Fishlake National Forest in the rain, there is a Flashflood Warning for UTAH and we are going into the unknown hoping that we will be OK.
The clouds are ominous, thunder and lightning are not far away. We decided not to go into Capitol Reef as it looks very dark and foreboding down there. After supper, the rain, lightning and thunder start and the show begins and we take refuge in our cozy aluminum can, no need for the air cooler, we are in sweats and fleeces. We decide to watch Thelma & Louise and notice that quite a lot was filmed in Arches and Canyonlands.
During the night we are continually woken up by torrential rain, thunder and lightning strikes, the sailor in Peter is kept awake by all the possibilities of lightning striking us, I more or less slept through the whole thing.
Thursday August 19th - Arrive Bryce
We are alive and not fried, Peter couldn’t believe I slept through most of it, I did get up once to watch the show, checked the window behind our head for leaks and no water went back to sleep. Unfortunately, Peter’s side of the bed is the metal shell I could understand why he didn’t sleep. After a yummy British breakfast, we left the misty forest campground for Bryce and again the roads, the fog, the high road passes of almost 10,000 ft today and ridged roads with gorges on either side and then 18% descents on windy roads. We decide to stop in Escalante, which is a charming, funky town set in a wonderful national forest – although somewhat treacherous roads. At 3PM we get to Bryce National Park, Sunset Campground - although it was not very long distance wise, the day’s driving was pretty exhausting so we plan out our Bryce trails, nap and I write this blog in the chilly air – the high here is ONLY 73 F. After situating the Airstream and Peter checking Ruby’s fluid levels. We drive to the nearest fuel station to pick up some extra fluid. On the way back to the campsite we drive to the look out points of Bryce Canyon, again I use the word WOW! The USA does not stop overwhelming us, the canyon is filled with Hoodoos and the most amazing rock formations. This we decide is our destination for tomorrow – walking to the bottom of this canyon, the photos will tell all.
Friday August 20th - Bryce
After breakfast, we walk from the campsite to the lookout points of Bryce Canyon and find the trail down to the bottom of the canyon, we see Hoodoos, fins, arches, and cracks in the rock formations caused by the water running through the rocks and the temperature changes. Unfortunately, the bottom of the loop is closed due to the collapsing of rocks and landslides after the big storms this week. We climb back up via a switchback trail which reminds us of SF’s Lombard Street.
