My car hates me, but...

Yes, I fear another Toyota Rebellion--628 miles today, part of it offroad across the desert. Axle-breaking ruts and the kind of bone-rattling terrain we see in the SUV commercials, but the attractions were worth it.

First, I did manage to get to the Dinosaur Quarry, approximately in the middle of nowhere at all.

Why do all my favorite friends have such impressive teeth? This is an Allosaur: They have found fossil remains of more than forty at this one quarry.

From there I raced to the immense cliffs known as the San Rafael Swell. this is the view from the top of the swell down into Spotted wolf Canyon.

At the end of a very long day, I made a quick trip to the crystal geyser. Unfortunately, it had been erupting for quite a while when I got tthere, so this is only the view as it finishes. As the Terminator said, "I'll be back!"

Off to Spoooooooky Goblin Valley in the morning!

Playing Texas Dodgem with the Cloud gods...

I awakened this morning to--surprise!-clouds. Looking for any break in the overcast, I went out to Gold Bar on the Potash Road. Took some videos of the flying lawnmower drivers. They were in from Salt Lake City, and left after a quick flight. They call what they do Powered Parachuting or Flying Gocarts. Whatever.
That image of the river bend at Gold Bar above is taken from the trail I hiked to Corona Arch. It is a mile and a half hike to reach the arch formation, and there is a 440 foot climb--each way.  Just kidding. I think.

As we approach the formation we see a Halo Arch in that big hole, and the huge Corona Arch over to the right:

The Halo Arch is a horizontal opening to the sky:

Then you walk through the Corona Arch to shoot the Sun side. Note how tiny the people look.:

Then I saw what looked like blue sky out route 128 to the East. So, I took off to take some pictures of the colossal canyons cut by the relentless Colorado. This is near Big Bend::

This shot above is from just a mile further East from Big Bend. A couple of miles past that there is a turn where we see the enormous Butte known as The Castle near Castle Valley. That is it, directly behind the river.

If you look back through the last few posts, you see that despite the weather's effect, Moab is one of the most scenic places in the country.

Since the weather looks bad tomorrow as well, I'm expecting to drive home. Another adventure!

All things come to him who waits...

Even good weather! The airport is on top of a mountain between Route 179 (seen here as it passes the Chapel--it's on the right side of the nearest mountain-- and Bell Rock) and Route 89 behind me to the North. This took a hike of a mile or so around the side of the airport mountain with the planes landing over me, but it is a heckuva view and worth every agonized step!

Cathedral Rock (below) has o be the most photographed piece of stone in the valley. You see it from everywhere, and it is nicely photogenic. This is the morning side, seen from Back of Beyond.


Then there is the graceful Bell rock, seen below in the distance from the Chapel. It's the little cone in the distance..

But, of course, when you are standing on its flanks, it doesn't look as small!! There are great views from up here--I'm going to try it again at sunset if the parking lot isn't too full!