10-11-23 Oh the glorious Arches
Went to sleep listening to what I thought were coyotes and awoke to the sound of a horse braying for its breakfast. I worked on getting payroll finished, we got ready, including Sonia reading the instructions and finding out we were to do the dishes and take out the garbage! It was a very expensive room so that was a surprise. I did have a delicious coffee and my last donut. I laughed when I opened my laptop and the windows desktop was Bryce Canyon. Sure, remind me of the flirtation.
We headed towards Arches National Park outside of Moab, Utah, and meandered through the countryside on our way there, stopping at anything interesting that appealed to us. We met many interesting folks and saw some special places and formations.
First stop was just after I got a warning from my car to watch for ice, which horrified poor Sonia, who is not used to cold. We found Butch Cassidy’s Boyhood Home which continues to be restored and was quite a find out in the backroads
It is feeling a touch of fall and the colours are amazing. The wind is also very strong and takes some concentration, to stay on the road and to not let the doors fling when opened. Unfortunately, while we were stopped at Sand Beach View Area, Sonia felt a pop in her calf and has had trouble walking since. I have been trying to park or drive slow so she can take pics out the window and then I pop out and get other ones.
Spotted Wolf Canyon was breathtaking!
We ended up driving into the rain as we approached Moab, our site seeing destination for the day. We stopped at Wendy’s, hoping to grab a salad and plan the rest of the day. It turned out to be very understaffed and disgustingly dirty. We were there for 45 minutes and didn’t see a single thing get cleaned or cleared. So sad.
After the rain stopped pounding, we headed to the park gate. As it happens, you are supposed to reserve an entry time and we missed any for today, but at 4 you just pay and go in. I drove around the weird lineup by the highway and went up the long drive to the booth. I told the Ranger that I had driven a long way and that it had been 41 years since I was last there, so I didn’t book ahead. He said well, it’s 3:52, so you are a little early but go ahead and enjoy the park! I can’t begin to explain how emotional it was to go there. I was last there with Bill, before we were married! Much has changed but I jumped for joy when I saw the two seagulls fighting over food, the baby elephant, and the man walking by. OK, that’s what I saw back then, and recognized them instantly. Here they are first.
And then, the rest including amazing clouds, and a rainbow.
As the sun was setting, we were heading west and then north towards Salt Lake City. We wanted to get as far north of it as we could before stopping for the night so that tomorrow would hold enough time to see the few things we wanted to along the way and get Sonia to Helena in time to do laundry and prep for her presentation for work the next day. I drove through rain, construction, speeding semis, and snow! Sonia filmed it, saying it was like the millenium falcon. You have to know that I liked that reference. We finally stopped in Murray Utah for dinner at IHOP and the lovely server suggested we stay at the Holiday Inn Express just up the street as we were very tired and it was late. I booked it on a discount through Hotels.com, but when I went in to check in, there was no reservation. It took a very long time to get settled. The hotelier was awesome and gave me an even better rate for my troubles. The agent for Hotels.com said he would refund my CC but it would take 7-10 days. I screen shot the conversation to make sure I have back up. We were so tired that we forgot to take a pic of the very nice room before we messed it up.
Earlier in the day we saw a guy walk in to Wendy’s with a pistol in a holster strapped to his leg and at a gas stop I saw the oddest collection of collectibles. We are definitely not in Canada.
I have enjoyed interesting talks with Sonia, she feels I should transition to my new career of Marnée’s Magic Tours. My happy personality and genuine passion to see all the things and share them with others would make me a great guide, she says encouragingly. Little does she know I would abandon all in a heartbeat to do that. I have learned a few things this trip, or at least solidified them; I ought to nail down a 10 year plan, I can trust my gut and take calculated risks, like spending a week with a woman I met for a few days 12 years ago in the Great Bear Rainforest, and that I do not ever want to settle for anything less than what I felt yesterday talking to Rich.
triumphgal 