Arches National Park and home bound tomorrow

 We set the alarm at 5:30 A.M.. Jumped out of bed, dressed and headed to Arches. Stopped along the way and got a breakfast sandwich at McDonalds at 6. It was a short 7 mile drive to the entrance. Seemed like another 20 or so to get to the parking lot to see the Delicate Arches. A 3 mile "difficult" trail, 1.5 miles each way. We climbed 480 feet in elevation which does not sound like a lot, but it was a lot of rock scrambling to get there. You would not believe how many people had the same idea this morning.

This is Evan and me standing under the arch. Some kind person took our picture around 7:30 this morning.

Walking through Sand Dune Arch. The sand was so fine. We walked between two missive formations and it looked like an oases in between. The sand was cool and soft.

Evan walking between the two rocks.

Walking out and seeing more formations in the foreground.

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This is called Balanced Rock. Any wonder? A little scary to me. One day it will fall.

This is a lower point to se the Arch. There were so many people up there. Looking through the binoculars it looked like a bunch of ants on a gumball. 

We spent 6 hours in the park and saw every thing to see. We drove and walked all around. I'd say we saw it all.

I am totally ready for this view. We leave tomorrow morning for home. We should get home by Tuesday. Lord willing. Please be praying for traveling grace.  There were so many ways God blessed us on this trip.

One was I had my purse on the back of the truck and forgot it was there and drove up the Cottonwood Pass one evening. I saw it there when we returned later at the camp. ALL OUR MONEY  and my cards were in there.

Another was we drove over  3,000 mile with our lights all hooked together so our blinkers didn't work. We had to drive back a few miles to an RV place to get them fixed. A guy at a stop light told us about it. The mechanic came out and rewired it FOR FREE! We gave him a big tip for his kindness. 

Please be praying for our long drive home. It will be good to turn onto our lane. However, this has been a wonderful trip and great memories.

Love you all! I'm Gonna get me some real crab when I get home!👍

 

September 16 Train ride and traveling to Arches National Park

 Yesterday we went on that train ride. In parts it was scary and other parts it was spell bounding. There you go another adjective!!! What I really liked about the ride was the mountain stream that the train followed. This one was the color of a Caribbean tide pool. The water was blue green and was calling me to jump in. Of course I couldn't ask the conductor to stop the train because I wanted to put my feet in the water. But it was pretty refreshing looking. The ride was 2 hours. When we returned we came back to the camp after driving, AGAIN on the Million Dollar Highway. I got another name for it though. "Never Ride That Route Again". N E V E R! Things happen you know!

Oh, and when we were driving back we saw a male MOOSE. We abruptly stopped the car, got out and took pictures. I have never seen a wild moose with a rack of horns? Antlers? whatever, they're called. He was beautiful. I have to admit it was awesome to see him just standing in the wet, murky marsh totally doing his own moosie thing not caring a rip about us. It was awesome!!! We were hoping to see something wild. We did see two mountain sheep as we creeped up the Never Ride That Route Again, but couldn't stop. 

We were going to stay another night in Ridgway SP, but on the suggestion of our son Carson. We left there and drove 5 hours to Arches NP. The drive was interesting. We are staying at an RV park in Moab 7 miles from the park. We will get up real early and go. It gets pretty hot during the day.

 I am constantly amazed that the topography of the USA is so diverse.

As we got closer to Moab there was a road that followed the Colorado River. It was a bit longer, but well worth the extra drive. At first it was just like the other road, but after awhile it drove this these kinds of sandstone mountains. It was fascinating.

Tomorrow we go to Arches and will be doing some hiking. And stay one more night here in Moab, Utah. Then on Saturday morning we drive home to Maryland. Gosh that sounds good! Tomorrow will be my last blog of the trip. Hope you all enjoyed following along.

A view of most of our drive today. Very dry and arid.

GOOD NIGHT All!

 

Sept. 16 Train Ride, orange streams, red mountains and old houses

 Through Littleton and Ouray to the campsite. You're probably getting tired of me using words like, beautiful, spectacular, lovely, vast, and such. But my vocabulary is limited, so you'll have to just let me get by. See what I mean? 

The days have been stunning. Warm in the afternoon, cool at night.

Much steeper then it looks in this pic.

Driving on the Million Dollar Hwy (Rt. 550), all the sudden we came to a stream that was orange. Orange as an pumpkin. Flowing wildly over orange rocks. Pools of orange mud. It looked toxic. But looking up the mountains just as suddenly were red. Red and orange mountains next to granite ones. It was odd, but it certainly explained the orange stream. That mountain must have been loaded with iron. Can you imagine the rings in the toilets of the people who live near there?  Water treatment people must have a thriving business in that area.

This area of Colorado is loaded with mining towns. Old mining towns. Once thriving now in ruins. But these houses, though old and dilapidated, tell a story. These houses used to be vibrant with lives and living and life. When I see these homes it makes me wonder about those people who used to call them their homes. I could hear the laughing and see children playing here. These were poor people who worked hard to make a living. So far up the mountain life must have been very hard. 

 I must admit when I took these pictures I had to pause and just wonder of  who lived here many years ago. It was on the sobering side. Life is short. We have one shot at it. One life to get right with God to have eternal glory with our Savior. Eternity is a very LONG time. In fact there is no end it it. It starts when you except Jesus as your Savior. Just ask. It's yours for the asking.

We are now in Silverton in a café as I write this. Later on this morning we drive to hop on board a train ride of a life time, well at least mine. It's going to wind around the mountains and we are in the gondola part of the train. Which means we are on the seat outside. Will have to wait for tomorrows blog to see exactly what I mean

Very strange stream. I guess if one was to swim in it they would come out with a glow of the unusual stain. I still think it looks toxic.

Sept. 15 Coffee at Coffee Bear and a town called Silverton

 Last night I made a HUGE mistake. How was this Maryland girl thinking that I could buy a good crab cake anywhere in Colorado? Don't do it!!! You know if they have to sell it with cocktail sauce they must need to cover the taste. It didn't. Plus, getting four crab cakes for $6 should have been another hint to walk away. I didn't. But, we did get a coffee in Ouray again today. A sweet little coffee shop that freshly grinds the beans to order to make a most delicious cup of jo. That was a huge plus. I can forgive Colorado for the crab cakes since the coffee was such a treat.

We sat outside last night and waited for our eyes to adjust to look at the stars. Oh. My. Goodness! Way better then Lucy in the Sky's with Diamonds. (of course I really wouldn't know )  Heck, I have never seen so many beautiful twinkling stars. The Heavens do declare the glory of God. We just need to take time to look. I remember as a child looking at the stars and feeling a little scared knowing they were so far away. I got that same feeling, but a little differently. It made me think of the brevity of this life and the pettiness of life I generally live. Oh man...God is so patient with me. So far on this trip I have had two God experiences. Once at the Cottonwood Lake and last night looking at the stars. Sometimes this girl just needs to stop and look up.

The harrowing drive up the Million Dollar Highway. I didn't grab hold of Evan's arm but I really couldn't look down  either. There were parts of the asphalt that was eroding right on the edge. I'm telling you they need to repair that!!!! 

Town of Littleton. Not the best picture.

I'll get more later and add it to tomorrow's post.

Today we are going to Silverton. Yup, we're driving that million dollar highway. Perhaps I should have put a little vodka in that coffee.

Sept. 14 Arrived in Ridgway Today Black Canyon NP

 Drove to Ridgway yesterday. The landscape was SO different. Lots of tan and brown. However, we were treated to the most specular views on our way. This is truly a beautiful country. made foe a stressful drive. Yesterday we drove 16 miles to Ouray. A very cute mining town. We had dinner there.

Enjoyed a delicious dinner here. Looking down on the town after dinner

Entering the Black Canyon

 

Today, we went to the Black Canyon. We started at the top and looked down. Impressive!!! Then we went D O W N, down, down. A 16 percent grade and hair pin turns, 6 slow miles. At the bottom signs of falling rock did nothing for my uneasiness. 2,700 feet difference. I can see why they made this a National Park.

I am sitting at a Dunkin Donut's table outside writing this because our days at the State Park we do not have internet, so if by blogs are a bit spotty that's why.

More pictures of today

I have so much enjoyed this trip, but typically I'm a 10 day girl before home starts calling my heart. This is day 10! Thankfully, we have much more to see. Tomorrow we are driving the million mile highway. It's a treacherous road. no guardrails and straight down! One lane in each direction. It's either called the million dollar highway because they either paved over millions of dollars worth of gold per mile or it cost a million dollars a mile to build. Until I can write again, I send my love to all who read this.

Did you know how beautiful Maryland is? How lovely the Chesapeake Bay is? How nice it is to drive without feeling like you're going to fall into the abyss? I truly am thankful to have this opportunity, BUT Maryland is a delightful place to call home.

Blessings and love to all my family and friends. Can't wait to see my little Maverick! OXOXOX

Over the Monarch Pass to Gunnison...finally

Leaving Buena Vista. After a few days longer then expected, we headed out to Gunnison. Sky's this blue are reserved for the month of September and boy were we treated with a lovely one. The drive over Monarch Pass was so beautiful. Pictures cannot do it justice.

What this picture does not show is the mountains spreading in both directions almost as far as the eye can see.

It took a little over an hour and a half to get to Gunnison. We set up as quickly as we could because we had a big day in front of us to explore. I made us a lunch and we were off. First stop, the Cottonwood Pass from this side of the mountain range. Oh my goodness, we could not believe what we were seeing. Again, pictures just do not do it justice.

This lake feeds the dam which flows down stream to the people below. It refreshes the mountain streams and the souls of many travelers.

The mountain stream that flowed down the mountain was absolutely picture perfect. I only with you could smell the pine and hear the water flowing. Since today is Saturday there were many fly fishers alone the way all dressed in their waders and in their glory. Catching a fish was a bonus!

Near the top of Cottonwood Pass we stopped to eat our lunch. Then we took a short walk up a narrow path to the top. We could see 365 degrees around

Evan enjoying the view and perhaps not really tasting what he was eating. He has never been to good at doing two things at once very well. The view took over and the sandwich was just filling.

Standing where the Pacific flows one way and the Atlantic the other. The Continental Divide. 12,126 ft. above sea level. Here you feel as if your on top of the world.

Now, on our way back down to a town called Crested Butte. Known as Colorado's last great ski town and celebrated wildflower capital of Colorado. Evan and I walked through the town. It was trendy beyond trendy. We had an early dinner outside at a fire roasted pizza place. Evan had of course PIZZA and I had a Cowboy Burger and boy was it good. On top of the burger was caramelized onions, roasted mushrooms, cheese, tomato, lettuce and pickles. I asked the the cold slaw be held on the side. It was kinda like reading a good book, you are sorry when it over. It was that tasty.

Bikes were literally everywhere

The beer was cold and delicious. and a great way to end a beautiful day all around.

However, when we came back to the camper it had fallen off its chocks and the whole camper was leaning. The front stabilizer was bent. It looked like someone backed into it. What we found out was that Evan did not chock the one wheel that was on top of the trailer leveler. Lesson learned. As a dear friend told us once, "Lessons cost money". In this instance it just cost Evan a good bit of time fixing it. I'm so thankful I have a husband who can fix things. It's 8 pm mountain and it feels like midnight. 

Good night all.