Desert Solitaire

Yesterday we were back at Arches Nat'l Park, this time we went out to the Windows Arches, Turret Arch and Double Arch. The Windows are two Arches, a north and a south one. The Double Arch, as in the name is two Arches joining each other. We hiked around the sandstone for the afternoon then made our way back into Moab. The other day we got coupons for a free piece of petrified dinosaur bone from Lin Ottinger's Rock Shop. So we stopped in on the rock shop to see what the store had to offer us. There are tons of rocks and gems that fill the inside and outside patio of the store. When we entered the store Lin was working there. He is an older man who goes around Utah and finds dinosaur bones. He found a full skeleton and donated it to BYU. He told us all about his findings and that because of his advances in paleontology there has been a dinosaur named after him.We looked around the shop for about an hour, collected our free dinosaur bones then went to dinner. We went to the Moab Brewery for dinner and drinks. The place had amazing service and the food and beer was delicious. After sneaking some showers at a RV camp we settled in for the night in some parking lot.



Double Arch

Natalie getting some shade at Arches

Today we woke early and went back to Arches, the rangers working the gate have come to recognize us. We took a 2 mile hike at Park Ave trail and saw Court House Towers and Sheep Rock (which actually looks like a sheep) We left Arches early and picked up some more groceries then drove to Canyonlands Nat'l Park. Our first stop outside the park was Newspaper Rock- which is covered in ancient petroglyphs. Once inside the park we made two short hikes at Roadside Ruins, which has a small structure that once held grains for the natives, and to Cave Springs a hike that runs under the alcoves of the canyons, the same alcoves that protected the cowboys that used to run cattle. Our hike led us up a couple wooden ladders to the top of the cliff and along the rim. When we were done hiking for the day we drove the motor home down a gravel road to Elephant Hill where we cooked dinner and talked to the passing hikers. A hiker came off the trail and asked if we could give him a ride. He had just hiked 10 miles through the canyons, and had been in desolation for 3 days. We had extra food and offered him dinner and refilled his water. We all ate and learned of each others adventures. When we were done with dinner we made our way to the camp with our new friend. At camp we said goodbye and we went to see a ranger talk about the plant life in Canyonlands. The talk was very interesting and we learned about how the plants had survived the harsh conditions of drought and monsoons.We drove back to Moab where we will be staying for the night, tomorrow we plan on heading towards Colorado.



Petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock



Natalie hanging out in a hole at Park Ave trail- Arches

Quote:
     "The most dangerous risk of all- the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself freedom to do it later."