Arches - The Name Says It All!

Sunday September 5.

After breakfast this morning I rode over to Arches National Park. It is just two miles out of Moab. It was a beautiful, sunny day. The high was 95 and it got quite windy in the afternoon, especially around the rock formations. I spent the whole day there, from 9 to 5. I rode through the park to various views and did a couple of short walks. Then I went to the trailhead for the Delicate Arch hike. It's about a two mile walk over rocky terrain, up and over rock faces and around cliffs. Finally, you get to view the arch (which is the first picture).

After that I rode to the end of the park to do another hike. This one is called the Devil's Garden. It takes you to view eight more arches in a seven mile hike. It was quite challenging because of the heat, the terrain, the wind (which blew sand at you) and because sometimes you had to walk across very fine red sand. The trail went through narrow passages between red sandstone formations and up and over others. At other times you are walking along what they call a 'fin' which is the top edge of one of the formations. It was a great hike, and as usual, I met a couple of people to talk to along the way. Met a really nice German couple who are working in the Carolinas for BMW for two years.

The second picture from the top is Dark Angel and marks the end of the trail, whereupon you double back and retrace your steps. Really a great hike. Four great hikes in four days, my legs are tired. This picture is of a rock called Balanced Rock for obvious reasons.

I think this trip has turned into the Rock Tour! I love all these desert formations and from the beginning of the planning for this trip, Utah and its parks were to be the major focus. The area is spectacular, the weather can't be beat and the vastness I was referring to yesterday is awesome. You can see for miles, the colours are mostly pastel and the quiet is terrific.

After I came back, I was exhausted, my legs were really tanned, and I felt salty and sandy so, I jumped in the pool to cool off and rinse off.

I'm staying in the same hotel, different room because the hotel is great. It has a nice pool, good breakfast, and great rooms. I didn't feel like trying to find another room in town on this long weekend.

Tomorrow, I will head 30 miles north to explore Canyonlands National Park and then head south to ride either the Needles part of Canyonlands or a ride up a local mountain, or both!