30 May - Arches National Park UT, Canyonlands National Park UT and Packing Up

30 May
Last day at Grand Junction CO, so lets make it a big one!  We departed about 0900 hrs, drove about 100 miles to Utah and Arches National Park where we sat in line for over 45 minutes to check in.

Welcome to Utah sign on the Interstate

The double line entering the Arches National Park.

 The temps were in the 80's and the sun was beating down hard.  No complaints here though as we were in an air conditioned truck. We finally reached the visitor center and parked to use the facilities and pee the dog.  A group of motorcyclists pulled up next to us and they were roasted having waited on the hot asphalt for nearly an hour with the heat of their bikes and little air flow.  I provided them some bottled water and they peeled their road gear for tee shirts to cool down.

After the visitor center we headed up the windy road

and through the park past the great wall,

We passed sheep rock,

Looks like the head of a sheep

the court house towers,

balanced rock

Amazing this rock stays put!

and then to the delicate arch view point.

Telephoto lens on the big camera here.  You can see visitors inspecting the arch up close.

 We returned the same path and then headed to Moab UT to refuel

and then to Canyonlands National Park.

At Canyonlands after passing through the entrance station we stopped at the Island in the Sky Visitor's Center

We had packed lunch for the trip so we had a quick sandwich here and then crossed the street to view the Island in the Sky.

Even Liberty gets to enjoy the scenery!  She was not thrilled!

The rock formations and colors are incredible.

and then went to the Mesa Arch.  Pets were not allowed and we thought we better not press the issue with Doreen's knee, so Doreen stayed back and I headed up the half mile trail to the Mesa Arch.  This walk was like the Delicate Arch trail at Arches park - stone steps, sand pathways.

This is the namesake Arch

"Driftwood" marks the trail!

The scenery was unbelievable but so were the little things, like the cactus in bloom.

Even the sage brush had a unique odor

Artemisia Tridentata Big Basin Sagebrush.  Actually in the sunflower family. 

By the time we finished up at Canyonlands National Park it was probably 1500 hrs.  We then headed back to refuel and pack up in preparation for moving on to Ogden UT tomorrow and Willard Bay State Park Campground.  Next report from there!