When the travel bug bites you it is hard to get rid of - and I had the bug. I really wanted to go somewhere this past weekend, but didn't know where. We thought about going back to Disneyland, but since we didn't really get serious about it until Thursday, the airfare was not that friendly. So we decided to do a much less expensive trip and go camping. Now, if any of you know my history with camping, it usually ends wet. I don't think I have been on a camping trip in the past few years that didn't end in rain (and thunder and lightening). So I decided to propose a trip south, where the weather would be warmer and we were less likely to get rained out. Matt happily agreed to a trip to Moab and Arches National Park.
Being the kind of person I am, I decided to try getting a hotel instead of camping at all. I had been to Moab a couple of times in my life. The first time I went with my mom and dad and younger brother and sister. We did a raft trip on the Colorado and stayed in the smallest hotel room I have ever seen. Remembering this room, I assumed that hotel rooms in Moab were small, dirty, and cheap; so I was rather disappointed when we tried to book a hotel and found out that they were over $100 a night. I think that we were physically laughed at when we entered $50 as our asking price on Priceline.com. So - we camped. I found a number for, and Matt booked us a spot, at the Archview Resort (resort haha).
So we set out on Saturday morning for the long car ride down to Moab. Car rides are not generally something I enjoy, and this one wasn't really an exception. I had great company, and beautiful scenery, but I just don't like riding in the car. So I was more than happy when we got to Arches and got ready to go on our first hike.
We looked over the little map they give you at the entrance, and decided that we would do the Devil's Garden hike. We both like hiking and were both tired after having been in the car all day, so we jumped out of the car and started the hike like champs. We hiked past landscape arch and on to double o arch. They were both really pretty, and we were still having a good time. It was about 90 degrees outside - which was really hot for us since we haven't seen many days over 70 here lately. So we were both hot and tired, but still feeling good and decided to take the "primitive trail" back to the parking lot. OK, they say primitive, so I think not paved, a little bit harder. But what they mean is "risk your life climbing over boulders and jumping small canyons". So, needless to say by the time we made it back to the parking lot I was a little bit tired. However, I was happy we went that way because it was BEAUTIFUL. We saw a lot of magnificent things, and we were by ourselves most of the time. It was nice to really be out away from people.
So, after this hike, we immediately got into the car and drove to the Delicate Arch trail. We wanted to get to the arch before the sun set, and didn't have a lot of time. However, my legs froze up while we were in the car, so going up the trail was slow going. One of my favorite parts was when Matt, just being the friendly guy that he is was talking to this other guy coming down the trail. The guy told us that we were about 3/4 the way up, and Matt said "Well, I was just telling my wife that we didn't need to go the rest of the way, because, you know, I have seen the arch on car commercials and stuff" The guy stopped him right there and said "Get up the bloody hill" in a very fancy accent. So we did. And we did get up there in time to see the sun on the arch. I was happy because I had never made it up there before at when the sun wasn't set already. It really was beautiful.
We climbed down off the mountain and made it back to the car. As we drove out of the park the sun totally set and it was dark. I thought it would be a good idea to go set up our tent and everything before we tried to find ourselves dinner, just to make sure we were not going to have to drive back to Green River to find a room. So we went and found our camping spot and set up our little tent (I got it for Christmas from my Brother Dan a few years ago) and blew up the air mattress (a wedding present) and then we were ready to go get food. Unfortunately it was about 11:00 by now, so not may real restaurants were open, and honestly we were not in any shape to be seen in public, so we drove through the local Wendy's (eat great even late). And, I am not exaggerating when I say that it was the best baked potato that I have ever eaten in my life. I was so hungry! Then, with a full tummy we returned to the camp ground and fell into our tent and went to sleep.
The only complication was the tent. See, the tent that I have is a two-man tent. I am not sure which two men they meant when they designed the tent, but it was about 6'x6'. Sadly, I am 6'1'' and Matt is 6'5'', so we had to take the tent at a diagonal angle. The night was warm and we woke up well refreshed and ready to face another day. OK, we were mentally ready. I think physically all I was ready for was a long bath and a nap; neither of which did I have. So I settled for going back to Arches and going on more hikes.
It is really a beautiful place, and I was glad we were able to spend the time there that we did. I think we were able to get most of the hikes that are listed on the map done in our two day visit, and still had a little time to drive out to the lookout points and just relax and take it slow. The weather was wonderful. We were fully prepared with sunblock so we didn't get burned. I would say that we had a great weekend, and that the traveling bug was appeased for a while.
Being the kind of person I am, I decided to try getting a hotel instead of camping at all. I had been to Moab a couple of times in my life. The first time I went with my mom and dad and younger brother and sister. We did a raft trip on the Colorado and stayed in the smallest hotel room I have ever seen. Remembering this room, I assumed that hotel rooms in Moab were small, dirty, and cheap; so I was rather disappointed when we tried to book a hotel and found out that they were over $100 a night. I think that we were physically laughed at when we entered $50 as our asking price on Priceline.com. So - we camped. I found a number for, and Matt booked us a spot, at the Archview Resort (resort haha).
So we set out on Saturday morning for the long car ride down to Moab. Car rides are not generally something I enjoy, and this one wasn't really an exception. I had great company, and beautiful scenery, but I just don't like riding in the car. So I was more than happy when we got to Arches and got ready to go on our first hike.
We looked over the little map they give you at the entrance, and decided that we would do the Devil's Garden hike. We both like hiking and were both tired after having been in the car all day, so we jumped out of the car and started the hike like champs. We hiked past landscape arch and on to double o arch. They were both really pretty, and we were still having a good time. It was about 90 degrees outside - which was really hot for us since we haven't seen many days over 70 here lately. So we were both hot and tired, but still feeling good and decided to take the "primitive trail" back to the parking lot. OK, they say primitive, so I think not paved, a little bit harder. But what they mean is "risk your life climbing over boulders and jumping small canyons". So, needless to say by the time we made it back to the parking lot I was a little bit tired. However, I was happy we went that way because it was BEAUTIFUL. We saw a lot of magnificent things, and we were by ourselves most of the time. It was nice to really be out away from people.
So, after this hike, we immediately got into the car and drove to the Delicate Arch trail. We wanted to get to the arch before the sun set, and didn't have a lot of time. However, my legs froze up while we were in the car, so going up the trail was slow going. One of my favorite parts was when Matt, just being the friendly guy that he is was talking to this other guy coming down the trail. The guy told us that we were about 3/4 the way up, and Matt said "Well, I was just telling my wife that we didn't need to go the rest of the way, because, you know, I have seen the arch on car commercials and stuff" The guy stopped him right there and said "Get up the bloody hill" in a very fancy accent. So we did. And we did get up there in time to see the sun on the arch. I was happy because I had never made it up there before at when the sun wasn't set already. It really was beautiful.
We climbed down off the mountain and made it back to the car. As we drove out of the park the sun totally set and it was dark. I thought it would be a good idea to go set up our tent and everything before we tried to find ourselves dinner, just to make sure we were not going to have to drive back to Green River to find a room. So we went and found our camping spot and set up our little tent (I got it for Christmas from my Brother Dan a few years ago) and blew up the air mattress (a wedding present) and then we were ready to go get food. Unfortunately it was about 11:00 by now, so not may real restaurants were open, and honestly we were not in any shape to be seen in public, so we drove through the local Wendy's (eat great even late). And, I am not exaggerating when I say that it was the best baked potato that I have ever eaten in my life. I was so hungry! Then, with a full tummy we returned to the camp ground and fell into our tent and went to sleep.
The only complication was the tent. See, the tent that I have is a two-man tent. I am not sure which two men they meant when they designed the tent, but it was about 6'x6'. Sadly, I am 6'1'' and Matt is 6'5'', so we had to take the tent at a diagonal angle. The night was warm and we woke up well refreshed and ready to face another day. OK, we were mentally ready. I think physically all I was ready for was a long bath and a nap; neither of which did I have. So I settled for going back to Arches and going on more hikes.
It is really a beautiful place, and I was glad we were able to spend the time there that we did. I think we were able to get most of the hikes that are listed on the map done in our two day visit, and still had a little time to drive out to the lookout points and just relax and take it slow. The weather was wonderful. We were fully prepared with sunblock so we didn't get burned. I would say that we had a great weekend, and that the traveling bug was appeased for a while.
(you may need to close the advertisement over the slide show to make it work)
2 comments:
Way cute slide show. Preston and I took the "primitive trail" back from that same hike in the rain...picture water coming down all of the canyons you were jumping over and you have an idea what we were dealing with! It was really pretty though. Glad you had fun! When are you gonna come up and hang out with Daxton again?
Great combination of slides and music! I'm a little jealous of your trip. Of course, I would have DIED on the primative trail. I would like to get some pictures to put in my "future" calendars!
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