April 29, Tuesday
Travelled up to the Arches NP for a quick mid-week getaway. We had reservations at the Hilton Hoodoo in Moab. It is a nice place in the center of town, but off the main boulevard by one street.
Left on Tuesday about 9:40 a.m. and finally arrived about 4:30 with the delay/stop on I-70. A motorcycle crash, in the center divider and a Life Flight was the cause of the delay. We passed the rider’s partner, gathering up belongings, the bike was a real mess. Prayers.
It was a long day and we went directly to dinner at Fiesta Mexicana, it was ok, not great. We checked into room 331 after dinner.
We had a timed pass into the park for Wednesday at 2:00 pm, but we logged in at 7pm on Tuesday for next days tickets and snagged a 9-10am slot instead. I forgot to cancel the 2:00 pm slot. I used 2 email addresses to have 2 accounts, one for me and one for Sandy.
April 30, Wednesday
Wednesday breakfast in the hotel, Josie Wyatt, just ok.
Entered the park about 9:15 or and spent some time getting oriented at the Visitors Center.
We had the Action Tour Guide audio app for Arches NP and enjoyed listening to the narrations. We did the Double and Windows arches, the Turret arch, the Delicate arch (upper parking lot view) and the Landscape arch at the north end. The scenery was amazing and the cloud cover held off until we were wrapping up. Sandy waited for me at the parking lot for the Landscape Arch. The distance was 1.8 mile round-trip and well worth it.
No time for ham radio at WFF-KFF 0004, bummer.
Wednesday dinner was at Pasta Jays (Italian) in Moab, huge portions, ok food.
May 1, Thursday
Thursday we had breakfast at the Moab Diner, not too bad. We headed to Canyonlands NP and the Island in the Sky road to the Mesa Arch overlook. It did not disappoint. The trail is .65 mile in length, so it was a non-issue for both of us. Amazing views looking down into the valley. We saw the Shafer Trail below and I am intrigued.
No time for WWFF KFF-0010, ham radio-wise.
We drove out of the park and to the Deadhorse Point SP and had our box lunch from the Diner. Both parks share the plateau and the valley floor, so it was aquick 15 minute drive. We passed the Shafer Trail entry. We could see the switchbacks and the valley floor and the Colorado river.
No time for WWFF KFF-3066 either.
After photo ops, we headed back out of the park and to the Potash Rd, just before the bridge into Moab. Don, K9DON, recommended the petroglyphs stop and it did not disappoint. The Potash road turns into the Shafer trail as well. We turned around at the petroglyphs.
From there, we headed east, past the bridge, up Highway 128 paralleling the Colorado. We went about 15 miles upstream to the Castle Valley turnoff. Again, the views are pretty cool, probably more popular for rafters in the summer. In the future, we should explore the Red Cliffs Lodge (it’s a Marriott) and the River Grill restaurant.
The day wrapped up at Zak’s on the main drag, it was ok too.
May 2, Friday
Friday morning was breakfast,again, at Josie Wyatt, marginal at best. We tried the doughnuts at Doughbird’s, again on the main drag and on the way, we discovered the breakfast at the Jailhouse Cafe, we must try it!
Also, we must put the Sunset Grill on the dinner menu for a future visit. We left Dougbirds about 9:30 and arrived home at 3:00 pm, 5.5 hours.