The town of Moab, at the east of Utah's red rock country, has a surprising
amount of charm and things to do, so we decided to stay another day.
It's right next to both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Canyonlands
gets short shrift because it is next to Arches, but is quite spectacular.
You saw Thelma and Louise drive off the cliff (damn, now I've spoiled it for
you) in Canyonlands. It has three sections, though we only made our way
into one.
In Moab we also arranged some white water rafting on the Colorado. Rafting
is a strange mixture of serenity punctuated with adrenaline. The rapids were
only class 2-3 at this time of year. The Colorado is opaque in this
entire section. Our river guide was a young woman with strong arms. (She
would have won the challenge on the TV show "survivor".) Most of the
other tourists were Europeans. I practiced my French.
Once again in Canyonlands our GPS let us find a campsite off the main road.
If you try to camp late, it's hard to get spots in the parks themselves,
even in the off season.
 | | (683 x 1024 - 64K) |
I take a swim in the Colorado during a calm part of our whitewater trip
| |
|
 | | (1280 x 854 - 89K) |
| |
 | | (1280 x 854 - 110K) |
Our rafting partners and guide enjoy the day. She got to do all the rowing.
|
 | | (1280 x 854 - 85K) |
Buttes along the Colorado
| |
 | | (1280 x 854 - 84K) |
K. enjoying the river
|
 | | (1280 x 854 - 132K) |
On the way up to Canyonlands National Park
| |
 | | (1280 x 854 - 96K) |
The Canyonlands. It's sunrise and the light is in the wrong direction, but they go on forever
|
|
| |
 | | (1280 x 854 - 85K) |
Candlestick Butte
|
 | | (683 x 1024 - 60K) |
An incoming side canyon
| |
 | | (1280 x 854 - 75K) |
Another view of the canyon and Candlestick.
|
 | | (1280 x 854 - 93K) |
K. photographs the Canyonlands
| |
 | | (1280 x 854 - 83K) |
The uranium miner's road descends at the "neck" in the Canyonlands. Other photographers await that sunset shot.
|
 | | (683 x 1024 - 50K) |
Sliver of light on the canyon tops
| |
 | | (1280 x 854 - 125K) |
Final light at the Shafer canyon at the Neck
|
 | | (1280 x 854 - 34K) |
A fascinating cloud at sunset
| |
 | | (1280 x 854 - 75K) |
After our rafting trip
|
 | | (683 x 1024 - 96K) |
An Arch to be along the Colorado
| |
 | | (683 x 1024 - 90K) |
Come on in, the water's fine
|
