Tuesday, November 20

Arches National Park

We woke up yesterday morning still not ready for the long drive to Arizona for Thanksgiving. We're thinking we may not even go, so we're thinking up alternate plans. Rocky Mountain National Park came up, Aspen was mentioned, as well as Durango, but those are all cold places right now so I check out the weather and notice it's seventy degrees in Moab, UT. We decided immediately to go to Arches National Park for the day and were out the door in twenty minutes, and on red soil in three hours.

Arches National Park
Did I say soil? I'm not actually sure if the boys' soles actually touched soil, there were too many rocks and other cool structures to walk on to waste their time on mere dirt.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park

Arches National Park
The boys ran this whole trail out to the arch, while Jewel would stop every hundred yards or so and build a small mound out of the soft sand and poke a stick through the top. On the way back the boys would trample down the mounds, and Jewel would do quick rebuilds.

Arches National Park

Arches may have their balancing rocks.
Arches National Park
But we've got a balancing Jake.
Balance Jake

Petrified Dunes in Arches
This view shows the many different terrains in the park. There's the labyrinth of caverns to the left, petrified dunes straight ahead, along with some green dirt, more pinnacles and the LaSal Mountains in the background. So much more than just arches.

This was named Park Avenue because it resembled the high rises in NYC.
Park Ave. in Arches National Park
Then that must be Central Park the boys are running through.
Kids hiking in Park Ave

The setting sun produces the prettiest glow.
Arches National Park

Arches National Park

We spent a fabulous day in the park and I couldn't convince Joey to go on one more hike so it was time to say goodnight to Arches.
Arches National Park

We were hungry and tired so we went into Moab for supper and also ended up getting a room. A nice, BIG, hot bath was the perfect ending to another well exhausted, yet exhilarated, day.

We planned on either going back to the park the next day or driving some 4x4 trails but when we woke up we felt ready to head to Arizona so we came back to a messy bus and loads of laundry in order to pack. Laundry done, buss kinda cleaned, we're leaving for Arizona in the morning.

5 comments:

Madeline Rains said...

WOW! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures. I've always wanted to see that park. I had a friend who lived in Moab. Beautiful pictures. Have a good Thanksgiving with your family.

Heather's Moving Castle said...

I am drooling over the pictures!! have a happy thanksgiving and know we are grateful to know you!!

Deanne said...

"Wow!" That's what I say everytime I visit here and see you're pictures, "and I think to myself, what a beautiful world."

Thanks so much for sharing your life and view of it with us all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

karrie said...

Gorgeous!

Heidi Snavley said...

Wow, I haven't visited for a while so I had to do some catching up! Your family is always an inspiration for us to keep our dream alive! We loved The Arches, it was probably 100 degrees when we were there. Definitely a beautiful world we live in!

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