Saturday, June 15, 2013
We
have been so engaged that it seems I cannot find the time to blog as frequently
as I would like. So once again, this blog is 2-3 days absorbed in one.
Ron
and Judy, our friends from the Florida Keys, arrived Wednesday evening around
9:00pm. It was Ronnie’s 70th birthday. We purchased a birthday cake
and met them as they pulled in to the RV Park. On the cake Tommy had written’ “if
you were a tree, you wouldn’t be old”! LOL! |
| Dillon and Sire playing |
Thursday,
they needed a day to get acclimated to the elevation and time change so we kept
the day simple. We drove into town and brought them to the Welcome Center.
There ,they picked up all kinds of literature regarding Moab and the million
and one things to do here.
 |
| DA Boys |
We
also introduced them to the Moab Brewery where we ate too many appetizers and
ended up omitting dinner that evening. Around 7 pm we took them up to Ken’s
Lake. There, Dillon, Ron and Judy’s Portuguese Water Dog, was introduced to
Sire and Beaux. They got along famously. The dogs played in the river for a bit
and we then journeyed up to some caves
where there were remnants of an old movie set. Ron and Judy were excited. We both got
some really good pictures and it was just enough to introduce them to Moab on
their first day. |
| Pretty Moon |
Friday
rolled around and we decided to go Jeeping. We headed out towards Chicken
Corners. This is one of the most beautifully scenic spots we have found thus
far. It over looks the Colorado River with bends and cliffs and time lines in
the rock formations.  |
| Ron and Judy |
Most
of Moab has been under water, literally a sea, 7 times. These grounds, and
mountains, house the largest concentration of dinosaur bones excavated in the
world. With Russia being second. Just last week a visiting family uncovered a
dinosaur along their journey and it turns out to be fully intact. That is a
rare occasion. The family called in the experts and it is now being carefully
removed from the earth and eventually they, the family, will have the right to
name it. We see fossils everywhere but are told never to walk on them. They are
a precious part of history from millions and millions of years ago and should
remain for all generations to see.
So
back to Chicken Corners. It is a complete 4x4, 3.5-hour drive on the trail to
reach the end. The trail is challenging at times but incredibly scenic which
makes the time fly by.
The
route travels the Colorado River Canyon just below Moab. It follows a
spectacular part of Kane Springs Canyon, climbs the Kane CreekAnticline to
Hurrah Pass, and descends to benches above the Colorado River. The trail dead-ends about 400 feet above the
river across from Dead Horse Point. Dead Horse Point is on a lot of postcards
from here. The trial is 17.2 miles in to the very end. At that point you park
and hike a little less than a ½
mile to an open vista with remarkable views.
Along your
trek you will descend 1760 feet into canyons and climb 1827 feet to the summit.
There are switchbacks and loose gravel with rockslides. It is not for the faint
hearted. The very end of the trail is named Chicken Corners for a reason. If you’re
a chicken you will NOT turn that corner.
 |
| hummingbird |
We
stopped at Base Camp along the way. There is man named Tom who owns Base Camp.
It is a house on the river that has 4-6 guest bedrooms. It will cost you $110.00
a night and everyone shares the main house, including the kitchen. Tom lives
there along with his 9-year-old daughter Linnie. He offers disc golf, rafting
tours, four wheeling, hiking, kayaking, fishing, rock climbing, nature walks,
bon fires, and great story telling. All is included in your stay, no extra
costs.
 |
| Hogan |
After
stopping at Base Camp, we traveled on to a hiking trail, which led us to petroglyphs.
We drove down an arid river wash and parked by an old car that was stuck and
left in the riverbed for many many years. We hiked from that point around a
huge rock and found several writings on the rock wall. Every time we find new
petroglyphs Tommy tries to interpret them. Sometimes we can make sense of the
them and others we are at a loss. Still, they are pretty cool to witness.
Back
on the trail we headed toward the Wind Caves, but decided to stop there on the
way back. They are a series of massive rocks that the wind has carved caves
into. It’s almost like a carnival house of mirrors. You become confused inside
with all the twists and turns, but is quite an experience. Years and years and
years of wind have sculptured these amazing mazes.
We
continued on to the end and when we reached our destination and parked, Ron
decided not to hike. We were 400 above the river and the hiking trail is
approximately 4-5 feet wide with a rock wall on your left and a cliff on your
right. We didn’t know it but Ron is not a fan of heights.
There,
where you park, is a sole pinnacle rock that is completely separated from the
trail and of course Tommy was the first one to jump over onto it. He coaxed Judy
and me and eventually we also jumped over on it. This was huge feat for Judy.
She is afraid of heights also and you can see down to the bottom through the separation
of rocks. She was brave and proud and it was well deserved. 
We
sat and ate our celebratory apples along with cheese and bing cherries that Judy
had brought along, and started our trek back.
We
cancelled the stop at the wind caves on the way back because it was getting to
be after 5pm and our dogs, along with Dillon, have been in the RV since we left
at 9:30 that morning.
We
finally got back home around 6:30, fed the animals and took them to Mills Creek
for some fun. Dillon and Sire love the water. Dillon is as goofy as he is cute.
Beaux and he are quickly becoming best friends.
After
the boys came home and had baths, we all went out for burgers and hit the hay
early. It was a long day and very much fun filled.
Today,
Saturday, we are hanging low and catching up with laundry. Thanks for reading!
(Double click on the pictures for a slide show).
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