...Welcome to Utah...Life Elevated...does this mean that they are high?? Doesn't seem consistent with the sober Morman philosophy to me...jes sayin'.
...While this probably won't cause you to cancel your trip to Utah, you may not fish while on horseback here.!!! (I did not inquire as to the penalty, but I suspect they take such matters quite seriously here.). (You gotta wonder what specific incident resulted in the lawmakers deciding that the heinous act of horse fishing just had to be stopped...)
...If you use your GPS for driving directions in Salt Lake City, you may find yourself wondering if the nice lady in the GPS (ours is Gertrude P Steinmetz) has been sparkin' up some wacky weed in your absence. For instance, while on our way to somewhere in town, Gertrude directed us to "Turn North on East 2100 South". SAY WHAT??? This command is followed by the directive to "Turn West on North 1700 East". (While your cautious Captain would never condone drinking and driving, I believe the street naming system here would make more sense when filtered through a several glasses of tequila...)
...one of the lesser known sights in Salt Lake City. It's a bar...(There's gotta be a story here...)
...the view from our table at Red Lobster...this is right in the city!!!
...Yep, we checked. There is a Salt Lake there. Here, Leslie is demonstrating that old biblical maneuver of walking on the water.
...Back to the city...Salt Lake City is stunning and squeaky clean...
...during the daylight hours, and....
...certainly as the sun sets. The rocks in the mountains seem to change colors hourly...
...One day we drove to nearby Park City, Utah to check out this village of approximately 6,000 hearty souls....
...It was Sunday and they were having a Farmer's Market on the barricaded Main Street...
...First signs of Fall here in the Wasatch Mountains...
...The Farmer's Market...The Commodorable got a new leather purse, handbag or whatever its called. The Captain got bubkus...poor ole Captain...
...looking back onto the village...
...Returning home, we detoured into Emigration Canyon to see the homes there...
...the homes were just OK, but the canyon and the roads there were spectacular!!!
...Not previously mentioned is the fact that the KOA Campground in Salt Lake City is:
A.) Really IN the city, and...
B.) A truly super park. No dust, beautiful trees, paved sites and paved, wide roads throughout.
...We liked the place so much, we considered staying a few more days, but the call of the road beckoned, so your Captain made a plan to depart on Monday for the deserts of the Arches National Park and the town of Moab, Utah...
...Factoid: Moab is named for the two Jewish cousins who first explored the area in 1823. Moshe and Abraham Schwartz were seeking a place to open the first New York style deli in the area. Upon seeing the breathtaking beauty of this area along the Colorado River they chose to establish their settlement here. After protracted discussions as to whether to name the village Abemo or Moabe (incorporating the founders' names), the difficult decision was reached to call it the latter name.
...While preparing the hand carved road signs, Moshe dropped the "E", thereby naming the settlement MOAB. Abraham nearly plotzed when he saw what Moshe had done to his name, but was mollified when told that he could be the first Mayor. The name stuck and is used to this day...
..,################################...
..Ok, Ok, I made all that up...sigh...the name Moab actually comes from an area along the River Jordan in the Middle East. B o r i n g !! (Personally, I think my story has more pizazz, more warmth, etc...I'm jes sayin')
...Anyway, en route to Moab we saw...
...and...
...the views got more sensational as we went southeast in Utah...
By mid afternoon...
...Rocky, our Head Westie and intrepid navigator alerted me that we would soon be approaching Moab...
...Looking westward from the Beast while refueling...
...Here is a great view from one of the overlooks of the Road to Moab...
...The Beast just loves these twisty, hilly roads...
...After refueling, we checked in at the rustic, but very appealing Moab KOA...
...Looking Eastward toward the La Sal mountains...
...That's not snow on the peaks...just rocks in the sun's rays...
...and as if we weren't impressed enough, Mr Murphy insisted that we all rise to see a majestic sunrise and its effect on the hills to our west...
...literally every minute was a light show...
...this picture was taken only 3 minutes later...(the Westies, as usual are unawed, the ungrateful little cynics)
...Good thing Murph got us up, as we had an early morning rendezvous with the Colorado River and a rubber boat...
...to get to the Colorado River rafting trip, we rode about 40 minutes eastbound along Utah Route 128.
Our guide, Adam, told us that some authority on these matters says that Rt 128 was voted the second most scenic drive in the Continental U.S. (We assumed the Jersey Turnpike was voted number ONE.)
...Following are some scenes from the drive...
...Architecture which reflects the "airy, back to nature" ambiance of this area...
...The Colorado River carved this striking scenery before we arrived...(must've taken WEEKS!)
....Rollin', Rollin', Rollin' on th Riiiveeer...
...my Honey, enjoying a brief, unhurried moment in the sun...
...Your Captain and the Commodorable leaving the driving to Adam the Guide...
...Leslie on the rubber boat...
...Later, at sunset, we dined at a very nice Italian Bistro called Pasta Jay's.
...Tomorrow we head further south to Monument Valley, but only after Opie gets a bath...
Stan, Your travelogue is terrific. Love seeing pictures, and seeing where you're spending such a great summer. It's wonderful to see you both experiencing your dream trip unfold...and letting us share it. Keep on truckin, Pardner!! Love to you all:)
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