05-31-13

We didn’t go for a ride yesterday.

Patti did some laundry and I tinkered with the jeep a little.

We went to Milt’s for a late lunch. It was great!

The RV park we are in is right next to the horse arena, and they are having a rodeo on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so last evening we went to the rodeo.

Contrary to the popular saying “This was our first Rodeo”

It was fun to watch but next time I want to have a stadium chair. Three hours on an aluminum bench is hell on the butt

We took a lot of pictures but unfortunately due to low light conditions and fast moving subjects most of pictures didn’t come out.

Here are a few of the ones that are good enough to post.

Before the rodeo started several people were warming up their horses. The mule on the right must have been in love with the Palomino because it would only follow it. If the horse stopped the mule would stop if the horse changed direction so would the mule. 

This is rodeo’s version of an ice arena’s zamboni.

The pre-rodeo entertainment had two horse drill teams.

One was all woman side saddle riders.

There was a visit from Smoky the bear.

Then the flag was presented with singing of  the Star Spangled Banner.

Eventually the rodeo started with bare back bronc riders.

There was a rodeo clown.

They had kids riding sheep or “Mutton busting”.

Using a fold up table as a ramp, the clown jumped a miniature motor cycle over a couple of guys. I expected the worst but he made it without crushing the cowboys.

 

They had a stick horse race for the kids

and a greased pig chase.

They had barrel racing but non of our pictures were usable

Eventually they got to the Bull riding.

It was fun to watch and we will probably go to more rodeos.

Today we are going for a ride east of Moab.

05-29-13

On today’s adventure we went to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park to check out the Colorado River Overlook.

To get there we drove south from Moab 40 miles to Highway 211 where we turned west and drove 35 miles to Canyonlands.

We went by Newspaper rock and stopped so Patti could get a couple of pictures.

We continued west and eventually got to the Visitors Center where the trail to the Colorado River Overlook starts.

Of course the whole drive down there was very scenic.
I seem to be using that word a lot lately but every where you look around here is scenic.
Here are some pictures to prove it.

Fresh snow on the La Sal’s from last nights storm.

Highway 191 heading south.

Indian Creek recreation area near Newspaper Rock.

Fields of yellow flowers.

Incredible mesa’s

and skyscraper towers.

Eventually we arrived at the Visitors Center and started on the trail.

The trail to the Colorado River Overlook was fun. It had everything that we enjoy in a trail.

There was smooth sand,

Some slickrock,

some ledges,

lots of bumpy stuff

 

great scenery,

neat rock formations,

and of course flowers.

After about an hour and a half we arrived at the end of the trail.
We walked from the trails end to the overlook and checked it out,

 

 

then we went back to the jeep and had lunch.

After lunch we headed back.

Oh, by the way this is why they call it the Needles District.

It was a fun ride. The only down side was the 150 mile round trip on pavement.

05-28-13

It was time to try and get to the Bartlett Overlook again.

As you’ll remember, the last time we tried to get there we misinterpreted the directions in the back roads book and ended up on Rainbow Terrace.

We got a late start 10:30.
We stopped for gas at the Maverick station and headed north from Moab to where we turned west on highway 313.
We followed 313 to where we turned right on Dubinky Well Road. We followed it to an unmarked single lane road just past a cattle guard where we turned right.

  

We followed this road through a gate

and continued over some bumpy stuff, enjoying the scenery

and the flowering cacti along the road.

we drove over a little bumpy stuff.

 Eventually we came to what the book described as a high ledge and the roughest part of the trail.
As it turned out it was no big deal, Clifford climbed it without me even breaking a sweat.

We continued along the road until we came to the turnoff to the overlook where we turned right and followed this trail for a while.

The trail had some minor bumpy spots.

Just as we were getting to the the overlook we happened upon a couple of nice Bighorn Rams.

We decided that it was a good thing that we didn’t find this trail before. If we had we wouldn’t have seen these Bighorn’s.

At the overlook the scenery was spectacular.

Patti took several pictures and we decided it was a great place to have lunch.

The weather was threatening rain all day but we never got so much as a drop on us.

After lunch we headed back on the overlook trail

to the main loop and followed it around to Dubinky Well Road.

We decided to take Long Canyon Road back to Moab so we wouldn’t have to do as much highway driving.

When we got back to highway 313 we turned right and followed it toward Dead Horse Point.
We turned left onto the dirt road that eventually goes down Long Canyon.
Long canyon is a fun drive with some exciting views,

steep canyon walls,

cool switchbacks

 

and a big rock that the trail goes under that is always worth a picture.

 
Eventually it comes out on highway 279 which follows the Colorado River to Moab.
We stopped to watch some rock climbers practicing on the cliffs along the highway.

  

The skinny girls showed up all the boys.

 

On the way through town we decided to stop at Milts for an early dinner. It was great and we were stuffed by the time we left.

NOTE:
It just started raining as I am writing this.