Flat Iron Mesa

Don, his family and I rode Flat Iron Mesa south of Moab. Here's Brian making the difficult obstacles look easy...

Here's me making the easy obstacles look difficult...

Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackways

Occasionally, some of the historic sites I visit do not quite live up to their hype. In my opinion, the Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackways is such a site.

Here's the BLM's description: "The preservation of the tracks is fantastic, and this site is well worth a visit. There are sauropod tracks made by a brontosaur (probably a Camarasaurus, Apatosaurus or Diplodocus), as well as Allosaurus and small mammal tracks, all dating back to the Jurassic period."

Here's a photo of the sauropod tracks...

Click on photos to enlarge

These "tracks" look more like holes in the ground than footprints. I could not help but think some BLM employees decided to play a joke on the tourists.

Here's a photo of the Allosaurus track...

Can you tell which footprint belongs to an "old fossil"

Jackson Hole Loop

If you drive out to the Base Camp Adventure Lodge via Chicken Corners, you will find a remote trail that loops around Jackson Hole, where the river cuts through a bend to straighten its channel, leaving a central butte in a moat-like valley. Burt & Liz led the way in their RZR 900 XP...

And on the way back, I came across a sign for those individuals who are looking to live off the grid...

Room With A View

After several days of overcast skies and constant 20-30 mph winds, we finally got a nice, sunny day with light winds and moderate temperatures. Here's the view from my campsite...

"Life is good"

Thompson & Sego Canyons

Another beautiful day in Moab with temperatures in the 80s which called for another jeep ride. The first sites of interest as you head up the canyon are the ancient petroglyphs and pictographs...

Click on photos to enlarge

Next are a number of old buildings, some of which date back to the 1800s...

Lastly, I had the good fortune to photograph a bald eagle sitting atop a telephone pole...

Jeep Ride

Today was one of those crystal clear, blue sky days with temperatures in the 70s so I headed up into the La Sal Mountains via Geyser Pass. At ~9,500 feet the road became impassible and I had to turn around but the snow, aspens and evergreens made it a very pretty ride ...

On the way to the BFE area, I came across a group of jeeps navigating the Strike Ravine trail...

Rally on the Rocks

The big Rally on the Rocks is in town so I walked next door to the arena to see what the vendors are selling this year. In addition to just about any accessory you could imagine for your side-by-side, there were a number of highly modified machines on display...

Want a little more clearance for those really gnarly obstacles

Looking for a way to transport your new monster machine

How about taking your camper with you

Polygamy Porter

Due to its Mormon heritage, Utah is known for having some unique laws regarding alcoholic beverages. So, when I came across a local beer that takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to its advertising, I thought I would share it...

Click on photo to enlarge

I, particularly, like the "Take some home to the wives" and "Utah's second favorite vice" lines.

Motivation

While training for race day, it's important to have the proper motivation...

Dawson Gang Reunion

Back in the early 2000s, a group of NC motorcycle misfits known as the "Dawson Gang" rode around the country terrorizing Dairy Queens and all-you-can-eat buffets. Sadly, most of us drifted apart over the succeeding years as other interests took us in different directions. As fate would have it, several of the gang's ringleaders and moi found ourselves riding together again (albeit in jeeps) in Moab...

Colorado River

Jack and I took a boat ride with Tex's Riverways to just south of the Confluence of the Colorado & Green Rivers to pickup kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts who had spent the past week or so on the water and were now ready to return to Moab. The trip took about 7 hours and cost $65/person. It is not a tour per se as there is no narration from a guide or stops at tourist destinations; you are simply traveling as a passenger. The advantage of this arrangement (at least for me) was very few people on the boat and plenty of time to enjoy the incredible scenery.

Early American natives here in the southwest built granaries in places very difficult to reach to protect their precious food stocks. This one was built high on a near vertical rock known as "Coffee Pot"...

Southeast Utah

In a long day's ride, Sunny, Stormy and I toured the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum...

Natural Bridges National Monument...

Goosenecks State Park...

And the Valley of the Gods...

Do you know the difference between a national monument and a national park? A monument can be designated by the president, a park has to be authorized by Congress. And you thought this blog was totally worthless and without any socially redeeming value.

Goblin Valley State Park

Sunny, Stormy and I took the Prius OHV over to Goblin Valley State Park where we played among the "goblins"...

Click on photos to enlarge

And in case you were wondering where Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus take their vacation...