Backcountry Exploring

Mell, Rosa and I started out on the La Sal Loop south of Moab with the intent of riding to Onion Creek via an unexplored trail...

About half way there, Mell gets a call from Moab Powersports indicating that the parts to fix his coolant leak had arrived and they could begin repair this afternoon. So, we split up and I continued on in my jeep. 

It took about three hours to go ~30 miles and I did not see another vehicle the entire time (I was not worried as I knew Mell would send Rosa to find me if there was a problem). As always, the scenery here is spectacular wherever you go...

Old Age

I had a birthday this week. I would like to say that I do not feel any older but that would put me somewhere between Obama and Hillary in regards to truthfulness.

In the past, I thought of old age as a moving target, generally, ten years older than me. Now, I may have to reduce that to five years.

I was going to have a birthday cake until the fire marshal indicated that many candles would rival the wildfires in the western states.

Faux Falls

South of town near Ken's Lake is a man-made waterfalls called Faux Falls. It is an oasis in an otherwise arid area...

Click on photo to enlarge

There is even a swimming hole at the bottom of the falls but it was too hot for me to hike down there.

Wildfire Smoke

The smoke from the western wildfires is really bad today. They are warning individuals with respiratory problems to stay indoors. It reminds me of the smog I used to see in Los Angeles. While up at Canyonlands National Park getting some info on the White Rim Trail, I took these photos...

Moab Sunset

Back In Moab

I had intended to spend a month in Buena Vista, CO riding with friends from the FMCA but all the RV parks I called were booked into September so I have returned to the OK RV Park in Moab. I will be here until October 17 so if you are in the area, please feel free to stop by. We can even go for a relaxing ride...

Free Sauna

While others spend big bucks for a sauna, I just sit in my jeep...

Thomas Sowell Quotes

While reading an article on the EPA mine disaster here in Colorado, I was struck by the following quote from Thomas Sowell:

• It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong. (think EPA, IRS, etc)

Here are some of his other quotes regarding government and politics that you may enjoy:

• It is amazing that people who think we cannot afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, and medication somehow think that we can afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, medication and a government bureaucracy to administer it.
• Much of the social history of the Western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good.
• Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it.
• In liberal logic, if life is unfair, then the answer is to turn more tax money over to politicians to spend in ways that will increase their chances of getting reelected.
• The old adage about giving a man a fish versus teaching him how to fish has been updated by a reader: Give a man a fish and he will ask for tartar sauce and French fries! Moreover, some politician, who wants his vote, will declare all these things to be among his 'basic rights'.

And my personal favorite:

• People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything.

Kebler Pass

Is a scenic drive through old-growth aspen and pine forests from Paonia to Crested Butte...

Surprise of the day...

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Is one of the deepest, steepest and narrowest canyons in the world. Carved through solid granite over countless millennia, the dark canyon walls plunge an awe-inspiring 2,700 feet to the Gunnison River below...

If your vehicle is no longer than 22 feet, you can drive to the river below. However, the road is very steep and crooked...

Crystal Mill

Crystal Mill is one of the most photographed sites in Colorado which is a little surprising considering it is an "adventure" just getting there...

High clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicle recommended

Once again, I am amazed at what those old-timers were able to do...

On the way to the mill, I passed the Redstone Coke Ovens which in its day consisted of 200 ovens and produced six million tons of coke per year...

Shooters Grill

I had breakfast this morning at the Shooters Grill in Rifle, CO. This may be the safest restaurant in the country as all the waitresses are packing heat...

Hanging Flume

Occasionally, I come across something so amazing I wonder why I have never heard of it. The Hanging Flume is a good example. It was built in 1889-1891 to provide water to a mining operation. To reach the water pressure necessary to adequately mine the placer deposits, the flume had to achieve a .17% grade – that’s only a 90 foot drop over nearly 10 miles. What makes it unique is it clings to sheer rock walls, at times suspended hundreds of feet above the river...

Click on photos to enlarge

To see some old photos of the flume, click here.

2016 Heartland Bighorn 3570RS

My Keystone Fuzion 322 toyhauler has been a good RV but I decided to trade it in for a regular fifth wheel with more living space and more amenities. They just keep making them better and better...

Close Call

Last night after going to bed, I heard a loud crash outside my bedroom but it was dark and I was too lazy to get out of bed to see what had happened. This morning this is what I discovered laying on my neighbor's truck...

That's my bedroom behind the tree

Heat Wave

I left Moab a couple of weeks ago thinking I would be heading into cooler weather in Colorado. Much to my surprise and discomfort, the temperature here in Grand Junction has been 100+ degrees with no end in sight. The good news is I do not have to cook dinner in the RV; I just leave it in the jeep...

Grand Mesa

Is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world with an area of about 500 square miles. From Grand Junction I headed east on I-70 to Highway 65 where you climb from ~6,000 feet to over 10,000 feet in elevation. After spending the winter in Arizona and the spring in Moab where the primary color is tan, it was a pleasant change of scenery to see so much green...

At the top of the mountain I headed over to the Lands End Observatory where you get a panoramic view of the valley below. There were dozens of chipmunks around the stone walls and they are so use to people that they will literally eat out of your hand...

From the Observatory I took a very crooked dirt road down the mountain to Highway 50...

And along the way went through some beautiful aspen forests...

As most of you know, landscape photos taken from the tops of mountains never capture the true feeling of what the eye is able to take-in so this is one of those drives that you have to take to fully appreciate.

Colorado National Monument

Years ago when I first drove past Grand Junction via I-70, I was impressed by the huge mesas and mountains surrounding the town. Today, I took the first of what I hope will be a number trips this summer to explore the "high country" of Colorado.

Colorado National Monument rises over 2,000 feet above the Grand Valley of the Colorado River just west of Grand Junction. The Rim Rock Drive is a 23 mile paved road that twists its way along the rim of this plateau-and-canyon country offering spectacular views and great photo opportunities...

Click on photos to enlarge

Note climbers on Independence Monument

It's a good thing they invented digital photography as I do not think I could afford the film needed to capture the beauty of the western states. If you ever get out this way, be sure to bring plenty of memory cards as it is a postcard factory.

Visitors

My favorite nomads, Terry and Gail, stopped by for a brief visit this morning on their way to parts unknown and we were able to get caught up on each other's lives over breakfast. Once again, it's just another reason I enjoy the RV lifestyle.

Klondike Bluffs

In Arches National Park, there is a high clearance, four wheel drive road that takes you out to Klondike Bluffs and the Tower Arch. In as much as I just happen to have a high clearance, four wheel drive vehicle, that's where I went today.

It should be noted that most of this route is deep sand which would make it impassible when wet so be sure to check the weather before attempting...

Tower Arch

Eye of the Whale Arch

It is illegal to drive an ATV/UTV in the national parks here (even if it is street legal) so the jeep has allowed me to see sights/sites that I would not normally be able to get to... and have fun doing it!

Musselman Arch

I drove the jeep from Potash up through Canyonlands National Park to see and photograph the Musselman Arch. It's five feet thick, six feet wide, 187 feet long and 300 feet straight down...

Click on photos to enlarge

Moab Rocks

One of the things the Moab area is known for are the incredible rock formations, particularly, arches and bridges. While out exploring some dirt roads south of town, I came across the following arches near the Behind The Rocks trail...

Balcony Arch

Picture Frame Arch

Strike Ravine

After several days of unseasonably cool and wet weather, the sun came out long enough for me to take the jeep over Strike Ravine. Although the trail is rated "difficult", I found it to be relativity easy with only a couple of spots where I shifted into four wheel drive low.

The trail ended at Area BFE, a privately owned, open to the public property that is being developed into a world-class, extreme 4-wheel-drive park. This being the Memorial Day weekend, the party crowd was setting up an area for live entertainment...

Some very comfortable seating

The stage is on a trailer

Early arrival

I was invited to join the festivities but once I realized the action was going to start about the time I normally go to bed, I politely declined the offer.