Arches

From Wikipedia – This site features more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, with some of the most popular arches in the park being Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch and Double Arch. Millions of years of erosion have created these structures located in a desert climate where the arid ground has life-sustaining biological soil crusts and potholes that serve as natural water-collecting basins. Other geologic formations include stone pinnacles, fins, and balancing rocks.

• Established: 11/12/1971
• Annual Visitors: 1,663,557
• Size: 76,679 acres

Elizabeth:

Arches NP Sept 14, 2020 

I know we are always reporting that people are happy and businesses look good here but do not want you to get the impression that we are not being cautious. We are being respectful and wearing our masks where mandated, using wipes after every stop in public, etc. I have always used wipes in my car and cleaned the seatbelt and tray table in airplanes, long before the dramatic reaction to this virus crippled our world.  Our approach is to stay in a good mood, avoid the negative news, and be outside as much as possible to maintain a healthy mind and body. 

We are seeing people from all over the US traveling around us. The airport in Montrose parking lot was full of cars. We met a guy from TN traveling on a motorcycle and he is meeting up with a large group coming Wed. for their annual ride. We are seeing large signs thanking local police and highway patrolman and, as mentioned before in other posts, there are all sorts of businesses with posted signs saying: “Apply Within”, “Jobs Available”, etc.  RV rentals and sales are way up and hotels are busy. We are frustrated that the media doesn’t cover the positive side of what’s going as of late. People are smiling, friendly, curiously excited about everyone else’s adventures, talking about the sunny weather and in high need of socialization. Isolation and being indoors is horrible for one’s emotional health and we are experiencing what getting ‘out there’ can do for positive morale! There’s no of mention Covid. We have heard comments like, “it’s so great to be outside and experiencing the wonders and history of the United States!” Our favorite quote is from a woman at Great Sand Dunes NP when she was so happy to see our puppy. She was interested in the color of our Silver Labrador Retriever, Rangeley. We were talking about yellow, black and chocolate labs and how breeders are now making charcoal and silver labs available. She laughed and smiled, stating “All Labs Matter!”  We all laughed, agreed and air high fived! 

Logistics of our travels is very different with a dog. I have a new respect for our youngest son, Tucker, traveling from AZ to FL and back alone with a dog. Gary and I find ourselves taking turns to go to the restroom, grocery shop, picking up take out, unloading and loading the car each night or two and entertaining Rangeley under the table on patios so the other one can eat. We are finding grassy spots in parking lots, dog parks, river walks and do continued training to have him sit, down, come etc. for his entertainment and exercise. We are using a silent ultrasonic small device to teach him not to bark at all the sounds in a hotel. He’s loving the learning, adventure and attention! Another situation we have chosen to take on with traveling with a dog is, Rangeley eats a raw diet. We started him on raw food at age 8 weeks when he came home to us from his breeder in Ohio. We shop every three to four days, prepare previously frozen chicken, beef or turkey, organ meats and bones to fed him three times a day. Our choice and we love having him with us, but, lets be honest, phew! We are all tired at the end of each and every glorious day! 

As we crossed the CO/UT border we read a sign saying: “A Trail Trough Time” referring to a hiking trail…sounds like a good travel moto for us! The speed limit sign after the border read: 80mph. I have never seen one that high before. The road was flat and went on forever! 

We arrived at Archway National Park which we both loved. It is not very dog friendly, meaning that Rangeley could only go on pavement, no trails. We took a lot of photos from the car and Gary is so sweet to let me walk down a few trails to get some great shots while he and Rangeley hang out in the car or walk around close to the parking lots. See our many photos in a slide show in this post of many of the rock formations, tunnels and arches we saw. Gary said that Arches NP reminds him of Sedona, AZ …on steroids! The red sandstone mountains, according to the Visitor Guide the National Park Service puts out, are: “…awe-inspiring expanses, weathered by rainwater and time, (framing) the desert landscape like giant windows.” Inside the park, one can four-wheel drive, stargaze, cycle, hike, backpack, climb, take pictures and picnic like we did for lunch. We found a great spot, just off a parking turn-off so Rangeley could get out. It had trees (Junipers), picnic tables and an amazing view! (see pics).  

We are off to additional adventures tomorrow…a stream hike here in Moab where we are staying and then drive to Canyonlands National Park before returning to the same hotel for two additional nights.  

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