Gallivanting Grandma

Thursday, September 19, 2013

The distance from Moab, Utah to Durango, Colorado was only 158 miles, but we wanted to take our time to drive a scenic route and stop at Mesa Verde National Park.

High Cliffs Outside Moab

We drove south along Route 191 for about 35 miles and came upon Wilson Arch.  The sun was rising behind the arch and a man stood under the huge rock formation.  Of course, we pulled over to take photographs.

Man Standing Under the Arch

Abajo Mountains West of Monticello, Utah

We drove east onto Route 491 at Monticello where the land flattened out to shrub covered desert.  As we continued, the land changes to beautiful ranches with cattle grazing.  We saw the high mountains of Colorado in the distance.

Sign Along the Road

The Mesa Verde

360 Degree Views

One View From Park Point

Spruce Tree House Cliff Dwelling

Closer View of the Spruce Tree House

At the Tree House

A Kiva

Interior View

Another View

Amazing Place

Tourists Under the Cliff

We climbed out of the Spruce Tree Cliff and slowly walked back up the path, panting all the way because of the altitude.  We stopped briefly in the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum to see the artifacts left by the Pueblos who had lived in the cliff dwellings.  Then we drove around the Mesa Top Loop Road.  We did not stop at the other sites which were open to the public because we felt they were too difficult for us.  They involved climbing ladders and crawling between rocks to reach the dwellings.

Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado

It was a short drive from Mesa Verde to Durango and we arrived in time to check into out hotel before dark and walk around the Historic District.

Lobby of the 1887 Strater Hotel

Victorian Interior

We had dinner at the Diamond Belle Saloon complete with live Honky Tonk music performed by a piano player “not a player piano”, as the sign read.

Interior of the Diamond Bell Saloon

Honky Tonk Music

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The difference between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park is the viewpoint.  Vehicles drive through Arches at ground level and visitors look up at the rock formations.  At Canyonlands, which is similar to Bryce Canyon, the visitors drive along the roads at the top of vast mesas and look down into the depressions and valleys.  Today we drove through the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands N. P.

The Monitor and The Merrimack

Multiple S-Curves

6000 Ft. Above Sea Level

The Green River

Another Overlook

Amazing View

Deep Canyons

Another Deep Canyon

Amazing View

The Candlesticks

What A Way to Travel!

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Today was our day to visit magnificent Arches National Park.

Overlooking Route 191

Driving Into Arches National Park

Overlook

Clouds Over the Park

Balanced Rock

An Arch

A Slot Canyon

Between the Rocks

Arch Between the Rocks

Another Arch

Arch

People Under the Arch

Awesome Place

Desert Stars

Monday, September 16, 2013

Today we planned a long driving day in order to reach Moab, Utah before dark.  We checked out of the hotel in Brian Head and drove eastward.  It was a pleasant drive through part of the Dixie National Forest.  Since it was early, we decided to stop in Panguitch for breakfast.  We cruised down Main Street and found the Flying M Coffee Shop.  The pick-up trucks parked out back were a sign that this would be a good place for a hearty breakfast.

The Flying M Coffee Shop

Interior of the Flying M

Well fortified with strong coffee, we continued on Route 89 through Panguitch to “Highway 12 – A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway.”  It was a choice between the faster interstate or the slower scenic road.  Fortunately, we made the right choice because Highway 12 was a winner.

Highway 12 Through Red Canyon

Huge Rock Formation

Across the Valley

On the Way to Kodachrome State Park

Arch in the Rocks

Sand Stone Dunes

Tree at the Lookout at Kodachrome Basin State Park

Cattle Crossing the Road

Cowboy Chasing Calf

Lassoing the Calf

Throwing the Rope

S-Curve

Capitol Reef National Park

Unbelievable Scenery

Hoodoo

Moonscape

Still Going

Rock Formations

Far From the Middle of Nowhere

Approaching Moab, Utah

Sunday, September 15, 2013

We left Springdale, Utah about nine o’clock and drove north again along Route 9.  The weather was clear and about 60 degrees.  The morning sun was at a great angle to take more photographs of the sandstone mountains around us.  We took more photos as we traveled north.

View Along Route 9 North

Incredible Monoliths

Beautiful Rocks

Soon after we drove out of Zion National Park, the earth flattened and we drove through many miles of meadows and farmlands.

Red Canyon

Another View of the Red Canyon

Along the Road Up to Bryce Canyon

Storm Brewing Near the Top

View From Rainbow Point: Elevation 9115 Feet

Millions of Years of Erosion

Amazing

Hoodoos

Threatening Thunder Storm

Clearing After the Rain

Bryce Canyon View

Hoodoos in a Row

Hoodoo Up Close

Across Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon Lodge

Lobby of the Bryce Canyon Lodge

Overlook at Cedar Breaks National Monument

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Another View of Cedar Breaks N. M.

Welcome To Brian Head

We spent the night at Brian Head, Utah because every other decent hotel was sold out within a 50 mile radius of Bryce Canyon.  As we drove down the side of the mountain (elevation: 11,307 feet) we soon discovered that Brian Head is a ski resort “town.”  It was an alpine village with only ski hotels and condos, which were all closed for the summer season.  At the end of the road was the DoubleTree which held our reservation.  It seemed to be the only open establishment in town.  It was a charming knotty-pine ski chalet-type hotel.  A little weird for this time of year, but clean and comfortable for us.