Arches

June 20, 2007 2:25:20 AM EDT
Subject: Arches

Wow.

That's what Nia and I have been saying all day ... wow, look at that ... wow, amazing ... wow, beautiful. All day, everywhere we went everything was "wow."

We started our day fairly early ... yes, we were pretty pleased with ourselves, getting out of bed before noon and all. We had breakfast in Green River, and stopped at the market for lunch and ice. We made the hour drive to Arches National Park without getting lost even once! In the visitor's center parking lot we stepped out of the air-conditioned car into the supremely blue day and immediately began to sweat in the 108° temperature. I voluntarily put on sun-screen - I know Shell is proud of me ...

We drove through the park, stopping at every turn-out to take pictures, admire the scenery and discuss just how hot it was. Every time we climbed back into the car we would discuss how hot it was outside and then remark on the stinky-foot smell inside - we just couldn't figure it out - yesterday we thought it was Nia's feet, since I was wearing closed shoes. Today she had closed shoes, so we thought it was my feet - that lead to a huge discussion about how it could be possible to be wearing sandals in a hot, dry climate and still have smelly feet. Of course, in the interest of thorough investigative techniques, I eventually pulled my foot up to my nose and took a good whiff ... nope, no smell ... hmmm ... eventually we realized that it wasn't stinky feet, but rather the dried figs I'd bought from Trader J's a few days ago ... problem solved!

Those figs are quite tasty.

We laughed at ourselves all day as we tried to avoid the heat - it was so hot that at one point we drove the 800 feet to the restrooms! We would get in the car after a viewing point and Nia would laugh at me because I would refuse to close the car door until she turned on the engine and got the air-conditioner going - I can't help it! I just can't breathe in hot stagnant air, and I really didn't want to suffocate there at Arches National Park, in the passenger seat of Nia's car - not that Nia's car would be an entirely unpleasant place to suffocate, but you all know what I mean. After a particularly long session under the sun, taking in the beauty around us, we would get in the car, crank the air and move to immediately adjust all the vents to blow directly on us. Of course, as it got later in the day, the temperature dropped. At one point we got out of the car and it was downright pleasant outside - Nia noted that it was 88° - we reveled in the coolness of the late afternoon!

We loved the park - the sights were amazing - but unfortunately for us the best arches were not in places that we would have been able to get to easily. For example, Landscape Arch - the one I wanted to see - was at the far end of the park, and according to the map it was a 4.2 mile walk. Not only was it supremely hot, but neither of us was prepared to go that far in that kind of heat. But while we weren't able to see all the arches we were treated to amazing sights - towering columns of red rock, some of which had large boulders balanced on top, massive walls of stone beautifully carved over the millennia by snow, rain and wind, the red rock contrasting brilliantly against the blue sky. We were surrounded by stunning landscape, desert foliage, mountains and striking colors.

We stayed at Arches later than we planned, but eventually headed back west on highway 70, then down 15, then over to 20, then down 89, to 12 to Bryce Canyon ... really we shouldn't have had to do the whole 15-20-89 part at all, but somehow (somehow ...) we managed to miss our turn-off - but we can't entirely blame my sad navigation abilities - we were both looking for the turn-off! But it wasn't that far out of our way, and the drive was, of course! very pretty. Tonight we're staying at Ruby's Inn - a place we mistakenly assumed was small-ish, and rather rustic. Turns out it's not small at all, and the main lodge looks like a Vegas reject. But our room is comfortable, it overlooks a pond, and we're right in the park.

Tomorrow we're going to get up whenever we wake up, and spend the day exploring Bryce Canyon. More wow's to come ...

Until then ...

p.s. okay Lawrence, now that you've had your journal entry fix you can go to sleep!