We were up early again the next day to hit the road. Destination - Moab, Utah and Arches National Park.
Part of our journey this day would take us over the Continental Divide on Highway 6 over Loveland Pass, peaking at almost 12,000 ft. Plenty of snow still to be seen on the mountains. Did you know that every continent, except Antarctica, has a continental divide? On North America, it runs from northwestern Canada down along the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico. In Mexico it follows the Sierra Madre Occidental. For the most part, it separates the flow of water between the Pacific and the Atlantic. Then again, some water never makes it to either end but you get the idea.
We sped through the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel. At over 11,000 ft., this is the highest vehicular tunnel in the world. It’s built under the Continental Divide. The westbound lanes ride through the Eisenhower side and the eastbound lanes through the Edward C. Johnson side. Johnson was a former Governor of Colorado.
Drove through Vail. Little to report. Rich, white people who ski.
The town of Parachute, Colorado has a lovely rest stop.
To get to Moab we took another back road route. The Colorado River Scenic Byway winds for 44 miles along the Colorado River. The rock gets red again and you are privvy to great views of the The Fisher Towers and the La Sal Mountains. It was along this route that I got my first glimpse of the wild (or tame) pronghorn. It's a really beautiful animal. There were plenty to be seen along the way, mostly just hanging out in the grass. The other critter we saw plenty of, including the road kill version, was either the Gunnison Prairie Dog or the White-tailed Prairie Dog, based on habitat information I found on the Internet. We could plainly see plenty of them scurrying to and from their burroughs or just sitting up on their hind legs. However, many were seen dead in the road. In fact, I've never seen so many dead things in the road, let alone the same type of dead thing in the road. You'd count a dozen within a mile in some cases. I can't imagine they are very fast when compared to a car moving at 60-75 mph, especially at night.
We reached Moab and Sally went in to secure the hotel room. While I waited in the car I fiddled with the radio. Discovered KZMU 90.1, Moab Community Radio. What luck! A fabulous show called Odd Bins was airing. Hosted by Vicky and Pedis, two imports from Europe, the show covers a wide range of eclectic stuff. But I was lucky enough to land on the show when they were taking an hour to play really bad music. They said so. They were introducing a song, recorded in France, by San Antonio Spur's Tony Parker. The song is called "Balance-toi" I think? I'm pretty sleuth-like on the Internet and I was able to find the playlist for May 30th to confirm that, indeed, I had heard correctly. I know little of sports and I'd like to keep it that way. But I must admit, hearing this song made me laugh and shake my head and wonder why the guy just doesn't stick to what he does well. Not to mention, the French should stay away from hip-hop. The language is a mouth full of wet raisins as it is. The radio station, however, I really dig so it now has a place on my laptop.
Some shots of driving over the Continental Divide and Loveland Pass. Really big mountains.
Zooming through the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel.
We begin our drive along the Colorado River Scenic Byway and the red rock begins again.
Fisher Towers and the La Sal Mountains.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
It's kind of like landing on another planet. The expanse is overwhelming and it's dotted with the oddest rock formations.
The La Sal Mountains are a vivd contrast to the red rock of Arches National Park.
You can see Window Arch in the distance, left of center. The hole in the arch appears dark.
A few shots of Delicate Arch, probably the most recognizable of the arches. You can hike all the way to this or take a shorter (but steep) hike to a viewing point. Again, not quite enough time for a long hike but from the view point I got nice shots. I played with the below shot to give it an other-worldly feel because much of Arches is like nothing you've seen before.
Approaching The Fiery Furnace.
This is a very errie formation that reminds me of a character in a scary movie. It's like a menacing figure that appears from the shadows.
Walking up to the Window Arches.
I believe this is one Window Arch (above).
And this is the other, larger one (above).
This is Turret Arch (above).
Here I am under the larger Window Arch.
This is Double Arch but it's hard to see. By the time we got to it, the sun we staring me right in the face. You can walk right up to it but then it would all be in the dark. You do what you can when the sun is in charge of your light.
This formation at Park Avenue remided me of the famous bust and profile of Nefertiti.
I thought this Shot of Park Avenue looked classier in a golden version of black and white. Back in Moab and needing food we landed in the Slickrock Café. Here we discovered icy cold Evolution Amber.
Moon over Main Street in Moab.
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