Our internal alarm clocks woke us this morning well before daybreak. That was good given we had a full day on the itinerary.  We packed and slipped out of the house quietly so not to disturb our hosts at Oliver House.

Once on our way, we stopped at Wicked Brew for coffee. They serve a great cup of coffee and we recommend them to anyone needing a morning caffeine fix in the Moab area.  We had our protein bars and bananas for breakfast and we were ready for the day.

Our first stop was at Arches National Park.  We got into the park at about 7:20 AM, delaying our “sign selfie” as it was too dark.  We headed straight to  the Windows region for sunrise.  The Windows is a large area and the massive arches there is a popular spot for starting the day. 

We were not disappointed in the waking day. 

The sun started its ascent and the massive red rocks came to life.  There were a few clouds in the sky which created some obstacles for some of the photographers in the area.  For us they were no problem.  We wandered the trails looking all around at the magnificence of this place. 

The arches are massive.  The stand like natural sky scrapers.  Although we did our best to capture them in our cameras, neither one of us feel we will be doing it justice.  Katie Q sat quietly for awhile in one of the arch bases, chatting with an 18 year old woman named Zoey. Zoey was originally from upstate New York, and now resides near Reading, Pennsylvania.  She  and her boyfriend were traveling in a modified school bus that was their travel home.  

While Katie Q sat in the arch, I wandered around with my camera.  I happened on two gray-haired gentlemen, cameras and tripods at the ready.  They seemed to know what they were doing.  We chatted for a bit and I extended my hand. I learned that Bill and Dick were there from Phoenix, Arizona.  They had visited the area before and were eager to share information on where we should visit at this park, and the next.

After the sun was up, we left Windows and drove further into the park.  We stopped.  We hiked.  We laughed.  One of our hikes was to one of the most famous arches… Delicate Arch.  For those of you who have seen the Utah vehicle license plate, THAT is Delicate Arch.  

You can see Delicate Arch from the road at a couple of vantage points. We wanted to see it up close and personal.  The hike was listed to be about one and a half miles to the arch.  That didn’t sound bad at all.

Off we went.

The start of the hike was relatively easy.  Along the way, we passed Wolfe Ranch.  What remains of the ranch is a cabin and a fenced area.  This cabin was an original “tiny house”. A bit further up the trail is a rock with Ute petroglyphs.  Ancient history.  We learned that Canyonlands is an archeological treasure.

After about 15 minutes, we decided that the hike to the arch is NOT “easy”.  The hike is all UP.  There were “stairs” cut in to some of the rocks, and at one point, there was a huge bolder that required a careful walk up, up, up, and onto the top.  We were thankful for our hiking boots.  

We were huffing and puffing when we got to the top, and dripping of sweat.  At the that point we still could not see the arch.  We walked on a narrow ledge around a giant red wall of rock.  When we turned the bend around to the front of that wall… there it was.  

Delicate Arch.

The arch sits low on the edge of yet another boulder… and is carefully guarded by a cliff… which drops to a ravine.  There is a steep rock face that provides access to the arch itself. Katie Q scaled the rock face to get inside the arch.  I could not convince my reasonable brain to wander beyond my perch on the edge of the steep rock face.  We both had incredible vantage points and took our time there.

We wandered back our path, watching others huffing and puffing as we had not long before.  I smiled to myself.  Katie Q and I watched people, discussing  that those with less fitness and small children might have a tough time on the inclines.  I was thankful for my time on the treadmill, doing box jumps and step ups, and kicking my own butt on Jacob’s Ladder at the gym.

There were a few other points of interest we wanted to see while at Arches.  We hiked some easier trails to Pine Tree Arch (which did not look much like an arch), and Tunnel Arch.  Tunnel Arch was different.  When we peered through Tunnel Arch we got views of the amazing vista below.

There was a couple at Tunnel Arch who walked in before we did, and we waited our turn to get closer as they were taking photos of each other.  They were a more mature couple… a bit more mature than I.  I asked the woman if she would like me to photograph them together, framed by the arch.  She accepted my invitation and offered to do the same for Katie Q and me.  I noticed she had a British accent.  After our photography exchange, we introduced ourselves.  

No lie… their names were Robin and  Marion.  She smiled and said, “You know, Robin Hood and Maid Marion!”  I asked if they were from Sherwood Forest.  They laughed, and said, “Close… we are from London.” After a brief chat, we shook hands and parted ways.

Although there was plenty more of Arches we wanted to see, we decided if we wanted to make our second park of the day we had better get moving.  We stopped on the way out to visit Balance Rock.  As the name implies, it is a boulder bigger than a house sitting on a column of stones.  We discussed how long it might have been that way, and how long before it would tumble.  We were thankful to see it upright.  

On our way out, we took our “sign selfie” and got back on the road.  

Our next stop was a 30 minute drive to Canyonlands National Park.  Canyonlands is a relatively “new” park.  We read that it celebrated its 50th year anniversary in 2014.  It is over 300,000 acres.  Given the vastness, we had to choose wisely for our short visit.  

Canyonlands is broken into three regions:  Island in the Sky, Needles, and The Maze.  All are vastly different with different recreational opportunities.  We selected Island in the Sky as it had the most black topped roads and hiking trails good for day use.  The other areas are well known for mountain biking, back-country hiking, and off-road vehicle use.  

The canyons are vast and contain the Green and Colorado Rivers. There are mesas, buttes, and wide open spaces.  This is the high dessert region of Utah.  There are Prickly Pear cacti and sage brush with scrubby juniper bushes growing here and there.  

We visited a place called Mesa Arch at the recommendation of the photographers from Phoenix we met at Arches.  It provided a spectacular view of the mesa below, framed with a wide, narrow arch.  

Our travel through the park took us to overlook stops where we could admire the rocky red landscape.  At one point, we could see White Rim Road as we peered into the canyon.  The road is a 100 mile dirt road through the canyon that takes two to three days to explore, but was used by early settlers.

Our ultimate goal at Canyonlands was to witness the sunset.

We asked the ranger on the way in where we should be for the best view.  He pointed us to Green River Overlook.

We were weary from the day, and decided to go to the overlook early.  We had a snack and water, and picked our vantage point for the sunset.  

The view was of a wide canyon and the Green River below. We could see the Henry Mountain range in the distance.  There were some large clouds lingering low in the sky.  There were many buttes in the canyon below.  We found it a good place to sit and reflect on the day.  

We sat on a giant red rock.  We shared a few thoughts, but mostly sat in silence.  I felt so blessed to be IN that moment.  I felt grateful for my health.  I felt grateful for my family.  I felt grateful for my friends and grateful for my life.  

Rarely do I stop for a period of time that long to just BE.
 
There were about a dozen people that came and went while we were there.  There were a few that came and stayed.

Those that stayed were the fortunate ones.

I cannot put into words the display we saw during the last 30 minutes of daylight.  As the sun slowly descended, it changed the sky and transformed the clouds.  We saw bright beams of light splay out from the sun.  There were yellows, oranges, pinks, and magentas. There were a few cracks between the clouds when the sun shot light across the canyon and lit up the red walls where we sat.  

As the sun sank below the mountain range, the sky changed to red and then violet.  Still the clouds were edged with brilliant bright light.  I found myself turning around and around trying to see it all.  Although I took picture after picture trying to capture the changes, I know they will not completely reflect the beauty of that event.  I have tried to do my best to describe it, but my words will fall short.  

When the show was over, Katie Q and I walked back to the car, laughing about the incredible event we just witnessed.  Given our day we have not had a meal beyond some fruit and snack bars… no “real” meal.  We both concurred it was well worth the time spent.

As Katie Q drives us to our next resting spot, I am writing.  As I write, I am thankful.  

Sunrise to sunset… Life is good.