Saturday, May 20, 2006
Day Trippin' With the Neighbors
The other day we got together with our neighbors and fellow workcampers, John and Sandy, and took a drive out to The Arches National Park. This is a picture of John and Sandy taken at Balanced Rock. Even though we've only known these two for a very short time, they just have that good-friend-feel about them. They've really made our stay here in Moab much nicer.
I know I repeat myself a lot, but I can't help but say again, "What an awesome place this is!". The arches themselves are amazing, but I am equally impressed by the other rock formations.
We found this space between some huge rock formations where we could get out of the sun for a little while. It was so nice to be in the shade and the rocks there helped lower the temperature by what seemed like 20 degrees. None of us were in a hurry to get back out in the sunshine.
Mark found a really shady place...too bad he can't stretch out and relax for a while!
I am constantly surprised by the plants and trees that grow in this climate. The wind and sun are so harsh that many of the trees don't have bark on them. They are just dried-out twisted limbs with no leaves, but right next to them will be a delicate blossoms that seem more suited to gentler climates or these vibrant yellow wildflowers that seem to thrive in the desert sunshine.
We visited an old ranch in the park called Wolfe Ranch. It was named after what I can only assume was a crazy-as-a-loon man who moved his family from Ohio out into the back of beyond after the Civil War. The term ranch is used loosely here as the house is actually only one small room with a tiny detached root cellar. I can't imagine how hard life must have been for these people.
Now, in case any of you noticed something odd about the quality of these photos let me confess. It is NOT my lame attempt at using the soft-focus option. It is because I screwed up and grabbed my camera by the lens without noticing it! Yes, I did it! It may be that the earlier post from the jeep safari where I thought the dog had nosed my camera lens may have just been another instance of me not paying attention to how I treat my equipment! But now I know! I will do better!!
I know I repeat myself a lot, but I can't help but say again, "What an awesome place this is!". The arches themselves are amazing, but I am equally impressed by the other rock formations.
We found this space between some huge rock formations where we could get out of the sun for a little while. It was so nice to be in the shade and the rocks there helped lower the temperature by what seemed like 20 degrees. None of us were in a hurry to get back out in the sunshine.
Mark found a really shady place...too bad he can't stretch out and relax for a while!
I am constantly surprised by the plants and trees that grow in this climate. The wind and sun are so harsh that many of the trees don't have bark on them. They are just dried-out twisted limbs with no leaves, but right next to them will be a delicate blossoms that seem more suited to gentler climates or these vibrant yellow wildflowers that seem to thrive in the desert sunshine.
We visited an old ranch in the park called Wolfe Ranch. It was named after what I can only assume was a crazy-as-a-loon man who moved his family from Ohio out into the back of beyond after the Civil War. The term ranch is used loosely here as the house is actually only one small room with a tiny detached root cellar. I can't imagine how hard life must have been for these people.
Now, in case any of you noticed something odd about the quality of these photos let me confess. It is NOT my lame attempt at using the soft-focus option. It is because I screwed up and grabbed my camera by the lens without noticing it! Yes, I did it! It may be that the earlier post from the jeep safari where I thought the dog had nosed my camera lens may have just been another instance of me not paying attention to how I treat my equipment! But now I know! I will do better!!
Friday, May 19, 2006
A Visit With The Pope
Actually it was a visit with the Popes...all five of them. Our friends George and Donna, along with their three daughters, stopped by to visit us in Moab, Utah, while vacationing from Canada.
We had such a good time, and it was wonderful to finally get to meet them in person. Mark and George met online several years ago at a bulletin board for people who own and/or are fans of Barth motorhomes. George and Donna own a motorhome just like ours. Mark and George struck up a friendship and have corresponded about all things Barth...and many things unBarth...over the years.
We spent the day together taking a drive into the canyons and having a cookout here at the motorhome. We took two vehicles; the guys in our truck and I rode with Donna and the girls, which was cool since it gave us all a better chance to get to know each other. I have to say they have truly wonderful kids...the kind you like to be around and enjoy conversing with.
While taking a walk, Emily (their youngest) pointed out this little lizard sunning on a rock. Thanks to Emily, I am now always on the lookout for more lizards to photograph when we are out in the canyons, like this chubby little guy we spotted later that same day.
One of my favorite photos was this one of George and Donna taken way back in the canyon. What a photo op!
I took this picture while walking through a nearly dry creek bed. But Donna was really good about pulling the van over and allowing me to also take photos along the way. I am forever amazed at the way the most delicate looking flowers can grown right out of the rock and sand here.
George was so impressed by the views in the canyon that Mark used our photo program to put together this panoramic view for him. This is better viewed if you click on the photograph and view the larger version. Ain't that something?!!
In no time at all the Popes felt like old friends. We were sorry to see them go, and we're looking forward to future opportunities to meet during our travels.
We had such a good time, and it was wonderful to finally get to meet them in person. Mark and George met online several years ago at a bulletin board for people who own and/or are fans of Barth motorhomes. George and Donna own a motorhome just like ours. Mark and George struck up a friendship and have corresponded about all things Barth...and many things unBarth...over the years.
We spent the day together taking a drive into the canyons and having a cookout here at the motorhome. We took two vehicles; the guys in our truck and I rode with Donna and the girls, which was cool since it gave us all a better chance to get to know each other. I have to say they have truly wonderful kids...the kind you like to be around and enjoy conversing with.
While taking a walk, Emily (their youngest) pointed out this little lizard sunning on a rock. Thanks to Emily, I am now always on the lookout for more lizards to photograph when we are out in the canyons, like this chubby little guy we spotted later that same day.
One of my favorite photos was this one of George and Donna taken way back in the canyon. What a photo op!
I took this picture while walking through a nearly dry creek bed. But Donna was really good about pulling the van over and allowing me to also take photos along the way. I am forever amazed at the way the most delicate looking flowers can grown right out of the rock and sand here.
George was so impressed by the views in the canyon that Mark used our photo program to put together this panoramic view for him. This is better viewed if you click on the photograph and view the larger version. Ain't that something?!!
In no time at all the Popes felt like old friends. We were sorry to see them go, and we're looking forward to future opportunities to meet during our travels.
That's a Hole Lotta Rock
Mark and I did a little day trippin' a little while back to check out a local tourist trap. There is a place right outside Moab called Hole N'The Rock, which we'd seen on television and had to see for ourselves. While it was every bit as cheesy as you might expect, it was fun and very unusual.
Hole N'The Rock (http://www.moab-utah.com/holeintherock/ and also, http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/UTMOAhole.html), was built by Al and Gladys Christensen, who began working on the cave-style home in 1940 and continued for 12 years before moving into the one completed room. Over the next five years, they added quite a few more rooms before Al died. Gladys lived in the home another 17 years, during which time she made additions and improvements. Both Al and Gladys are buried in a small grotto-like spot at Hole N The Rock. On either of the above websites you can read a more complete history of these two adventurous souls and their unique home. I say we just look at some pictures, yeah?
This is a picture of the entrance. You can see the signs where the souvenier store is located. This was originally smaller and was part of a diner. The first room built was a small dining room and kitchen which was used as a business. Note the little frontage walls to the right of the store; these are some of the rooms added when the building was extended and turned into a residence.
I suppose Al must have been a huge FDR fan. He spent quite some time sculpting his image into the rock wall above his home. Al was a very talented ..if somewhat eccentric...artist and one of the rooms facing the exterior of the rock was his studio.
There are quite a few metal and wooden sculptures on the premises, though I don't think they were done by Al or Gladys.
This one was called Alotabull, and it is! I couldn't begin to identify all the metal pieces that make up this sculpture, but it was pretty cool.
I don't remember seeing a name for this sculpture, but it was a wonderful homage to the importance of jeeps to many of the folks who love Moab. It is constructed entirely from tools and license plates.
And then there was the Cowboy and Indian...what self-respecting tourist stop in this part of the world would be complete without them?
To finish up the tour of Hole N'The Rock there is a petting zoo. Most of the amimals were sleeping so I didn't bother them, but this one guy caught my eye. In fact, he and I paced back and forth giving each other the one-eyed stare for quite some time before I took this photo. With the background and the because the scale of the photo seems all wrong, I think he came out looking kind of jurrasic.
Hole N'The Rock (http://www.moab-utah.com/holeintherock/ and also, http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/UTMOAhole.html), was built by Al and Gladys Christensen, who began working on the cave-style home in 1940 and continued for 12 years before moving into the one completed room. Over the next five years, they added quite a few more rooms before Al died. Gladys lived in the home another 17 years, during which time she made additions and improvements. Both Al and Gladys are buried in a small grotto-like spot at Hole N The Rock. On either of the above websites you can read a more complete history of these two adventurous souls and their unique home. I say we just look at some pictures, yeah?
This is a picture of the entrance. You can see the signs where the souvenier store is located. This was originally smaller and was part of a diner. The first room built was a small dining room and kitchen which was used as a business. Note the little frontage walls to the right of the store; these are some of the rooms added when the building was extended and turned into a residence.
I suppose Al must have been a huge FDR fan. He spent quite some time sculpting his image into the rock wall above his home. Al was a very talented ..if somewhat eccentric...artist and one of the rooms facing the exterior of the rock was his studio.
There are quite a few metal and wooden sculptures on the premises, though I don't think they were done by Al or Gladys.
This one was called Alotabull, and it is! I couldn't begin to identify all the metal pieces that make up this sculpture, but it was pretty cool.
I don't remember seeing a name for this sculpture, but it was a wonderful homage to the importance of jeeps to many of the folks who love Moab. It is constructed entirely from tools and license plates.
And then there was the Cowboy and Indian...what self-respecting tourist stop in this part of the world would be complete without them?
To finish up the tour of Hole N'The Rock there is a petting zoo. Most of the amimals were sleeping so I didn't bother them, but this one guy caught my eye. In fact, he and I paced back and forth giving each other the one-eyed stare for quite some time before I took this photo. With the background and the because the scale of the photo seems all wrong, I think he came out looking kind of jurrasic.
