Leaving Corral Canyon

I exited the canyon a different way from how I entered it.

I wanted to get close to this jumble of rock which again was much more impressive than the photo shows.  These were really huge boulders and slabs of rock that left me standing there just staring.

Then I found an abandoned mine shaft.  Did I want to go down in and explore?

Nope.  Not in the least bit.

Lastly was this gigantic rock whose pastel color caught my eye.

Many millions of years ago this was part of a massive sand dune. 

Corral Canyon

I could see this canyon from our camp but couldn't figure out how to get to it.

A look on Google Earth Maps got me going in the right direction 

with the least amount of cross country effort.

To me it is just awe-inspiring to stand at the base of these towering canyon walls.

Looking to the right.

The pictures just don't capture the grandeur you feel.

Looking to the left. 

Further to the left at the opening into the canyon.

I need a 270 degree panoramic camera.

I guess one could climb up out of the canyon this direction...maybe.

What a sight this must be to see water pouring off of this rim.

Water

Little depressions in the rock hold valuable sources of water for the animals.

It doesn't look that appealing does it?

The animals don't care.

They know where to go to find water.

Staying Put

A check of the weather revealed that staying here in Moab is our best option until next week.

So that we will do and I went in town to get some decent wifi.

I went for a hike and came upon Under Canvas Moab.

Here you can stay in a tent for around $200.

Pay $200 to have very fine wind-blown red dirt all over you, your bedding and food?

I'll deal with that in my own personal abode, for free.

North of Moab

We moved our home just outside of Moab to the north.

On the way we passed the entrance to Arches National Park.  Oh my goodness!

This is after we already passed a quarter of a mile as I fumbled to get the camera out for a photo.

That line is two lanes wide and the entrance kiosk still isn't visible to the left.

I sure was happy I didn't have any plan to go there.

This was our camp a few miles north of town.  The first day was fine.  The next day the winds came.  That's okay.  We can live with wind.  But here it picked up the ultra fine red dust from the Navajo Sandstone of the area and it was everywhere inside.  We moved further north the next day for the winds were to continue for the next three days.  But the places to stay were non-existent and we returned but across the highway from the dust bowl.

Although I have cell service (3 bars) I was unable to upload a single photo to the blog.  After trying for a half an hour I finally gave up.  Then at 'across the highway camp' I was able to get three pictures on at that was it.  No more.  We will move on again further west in Utah today.
Maybe the next place will allow me to post on the blog.

Indian Art

Within walking distance from camp were these Indian petroglyphs.

"Ooo, we make pictures high up wall.  Make palefaces stand in highway take picture.

Good joke on them.  Ha!"

Moab, Utah

This is the kind of scenery we had from our home site outside of Moab.

                                            On the other side flowed the Colorado River.

How can one do any better than this?

This area is popular with rock climbers.

Can you spot the woman way up there?

The campground we stayed at was named for Doc Williams

who had a long and interesting life.

Everywhere you looked was picture postcard wonderful.

Not a Good Idea

I went hiking to explore some of the nearby canyons of this area.

One of them dead-ended to what would be a great waterfall when the rains happen.

Not a place to be when this occurs as the water could be like a flash flood.

I thought I would try to get up top.  I could go up to the left and 

beneath the fall and around up on the right.

It looked doable. 

But once I climbed the left part and got even with the traverse things took a whole new perspective.

Ah...nope, I don't think I ought to try this.

A couple of you asked about the geocache so I went back to get a picture for you.

Inside just the usual trinket stuff.  I didn't leave a note but did leave one of my blog cards in the box.

The notebook reads that this cache was set up by the Class of 2016 of Telluride H.S. and they set the cache in place on Sept. 17, 2010.  How about that!  Seven years ago this coming Sunday.

Along the San Miguel River, Colorado

Well this is much nicer.  

We are at 7100' in elevation and 20 degrees cooler than before, now at 75 degrees.

This area is located between Telluride and the Utah border on Highway 145.

Wonderful scenery.

There are three more camp areas to the west.

We may stay at them too.

Notice the fly trapped behind the glass panel. 

You can imagine my surprise finding this right between us and the river only 20 feet away.

My guess it was abandoned long ago and over the years the river has filled it in all around with sediment at high water periods.  There's no getting this car out.

 I couldn't find any identifying markings or badges on it,

but it looks like a Hudson so I'll go with that.

And in the trunk a geocache. 

That makes about four I have found now only by accident.

Leaving Rabbit Valley

It has been nice here but it is also all too familiar having just been here back in May.  

Plus it is kinda warm isn't it Beans?

Sunset time looking the opposite direction to the east at the clouds that develop each evening over Rocky Mountain National Park. 

So we are going to move south into some new for us territory and up in elevation for cooler weather.

More of "Stuff Happens"

This occurred two weeks ago while at Lake Cameahwait, Wyoming. 

It would get windy at times but nothing we hadn't dealt with before.  Then there was a sudden gust of wind and it blew open the large overhead skylight in the forward part of the RV.  It was of such force that it obliterated the cover into dozens of pieces of Plexiglass.  This was not good at all mostly if by chance it rained.  What to do?  

The cover was of two parts, an outer and inner.  The inner portion was the most salvageable and with a roll of duct tape I was able to piece it together enough to cover the opening and grey tape it in place. I felt this was good enough to prevent water to come in.  Two days later I discovered the duct tape was failing to hold after being exposed to the hot sun and only half of the cover was held in place. Fortunately I discovered this before it flew off on the highway somewhere.  I couldn't be replacing this tape every two days.  I went to Home Depot and found some tape similar to duct tape stating it was "All Weather Resistant."  I bought a roll, ripped off all the old and put the new stuff in place. Two weeks later as I write this, it looks as good as day one.  So nice to be able to buy a product that acutally does what it claims to do.

When "stuff happens" I always try to see some good in it and put it in a positive light.  I never liked this skylight.  It is of a poor design and was always being blown open in the slightest of winds even though it has a "catch" in each of it's two partially open positions.  One time I came back from grocery shopping and saw the thing standing straight up, wide open!  I panicked!  I thought Beans who liked to sleep up there would have gotten out.  She was still in her bed when I rushed into the RV.  Whew!  I made a note to never leave it partially open again while away.  Also the hot sun would pour in through the clear Plexiglas heating up the inside of the RV.  Above you can see the reflective panel I made to block out the sun.  The only good thing this skylight was good for was defrosting food and keeping fried chicken hot for a later meal.

They want a couple hundred dollars for a replacement cover.  Phooey on that!  I plan to get a quarter inch thick darkly tinted piece of Plexiglas and screw it down flat onto the opening, sealed all around with sealant, have a inch or so overhang then add a lip of aluminum trim around the edges for water to drip off onto the roof.  No more hot sun, no more blowing open and sadly, no more food defroster.