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well.... let me just say i should be careful what i wish for. We had been complaining AND COMPLAINING about the cold weather... and now it's 97 degrees and i'm in the desert, no shade, no wind, only sand. it's lovely! haha. But, we are having fun. Apparently there is something "weird" about two women (girls) going on a cross country trip and camping together! We get about looks from everyone at the campground when we try to check it, and sometimes they even offer to put us way in the back so we can have "privacy"! i want to scream from the top of my lungs, NO!!! PLEASE PUT ME NEXT TO MEN... SINGLE MEN!! but i don't. so i have no started referring to Laura as my cousin, just so it clears up any concerns!!
Let's see...
may 17th.
We went to Mesa Verde National Park. It is the only man made park that is considered a national park. It's located in the far west corner of CO, and only like 30 miles from New Mexico. The park is located in the mountains, Montezuma Mountain, I believe. To get to the park you drive 20 miles of
winding roads through the mountains. Mesa Verde was once a flourishing civilization about 800 years ago. What is left of the civilization now is only the ruins of the amazing houses and villages that they made. The ruins are located in the cliffs of the mountains. People who used to live there are called the Ancestral Puebloians. (not sure on that spelling) Not much is known about the culture, including why the people eventually abandoned this area. The sights were incredible. It was like nothing I have ever seen before, or expected to see. There were about 7 different ruins you could go and view. We only went to 2 of them. We were actually able to go down the cliff and walk amongst the ruins. To get down you had to go down steep steps, climb down ladders, and scale across rocks! But it was defiantly worth it. The other ruins that we didn't explore first hand we were able to see from afar.
From Mesa Verde, CO we drove west and stayed in Moab, Utah, near Arches NP. It was 93 degrees at 7pm. Camping outside in that heat was lovely.
May 18.
We got up
sand dune arch.
it's like a walk on the beach to get to the darn arch. real early, or what was early for us... 7am! Our goal was to get to the park super early to try to avoid the heat. As Laura and I never really get going before 9:30, 10:00, we thought we were doing great, and being like "real campers". That fantasy faded quickly when we got to the showers and discovered the die hard mountain bikers, and other earthy crunch people had been up for at least an hour! I would just like to say that I have never been giving so many dirty looks for blow drying my long hair and applying mascara. Apparently the way to do it in Moab is soap, water, wash cloth AND spray deodorant! Ya, no thanks!! ( I later found out that Moab is a Mecca for bike riders and outdoor adventure types!)
Anyway, we went to Arches. I had been there before, but Laura hadn't. There are about 1,000 natural arches located in this one area. The red rocks over thousands of years have eroded away forming breath taking arches! We wanted to go see the Delicate Arch. I had hiked it before and knew it was a difficult hike. Laura has really
bad asthma, and after we read that it's 3 miles and round trip and it gains 500 feet, we rethought this and viewed it from a distance! But we did take some hikes though sand, up mountains, all in the 97 degrees blazing sun. By the end of the day I couldn’t' take the heat and sat in the car listening to music and using my computer while Laura did another 2 mile hike! what can i say..... it was hot?? haha.
From there we drove to Bryce Canyon, which was further west in Utah, about 3 hours west. This made for a really long day after sun, heat, and hiking. Needless to say, we went to bed real early.
May 19.
Well... the plan was to wake up early and try to see the sunrise over Bryce Canyon. BUT that didn't work. We rolled about of bed at 9 and we were ready to view the sights by 10:30! haha.
Again, I had been there before, but Laura had not. Bryce Canyon is probably my favorite place on earth....so far. The colors are amazing and they go on forever. It wasn't as hot, maybe only 89 degrees!
bryce canyon.
note.. note a very short skirt!! on a side note.. Apparently people in those parts don't wear skirts. I wore a jean skirt, not too short, actually very cute. You would not believe that amount of times people looked me up and down and gave me dirty looks! I guess i should have had my full length skirt on and my turtle neck!
After Bryce we drove further west and south down to Zion National Park. It was only about 70ish miles. This park is very different than Bryce. You are able to drive amongst the huge rock mountains. The mountains are huge, amazing and not a single picture that I took would be able to do justice to that park.
We were able to do both of these parks in one day, as they are smaller parks. There is definitely more to do, but well... i hate hiking, so if i can view it from the car then my day is made!
From Zion we drove north. We got a little over ambitious in our driving. we went from the southern most area of Utah and drove almost to Salt Lake City. Long drive! We set up camp in the dark... not
fun.
May 20th. today.
Last night was a scary experience. We were harassed by a raccoon. We were minding our own business and sitting around the fire, drinking diet coke (and....) and all of a sudden, Laura starts whispering and freaking out over some noise! i get the flash light and start to investigate, and what do you know?? the biggest raccoon we have ever seen! We tried to "shoo" it asway, but the little bugger didn't get scared! I thought wild life is supposed to be scared of light? Well, it kept trying to sneak closer and closer to us! At one point we were both on top of the picnic table yelling and telling the darn thing to "get". It didn't work. It harassed us all night. Laura was a little bit more scared by it then me, and made a run for the tent to hide out (aka use the computer from in there). i stayed out and tried to pretend I wasn't a scared. After a little bit, I wouldn't take it and went to bed too.. (used the computer in the tent) I didn't sleep much as i was listening and waiting for the
raccoon to gather his friends and attack! (Drama? yes! scared? heck yes!!) AND for the record, i did ask my brother, who is in the army, what to do. His only response was "i dunno Jenny".
For the rest of the day we plan on touring the big city of Salt Lake, and visiting the fine drinking establishments in the area! wish me luck.
love, jenny.
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GP
non-member comment
WOW!
Thanks so much for including me in this fantastic voyage of yours. The pictures are breathtaking, and your titles seem perfectly chosen. Everything-the pics and the narration-makes me want very much to make the trip some day. Please, keep it coming!!! Love GP