UEA 2010

We weren't sure we wanted to leave town after Moss got hurt, but after making sure he got through surgery well on Thursday evening and checking him out on Friday morning, we took off.  Our destinations included Canyonlands (the Needles District), Arches, a picturesque drive in Colorado and Dead Horse Point State Park.  We managed to get everything in and still make it home to wish Koen a happy birthday on Monday night.  We camped out for two of the nights and spent one night in a motel in Monticello so we could clean up and attend church there Sunday morning.  It was a great meeting with a really nice missionary report.  We had a hard time finding a camp spot the first night, but finally found one just outside Canyonlands.  It was just a BLM area, with no fee, but was really crowded.  It was a good spot though, other than too many people.  We had good food and a good sleep.  The next day we hiked to Druid Arch which is an amazing, huge arch.  We loved it.  We spent the rest of the day seeing other sights in that area of the park and then headed to Monticello for the night.

Next morning we took a scenic drive up in the nearby mountains seeing lots of deer, turkeys and beautiful leaves before church.  After church we took off stopping to make our lunch in a park in Delores, Colorado and did a beautiful drive up to Ouray and then back down to a nice camp spot below the La Sal Mountains where we made dinner to the tune of coyotes howling and had a restful night waking to a light rain that conveniently stopped in time for us to make breakfast and get on our way to Arches. (Notice the little Ophir Post Office - it's the one from the ruined oil pan/day before Juge's birth fame.  The old boiler isn't there anymore.  The road has been changed some and it must have been a casualty of that change.)

We hiked to the North and South Window Arches and then to Delicate Arch.  Such amazing rock formations everywhere!  We had seen the rest of the park on another visit.  After lunch in Moab we went over to Dead Horse point and took in the sights there.  Just as we were leaving a rainstorm came in...perfect timing.  We drove on home enjoying the scenery all the way and stopped off in Toquerville to wish Koen a happy birthday.

Genghis was very glad to see us and has needed lots of lovin' to make up for his lonely time at home without us.  We have decided to make UEA trips to beautiful places an annual tradition.