Devil’s Garden

Hiked through Devil’s Garden in Arches National Park—gravity defying rock arches and fin rock formations that look like skyscrapers.  (Partition Arch in the left picture)  We got to the trail head early, but when we completed the trail and were walking out there were hordes of people—mostly parents and kids—arriving.  The parking lot was jammed up.  Just how long do they string out spring break?  Come on…

So, far we have to say Arches National Park is our favorite of the Grand Circle of National Parks/Monuments through northern Arizona and Utah.  (Navajo Arche in the picture at right)  Although, we have been told that we will like Capital Reef National Park and/or Bryce Canyon National Park even more.  Bring it on!

Family Ties

Another hobby we have picked up in retirement is the research into our family trees.  It is like a jig-saw puzzle; slowly forming a picture of what you are “made of” and where your family came from.  Without www.ancestry.com I am not sure I would be so enthusiastic, though.  This website is loaded with information.  I have found the passenger list for my great-great grandfather and grandmother from Liverpool, England to Boston, Massachusetts.  He was  an Irishman from Killarney, Ireland and she was from Somerset, England (Wales).  The website actually has scanned copies of the list, censuses taken in the 1800’s both in the U.S. and England/Wales, and, get this…the scanned copy of my grandfather’s draft card for World War I.

My maternal grandmother’s family came from France in the 1600’s (French Huguenots) and my husband’s mother’s family came from Ireland as part of the Scotch-Irish immigration in the 1700’s.  And my paternal grandmother’s grandparents were from Ireland, too.  It is pretty safe to say that we both can celebrate St. Patty’s day.  But then, add to the soup, English-Canadian and German for Mike’s paternal grandparents.

With the exception of Native Americans, we are all pretty much mutts here in the United States, but you always want to know if the mutt is a German Shepard/Lab mix or a Beagle/Poodle.

Remember the corny dialog from the comedy, “Stripes”?  ‘We're all very different people. We're not Watusi. We're not Spartans. We're Americans, with a capital 'A', huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We're the underdog. We're mutts!  But there's no animal that's more faithful, that's more loyal, more loveable than the mutt.”

Hilarious and so true.

We plan to stop at the towns and cemeteries that our family trees indicate is a significant place.  Another interesting way to get to know our country, our family and enjoy our travels.  And an excuse to extend our travels some day, to visit some far-off lands.

Canyonlands National Park

You would think if you saw one canyon in Utah you have seen them all.  It is not so.  They are all so unique with slickrock mounds, canyon within canyon as far as you can see, eroded rocks looking like totem poles and rocks so red you would think they are on fire.  We are getting so spoiled on our hikes.  Each one is special and around each bend of the trail you see something new. 

Two hikes in Canyonlands National Park today, Whale Back Trail and First Outlook trail.  First Outlook has a vista of what?  No one knows what it is.  Some speculate that it is a salt dome from a long-ago sea that has eroded and collapsed over time; others think it was a hit from a giant meteor.  Use your imagination.

See the little spot of a human figure in the picture below…Mike.  In fact, the picture is a little misleading the sides not seen in the photo keep going down another 100 feet or so.

I never thought I was afraid of heights, but that was before I experienced the cliffs and high places in the Utah canyons.  I have to say without the man-made railings; I hyperventilate a bit on the narrow paths and pitched grade of the slick rock.  I can hike it, but I am slow.  And the high elevation of the area, makes my lungs burn a bit, as I suck in the thinner air.  If it was not for Mike’s adventuresome spirit, I am not sure I would be so game.  But, I am glad he is and pushes me to follow; I am seeing some amazing sights and have a great feeling of accomplishment as I finish each hike.  Life Elevated.

 

 

Everyone enjoys the vistas, from the Harley riders to the hikers.

Morning Glory Bridge

Moab has over 40 hikes in the area, and that is not counting Canyonlands National Park.  Yesterday, we picked the hike to the Morning Glory Bridge.  It is not a man-made bridge, but a rather large rock bridge at the end of 2 mile hike up a very pretty little canyon just 4 miles from our RV Park.  The trail follows an active creek that spills into the Colorado River. 

The trail is very popular with locals and their dogs.  The dogs love the jumping in the creek, and the barking echoes loudly off the canyon walls.  Dogs are fun to watch when they are in their element—no holding back when it is time for play—jump multiple times in the water, shake, roll in the sand and do it all over again. 

When we reached the arch, there was a group of “canyoneers” rappelling from the top of the arch.  They were trying to convince us to try, but….no…that is not going to happen.

Today, we finally took the truck to the car wash and got rid of all the red rock silt that seems to stick like glue to everything.  Everyone else seems to have the same problem, there were bicycles, jeeps, and motorcycles all washing the crud off.  I guess that is what happens when you play outdoors.  You get a little dirty.

Moab

We arrived in Moab, Utah a few days ago on Thursday.  The morning drive was calm, but raining.  By the time we reached our RV Park (Portal RV Resort), the wind was starting to pick up.  We got settled in and went downtown to the Slickrock Café for a quick bite.  

The wind and rain just will not leave, but we were anxious to get familiar with our surroundings. We were also nervous that the government budget issues would affect our visits to the two nearby national parks (the national parks will close if the federal budget is not approved within the next few days), Arches and Canyonlands, so we went for at least a road trip through the Arches National Park yesterday.  Absolute phenomenal sights—from “fin” rocks (narrow rock formations reaching many stories high) to over 2,000 arches.  We were surprised to pass lots of bicyclers braving the wind.  I always wonder what brings the athletes to an area like this.  Are they on vacation in Moab?  Do they live in Moab for the outdoor challenges and natural beauty and earn a few coins waitressing?  Are they all a large group training for an upcoming event? 

[When I took the photo above, the wind was howling making it difficult for me to hold my hand still.]

We are excited to hike in the parks and around the Moab area and next week starting Monday the weather is supposed to cooperate with no wind and sunny skies in the mid-70 degrees.  And it appears as of this morning that the federal budget is back on track, so our plans are back on track, as well.

Since it is another indoor day today, we will visit the hip, little shops of Moab and enjoy a meal out at one of their many restaurants. 

Blog Name

Our blog name often gets comments and giggles, especially from full-time RV’ers like us.  They know that it is usually one person who gets the duty of driving.  In our case, Mike gets that honor.  We would have never made it safely outside our hometown, if I was in charge of the driving.   So, the name, “Driving Miss Terry” is not only appropriate for our trips to each new location, but also for the side trips once our RV is parked.   Since we started our full-time adventure, I have had a personal chauffeur—such as in the movie, “Driving Miss Daisy”

BUT, we did not originate the name.   My sister-in-law, Barb, and her husband, Jerry,  are both famous for coming up with funny names and jokes about their lifestyle.  Jerry often takes pot-shots at Barb (and Barb does not hold back with her barbs back to Jerry), and jokes about his quest to “please her”.  No, it was Jerry who joked about driving Barb around the country in their motorhome as, “Driving Miss Daisy”.

Mike really got a chuckle about the reference, most likely since it was at his sister’s expense.  So, he began referring to our travels as “Driving Miss Terry”.  Not unlike Jerry, he likes to torment.  And the name stuck. 

Thanks Barb and Jerry for the material!  Cannot wait to see you guys when we are in town in May.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Vintage, smoking steam locomotives are just downright cool.  A ride on the Durango-to-Silverton narrow gauge railroad (36 inches apart, versus the standard 56.5 inches) takes you back to the old wild west of the mining days in Colorado.  The movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, was filmed in the area and used the train (man, I miss Paul Newman).  The train chugs through pastoral farm lands and on up through the San Juan Forest of the Colorado Rockies with the Animas River cutting a deep channel through the rocks and the little track following along the cliff side looking down at the water.

We elected to ride first-class, and it was worth it!  We had the last car and shared with only four other lucky couples. We met some wonderful people including Cheryl and Chantel, a mother and daughter enjoying the day together on the train (cute, aren’t they?).  The best part about first-class was exclusive access to stand outside on the back platform—kind of a whistle-stop campaign feeling.  The luxury car ticket came with free gifts (logo mugs, tote bags, and pins identifying the #480 steam-powered locomotive) and free drinks and pastries.  Our attendant was a former field geologist from Alaska; so not only did we get information about the train and the history of the railway from her, but also a wealth of information about the rock formations along the way. 

Occasionally, we would hang our heads out the window and get hit with a puff of black smoke and a few cinders hitting our face.   The steam engine requires a fireman shoveling about 5 tons of coal into the firebox and the stops to take on water—lots and lots of water to make mucho steam.  Downright cool, right?