| Saturday, May 07, 2005 � I woke up earlier today than I wanted to � about 5:30am. I couldn�t sleep any later due having to made plans to meet with the 4-wheeler�s club to go on a trail. We were to meet at the intersection of Highway 128, and 191. This is only seven miles from where we�re parked. It is raining fairly hard, and I doubt this trip will happen, but still I wanted to be there and let someone else make that decision. So I got up and did the morning thing, which is much the same as other days. Patty gets up a little later than she wanted, and decided to skip a shower she planned. They become less important out here anyway. When on a trail, you usually feel you need another by mid-day anyway. We got ourselves out of here at 8:13am, and arrived at the rendezvous spot fifteen minutes later. We are the first to arrive and wonder if any others will at all since its raining. We decide to drive south into town, and find a place to have some warm oatmeal, and while driving, Patty calls Sherm and Jean on the cell. They say they�re still coming and will arrive soon having already departed the park they�re staying in about twenty minutes away from the south. We turn around and head back to Lyon�s Park, the meeting place. We arrive to find about five Jeeps there. We introduce ourselves, and everyone agrees oatmeal sounded better than sloshing about in a mud pit somewhere. Except for one lady who suggested going back to bed. Within the next few minutes it took for Sherm and Jean to get there, about fifteen Jeeps had now showed, and were all in a line. After some discussion amongst those in the know, it was determined the trail would only be slick at the beginning and we should be able to get through this. The rest was hardpan, or rock and wouldn�t be as difficult in the rain. So it was decided to go and we left. We drove north past the Potash Road we took a few days ago, and on to route 148. We took this towards the east. Just prior to taking 148, we turned off the road to a place where everyone could adjust their suspension and air their tires down. About this time, the rain had lifted and blue skies could be seen headed our way from the west. I believe this lifted everyone�s spirits, and we moved out. This trail is known as �Klondike Bluffs, and Tower Arch�. The fine silt like road from the sandstone was in fairly good shape still, although we were throwing quite a bit of mud off our tires up and all over our Jeep. We continued on this journey, which took us up onto a plateau that provided a 360 degree view of the entire area. We could see three different high mountain ranges, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and many different rock formations from every different rock in the vicinity, including the �Marching Men�. Obviously, this is a formation of sandstone resembling men in a line. We could also see across the lush green valley below we would soon be crossing. We descended this ridge down into what is called Salt Valley below and soon thereafter stopped and had lunch with the group. As we did the day before, we had wrapped some burritos in tinfoil and placed then on the manifold of our engine to heat them while traveling. This provides a hot lunch, and with some grapes, and ice tea we were in good shape. We had brought a couple of folding canvas chairs with us and our cooler that provided a little table. After lunch we continued on and came on the Tower Arch, and later the Eye of the Whale Arch. We took two hikes while on this trail including one into this arch. These remarkable formations of sandstone leave one in awe. We returned in the late afternoon. This trail is rated a three on the scale to five. It is an easy ride actually. Four-wheel is required but not too difficult. As we headed into town some were stopping for beers at a brewery, but we decided to continue on in with Sherm and Jean to their park because we have now decided to move there on Sunday, and make a run about 75 miles south of us to a place know as �Elephant Hill� on Monday, which Sherm invited us to go on. So we�ll be moving our home to OK RV Park Sunday instead of heading towards Bryce. We followed them there and made reservations for Sunday and Monday nights. We�ll head towards California come Tuesday morning. We also took a drive further south out of town to Moab 4x4 Outpost with a man named Jerry, a club member whom we�d met on the way to OK. He suggested we go here and meet Steve, the owner. We did and he showed us a Jeep Limited he�s about finished building. This Jeep is everything a wheeler would want, and could be had for $50K. So we�ll think about that and just how much we like this sport, and see what happens. We got out of there about a quarter to eight, and took Jerry back to his park � said goodbye to Sherm and Jean. We went into Moab and had Mexican dinner at the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant. The food was excellent, but the service sucked. So we really punished them with about a 13% tip instead of 15%. We got back to Ol School in the dark, went inside were soon fast asleep. |
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Sunday, May 08, 2005 Today we�ll be moving on from this outstanding camping spot. After a week here, I still think it�s the best on the river. I get the bus loaded and ready to roll. Patty will follow in the Jeep. We leave about 11:30 and arrive at the OK RV Park about noon. We get�r setup in the park, and I�m trying remember how to hook all this stuff up. 50 amp electric, water, cable, sewer, jacks, awnings, etc., as its been quite a while since we�ve done the RV hell (parks) thing. Everything seems to be fine except I notice I have one leg of power. Meaning out of two different circuits, one of them is not working. Not to worry, I don�t have to have the other leg anyway. So Patty�s plenty joyful using all the water and power she wants without me breathing down her neck about conserving. After four or five hours I realize I hadn�t switched the main switch to the 50amp park power at the switching panel. Meaning, we have been running off our own batteries, and they we�re taking a hit. So we figured that all out now, made the switch and all if fine. We spent much of the day visiting with other club members that are staying in this park as well. There is Johnny and Sandy from Ft. Worth. Auburn and Sandy from Washington. Jay, who�s single and travels the country 4-wheel�n about 200 days a year. That�s dedicated. These guys might be a little long in the tooth, but with so many years of wheel�n, they are experienced, have heavy duty rigs. Not to mention the got the stuff that makes these units looked really pissed off, and tackles the toughest out there.. That�s a term we just learned the young folks are using. It is a good thing. Of course Sherm and Jean are here, as well as several others that I can�t remember the names of presently. As the evening approaches, I get the BBQ setup and we are cooking up some ribs tonight with artichokes Patty had stopped and picked up at the market on the way in today. While they�re cooking, I go over to Sherm and Jean�s as he�s offered to air my tires up so I don�t have to run up to the gas station to do that. We deflate our tires for the trail. Down to about 18 pounds. Tomorrow, we�ll be driving about 75 miles to get to the beginning of the trail, Elephant Hill. So that�s a bit far to run on 18 pounds. We�ll deflate the tires again when we arrive there. When I get back from airing up, dinner�s ready, and we sit in to eat and relax a little. We watched a little TV, and went on to bed. I turned on the movie I mentioned we�d been watching all most every night of this trip. Patty drifted off to la la land, and I continued watching, and I�m happy to say after nine or ten days on the road now, I actually saw the end. Guess we�ll need a new movie now. Prior to dinner, we had the chance to talk to our girls on the phone. It is Mother�s day, and it was fun telling my daughter happy Mother�s |
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