Sunday, September 15, 2019

A Sunset

Gopher Flats
August 2019
Moab, UT

Living at Gopher Flats is perfect when you love red rocks, visiting with friends, nice sunsets, cool evenings and just being lazy.  The down side...it is hot in the summer !  We returned from our vacation to hotter temps than we had before we left.  In all the years we have been here, I can't remember an August being so sweltering as this past August was.  The great news is that those triple digits are all behind us and September and October promise to be gorgeous !

We were excited to get back to Moab.  Not just because it is Moab and we were happy to see Dee, but also because we had friends visiting from Saskatchewan.  This has become one of the highlights for us for the past 3 years...just an awesome group of people full of fun and excitement and boy do they love wheeling !  Their two weeks here flew by way too fast and we are already looking forward to 2020.  

Marc and Janelle (we all call her Nellie),


Marc's jeep returned to Moab this year with 40" tires.  He is an awesome wheeler.
This was the first year Nellie brought HER jeep.  We saw lots of smiles as she made her way (sometimes with Marc's help) on some pretty hard trails!

Luc,
Luc built this Cherokee and it's a very capable machine.  He always makes obstacles look so easy.  









Phil,
Phil takes his truck on all the trails...except Pritchett.  It is also very capable.











Kelsey and Scot
Kelsey never shies away from a challenge...always taking the hardest line. 



















We read the best book The Longevity Paradox...How to Die Young at a Ripe Old Age  by Dr. Gundry.  My blood work last March was not the best with high "everything" and I was told I was pre-diebetic.  That was a shocker...I thought I was pretty healthy !  Anyhow, in March we started making changes to our diet by eliminating sugar, enriched flour, and pasta. We didn't eat rice so that was easy.   Now we have stepped it up with less animal protein and adding more greens, beets, and olive and avocado oil.   Fasting is also an important part of his plan...basically, 14 hours between your last meal of the day and your first meal of the next day.  Joe and I do want to be healthy at a ripe old age.  We have been thrown some curve balls with Joe's diagnosis of cancer in 2014 and both of our parents died with Alzheimers.  To date, I have lost 16 pounds and shrunk 2 sizes in my waist and hips.  Joe has also slimmed up.  We have settled into a nice routine of going to the gym four days a week and hope to dust off the hiking boots very soon !  I promise I will not be "preaching" about diets anymore...we are just so jacked to be feeling better (and my high blood pressure is not high anymore) and to have more energy.


BUT wait...what is this ? A very weak moment after a long week of sweltering temps and mostly staying inside.  Date night in Moab is always tasty and beautiful. 

A gorgeous drive through Arches at sunset has a way of restoring my soul !  













We hiked up the short trail at the Windows section to sit and watch...so beautiful and peaceful !


















Until next time,


















HAPPY TRAILS !

6 comments:

  1. The sunset paints the sandstone in beautiful colors. What an amazing backyard you have to enjoy, and share with friends.

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  2. Great pictures as always especially of all the fun with your crawling friends.
    Loosing weight and working out is a wise thing to do. You can cheat occasionally but just don't make a habit of doing so.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  3. So glad it has finally cooled down some for you. We've noticed that Boulder City is cooling "a little." But the 90's are still too hot to do much outside after 7:00 in BC. It's good to be here in CO with such perfect weather. Lovely sunset and that reflection photo on the Jeep hood is awesome. Sorry to hear your blood work wasn't what you hoped it would be. Sounds like you have made the right changes. I though you looked much smaller in photos. You are going to blow away. I can't believe you had 16 pounds to lose. Don't lose too much.

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  4. So glad Moab is cooling down. With any diet/lifestyle change you have to have treats--your ice cream looked delicious! Wish I could get my husband to eat less beef and more fish!

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  5. I can totally see why you were happy to get back to beautiful Moab! Don't lose too much weight or Pam may be right (or is it Wright) ....you'll blow away!

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  6. 16 pounds! How do you do that! Impressive for I want to lose weight but Steve wants to gain more pounds. Im in a losing battle.
    I can see why Moab has now become home, the scenery can't be beat and Wiley gets to play at his favorite playground. - ML

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