Ahhh...The Weather !

Gopher Flats
September, 2019
Moab, UT

It has been so nice the past few days...the triple digits are history !  Wonderful days in the mid 80s and cool nights sure make living easy.  This morning it was a chilly 44 degrees and we had the heater on for a few minutes.    

The puppies have really enjoyed themselves.  

Dover checks out the neighbors flowers everyday...

Sally on one of several windy days...

Jack LOVES to play ball...

Jack had his annual check up, shots and dental cleaning last week.  He had three teeth pulled (common for dachshunds).  Dr. Chipman heard a heart murmur during her check-up.  We were told it is not uncommon in older small dogs.  Research also revealed that Orijens dog food was one of 16 brands of dog food on the FDA list of foods that are linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy.  Dover and Jack don't eat Origins anymore!  Sally stopped the Orijens some time ago due to reoccurring bladder stones.

This is the perfect time of year for rock crawling.  Cliffhanger is my favorite trail these days.  It is not a long trail, but boy is it packed with excitement.  And oh my, the views are amazing !

Wile E leads Cliffhanger with Dee and Larry 

I got pictures of Dee and Larry on the Cliffhanger obstacle. 

Clouds didn't put a damper on the day and quickly moved on...

leaving us with lots of sunshine.

The club (Moab Friends For Wheelin') run scheduled on the 14th was Kane Creek.  It's another great trail that winds its way through the desert, a riparian, and switchbacks.  It has several sweet obstacles including The Pinch.  

We have also been on Steel Bender a couple of times.  SB needed some paint to mark the trail so yesterday Joe and I went with Dee to do just that.  Joe drove Wile E, I drove Dee's jeep, and Dee had the hard part...she painted ! 

Our good friends and neighbors two houses down from us went to Lake Powell for a week.  Guess what we did...fed the chickens !  We also fed their kitty Bob, but I didn't get a picture of him. 




























We brought home fresh eggs everyday !




One evening we went early to  feed the chickens because the skies turned dark, the winds picked up and we didn't want to get caught in the rain.  The chickens were not happy, but we were treated to a rainbow.

You might not like beets, but Joe and I sure do.  We had never cooked fresh beets.  We do now though !  It really is easy in the Instant Pot.  


I made a yummy salad with fresh greens, beets, orange slices, crumbled goat cheese, walnuts, and balsamic vinaigrette.  It was an explosion of yummy tastes !



Life is good !  Until next time, 

View from Gopher Flats

Kane Creek Road along the Colorado River

A shelf road on Steel Bender with Moab Rim in the background

The south entrance to Steel Bender

 HAPPY TRAILS !

Heading South

Gopher Flats
Moab, UT
November 2016

Tomorrow is travel day.   
Before we go, a quick recap for November.  

Joe celebrated his 70th birthday earlier in the month.  Dee joined us for a delicious dinner at Jeffrey's Steakhouse followed by champagne at her place.



















For years, Moab Friends For Wheeling jeep club has volunteered to help with Moab Trail Marathon.  It's a huge event with over 1500 runners at just one of the two aide stations we set up and worked.  Joe and I helped haul supplies on Friday as the first runners come through before 8 am.  

Glen loads a trailer and his jeep to haul supplies on Cliffhanger.

Larry loaded his Toyo buggy with water, coolers and table for Pritchett.

You wouldn't believe the boxes of bananas, granola bars, cookies and cases of gallon water jugs along with tables, water coolers for mixing electrolyte drinks, cups and more cups filled up several pick up trucks, a trailer, and several jeeps.  Some went to Pritchett and some went to Cliffhanger.

The mornings have been quite chilly recently, but the days warm up nicely.  55 degrees here sure doesn't feel like it did in Georgia.  We had a gorgeous, lazy run on Hells Revenge last week.  The sky and the LaSal Mountains were so dramatic and we enjoyed watching jeep shadows.

 Thanksgiving day, we joined Dee for a trail run on Kane Creek.  Kane Creek is turning into a favorite trail.  Not only is the scenery captivating, the terrain is so diverse.
The desert, 

the creek,

and the cliff, each with their own challenges, beauty and fun.

 Yesterday while Joe did some packing and rearranging, I went with Dee to see Pritchett Canyon.  There were two other well built vehicles in our little group.  Joe and I have heard about Pritchett Canyon for 4 years so I really wanted to see it and all it's challenges.  Locals say it's the hardest trail here and now I know why !  It's only 4.2 miles of trail, but Charles Wells Guide says to allow a full day for obstacles like Chewy, Rocker Knocker, Axel Hill and Yellow Hill.  My mouth dropped at the sight of boulders much taller than Blanche (Dee's jeep).  Some of the obstacles were in the shade, wet and slippery which added to the scary fun.  

We made the first tracks on Pritchett yesterday.

 It's an awesome canyon and Dee pointed our several hikes for this spring.

 We might even do some wheeling here too. The first big obstacle is Chewy.  Here Warren heads up after Dee.


 Nothing like a good flex and stretch on a chilly morning !

 And then Larry follows.

I only got one picture of Yellow Hill and this is the bypass !

 Just ahead of here, there was a nice sunny (and warm) spot to stop for lunch with a view.

 On the way out, we passed Pritchett Arch.  It's farther than the picture makes it look like is...I zoomed !

Up next, Tucson for a couple of nights to restock the pantry and then its on to So Cal to explore.

Until next time, let the good times roll !

 HAPPY TRAILS !