Moab...Just Getting Started !

Gopher Flats
March 26-April 5, 2018
Moab, UT

When I last posted, Easter Jeep Safari was about to be in full swing.  While the town was busy with thousands of visitors, Joe and I stayed close to home.  Joe was busy with various projects...mostly things to do with Wile E...and the pups and I enjoyed the peace and quiet.  We did, however, volunteer to help with the Benefit Run on Tuesday.  

The trail for the Benefit Run is Fins & Things and this year was led by Susan Stevens who lives two houses down the street and is the wife of Jeff (owner of Dirt Squirrel, Inc).  Our job was to help transport tables, waters, grills and hot dogs and all the fixings for a cookout on the trail.  

We all pitched in to cook and serve lots of hungry folks at the lookout point along Grandstaff Canyon on the north side of Fins.  Voluntary donations were taken which the Red Rock 4-Wheelers Club matched for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation. 

The rest of the week, the picnic table became a work bench as Joe checked various projects off his to-do list...mostly things to do with Wile E.  While he worked, the pups and I played and relaxed in the warm sunshine.

 Joe found a couple of tennis balls under the MH which Dover quickly claimed.  Anything fuzzy and squeaky always gets her attention.  We were so happy she played ball for several days...until the squeaker didn't squeak anymore.  Dover turned 11 in January and because of some arthritis in her back leg she hasn't played ball in along time.  

Dover was the first of the 4 pups we rescued before we started full-time RVing.  She is such a sweet girl!

One afternoon we were entertained by the most beautiful song.   This bird was sitting in the neighbor's yard and singing away.   

The other day, Joe and I did a little exploring in our backyard.  Jeff installed a Currie Anti-Rock Swaybar on WileE and we wanted to check it out.  Just a couple of miles down the street from us is Ken's Lake and just beyond Ken's Lake is the south entrance to Steel Bender.  


We didn't venture far on the trail because we don't do trails by ourselves...just far enough to check out the flex.  Great job Jeff ! 

Near the gravel road coming out of Steel Bender there is a waterfall called Faux Falls created by a diversion piping water from Mill Creek to fill up the reservoir. 




There is a nice little hike which we had never taken.  Being an absolutely gorgeous day, we decided to do a little exploring on foot.  The views are really nice from the top...

The campground at Ken's Lake is center left in the photo with the lake just behind the red rocks.

Spring is definitely in the air here.  There are beautiful signs everywhere.

First Indian Paintbrush photo for the year!

Don't you just love the color of new leaves?

Our season in Moab is off to a great start...how could it not be?  Until next time, take care and...

HAPPY TRAILS !

Life is Good!

Backwards Steel Bender

Gopher Flats
Moab, UT
November 1, 2016

What a gorgeous November we are having.  Chilly mornings give way to clear blue skies and fluffy white clouds with temperatures in the upper sixties to lower seventies.  Who would have thought it ?  Weather history states highs should be in the low 50s and lows in the high 20s.  Looking at the extended forecast, that might just be the case next week.  But for now, it's weather bliss !

Way back on November 1st...yep, that's how far behind I am as I am still struggling with making time for the computer...we joined Dee, Chris and Scott, and Dale and Ward (Rolande's son) for an awesome day of wheeling on Steel Bender.  There are two described routes for Steel Bended in the Charles Wells Guide.  We did what Dee refers to as the backwards route starting at Ken's Lake.  It is rated difficult because of numerous tall ledges (some with bypasses) so larger tires, high ground clearance and lockers are recommended.  Joe and I had done the Steel Bender Loop Route a couple of times, but this was our first time to do Steel Bender Flat Route trail south to north.  To say it's 8.8 miles of epic scenery and fun ledges would be an under statement.  Here is a small sampling of our fantastic day.

Riding along Spanish Valley Road towards Ken's Lake which is only about 5 minutes from Gopher Flats.

 Ken's Lake is an off-stream agricultural reservoir at the foot of the west slopes of the the LaSal Mountains that is fed by a tunnel which diverts water from Upper Mill Creek.  It's a popular camping and fishing spot managed by the BLM.

Scott and Chris led our group followed by Dale and Ward, Dee, and us bringing up the rear.  

Hi-Ho-Hi-Ho, it's off to play we go !

It's always a treat to follow Dee !

After we all climbed down the loose gravel and boulders know as Witches Step, Scott, Dale and Dee had fun climbing back up and down again.

First Scott in his YJ...

then Dale in his buggy...

...and Dee in Blanche.

There is one more tricky spot.  Its a huge boulder (Charles Wells says extreme ledge), 8 feet high or so on the driver side and less on the passenger side.  It has washed out at the bottom with lots of loose rocks.  The taller driver side is close to a deep drop off.  Dee goes first trying her hand at the tallest section of the boulder which she has done several times in the past.  It wasn't meant to be this day.  After backing off the boulder several times on the loose rocks and sliding closer and closer to the drop off, she needed a strap and a winch to pull Blanche back up onto level ground.

 All turned out good and Dee climbed the middle section...6 feet high or so...along with Dale.  Joe and I took the far passenger side with Dee spotting us.  Scott had climbed earlier to winch Dee.

From there it's an easy drive on slickrock, down through some washes, and across the creek to the exit on the north side.  This is definitely a trail we look forward to doing again...on wheels and on foot.

 Until next time...let the good times roll !

 HAPPY TRAILS !