"Dee"termined!

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
October 7, 2014

Following Dee in Bartlett Wash...

 I was reminded it has been a long time since our last post. Days have been great, weather has been the best, and I don't mind admitting that posting has not been at the top of the list of things to do.

Getting started...turn left off Highway 191 north at Mill Canyon Road.

The cottonwood trees that line the wash are so old and pretty!

My how time flies! It has been 2 weeks since we headed out to do Bartlett Wash and Mashed Potato...it seems like just yesterday!

We joined Dee, Nancy and James, and Bob for a fun day of wheelin'. Joe and I had done parts of the trail before, but not the Mashed Potato section.




Signs point in all directions...it would be easy to get lost! We went thru lots of intersections like this one. Mashed Potato is a new trail for wheelers and coordinates can be found on the internet.

Narrow Bartlett Wash...what a hoot!

We skirted around the Bartlett Slickrock bike trail



Dee going up...

After the wash, the crawlin' begins. Mashed Potato seems like a funny name, but the rocks are white, lumpy and swirl just like mashed potatoes.






Nancy and James going down...

Bob going over...



and Joe going down in Pearl.

 









September was very rainy. The wash was wet and we encountered lots of pools of water on the slickrock...cool!  A funny story...the big obstacle on Mashed Potato is the Gravy Boat. Well, we went right thru this water which I thought was the Gravy Boat so I call Lynn and Dave to say, "We did Gravy Boat!" They did this trail in September when we couldn't go. Then I hear Dee on the CB say, "Up next is Gravy Boat.". Oh well, Joe and I laughed and decided we will just call this the Gravy Ladle! And be proud we did it!

Easy-peasy climb out of the Gravy Ladle!

This is the Gravy Boat...Dee was the only taker for the day. Most really difficult obstacles on these trail have go-arounds...that's a big WHEW! 

Going in...

...coming out! Well, not exactly. Dee knew exactly the line to take, but we didn't so she missed her mark.






Pearl lends a hand!

...coming out!

This is "Dee"termined. Dee pulls around for another go...pretty impressive!

http://youtu.be/GPr1Tl9IbMw

 

 

We enjoyed lunch. It was a bit overcast and we saw a double sun halo. I had to do some research on sun/moon halos. The halo is produced by high cirrus clouds. These are ice clouds and often appear before a warm front. The ice crystals act as tiny reflectors. If you see a double halo, that means there are two different shapes of crystals...pretty neat, huh? 

 

Our view at lunch!

Today Dover and Wrecks had surgery. When they were in for their check-ups last week, Dr. Slater checked a cyst we had found on Dover. She extracted fluid and said it should come off even though it was not cancerous...just some strange looking cells. Wrecks on the other hand, did have a skin cancer mass that needed to be removed. It was a mass on his chest we had noticed. Dr. Slater said he could likely have more so we will be on the look-out. Wrecks also had his teeth cleaned and polished.

 

Joe goes for chemo # 3 tomorrow...half way through. Other than being tired and lots more careful during days 7-9 because of a low immune system, he has been doing great!

 

So, until next time, take care...

and happy trails!

Oowah Lake

Portal RV Resort
Moab. UT
October 4, 2014

Hwy 128 along the Colorado River...

OK, we have spent a lot of time in Moab between last year and this year...by far, October is just the most awesome.


Castle Valley Road...

 August was hot, September was rainy and October, at least so far, is just perfect. Chilly nights and glorious days filled with lots of sunshine and cool enough temps to have the windows and door open ALL day! Sunday morning (10/04) was no exception...I happen to like facing the day with a burst of crisp autumn air when I open the door to take the pups out. A picnic at Oowah Lake was at the top of my list for things to do. Its a pretty ride to Oowah Lake...first on Scenic Hwy 128 along the Colorado River, then a right turn onto Castle Valley Road and one more right turn onto LaSal Loop Road (not to be confused with the LaSal Loop 4X4 trail we went on last week).

LaSal Loop Road Scenic Backway...

 LaSal Loop Road Scenic Backway is a twisty, winding road that takes you up and down and all around with spectacular scenery that ranges from forested heights of the mountains to expansive views of red rock landscape. We traveled thru the scruffy oaks which were putting on a beautiful show of reds and oranges, thru the dark bluish green conifers full of cones, and the delicate light-stemmed aspens quaking in the breeze. It is paved and about a 60 mile loop if you don't take side roads. 

LaSal Range is part of the Manti-LaSal National Forest and the southern Rocky Mountains.

Mt. Peale is the highest elevation of the three clusters of peaks in the LaSal Range at 12,721 ft.  

About 43 miles into our trip, we did take a side road. A gravel dead-end road that goes to Oowah Lake...our destination for a picnic and walk.
Its a 6 mile round trip side excursion that mostly follows Mill Creek and well worth the time. On the way down, a brown bear cub ran across the road right in front of us... 

Entrance to Oowah Lake Recreation Area. There are hiking trails, camping slots and day use areas to enjoy...

Oowah Lake is a 2.9 acre lake surrounded by huge conifers. It is well stocked with rainbow trout making it a popular place for fishing as well as swimming and canoing...  

...or searching for some hidden talent. 

Did we have a great time? You betcha...just look at that smile! It just doesn't get any better!

So, until next time, take care and...

 

 

 happy trails!