good-times-rollin

Friday, June 26, 2015

It's 105 Degrees for Crying Out Loud!

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
June 18, 2015

Yep, the temps in Moab are unseasonably warm this June. So what do you do when the forecast calls for temps "Hotter than Hades"? Joe III and Jena get up at the break of dawn to get in a 5 mile run/bike ride along the Colorado River...

Warming up for a run as they leave the resort

...then you go on a hike!

Joe and I had several hikes in mind for the week with Corona Arch at the top of the list and a close second being Delicate Arch. The hot temps put a damper on our hiking so this was the only one we did. The kids enjoyed it and got a small taste of the ginormous size and space of the area.

Our next stop was Barlow's Adventures to pick up a rental 2-door Rubi for the kids. Our ride the night before had sparked their interest to try their hand at some off-roading. Yippe!

So late that afternoon, we headed out to Chicken Corners...

an easy to moderate trail on the south side of town. This was Joe III's first time to drive a jeep!

Joe III rode saddle with us leading and Ronnie and Carol as tail-gunner.

He did a great job absorbing all the information he received, asked lots of good questions, and felt pretty confident as we pointed the jeeps toward home.

The afternoon glow made for a spectacular ride...

Let the good times roll...

HAPPY TRAILS!

Up next...some revenge!

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Joe and Jena

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
June 17, 2017

June 16th dawned with all of us waiting anxiously for the arrival of our youngest son Joe and daughter-in-law Jena. Their flight from Greenville, SC to Grand Junction, CO was fraught with storm delays that resulted in adding almost four hours to the trip. It made for a long travel day indeed!

Our pups waiting patiently for Joe and Jena.

Finally, the long awaited reunion began with huge emotion filled hugs and a decision to go out for a late diner at Zax. Then it was to bed for some much needed sleep. We began our first day with a late lunch at Moab Brewery and a sunset Jeep ride. Dee suggested 7 Mile Rim... a 4X4 trail rated at the top of the difficult list in the Charles Wells' Guide...for a sunset. The four of us piled in Pearl and along with Dee in Thumper, Ronnie, Carol & Cooper in Jade we headed north.

Before I go any further, I have to say there are 4 Joes in the family...Joe's dad, Joe's sister Jo, husband Joe who is a Jr., and son Joe who is the third. Growing up, son Joe was always little Joe to me but I won't embarrass him so will refer to him as Joe III.

The oohs and aahs started before we even got to the trail and continued as we twisted and jostled our way along washes, switchbacks and scenic vistas along the rim. What a thrill it was for us to see the jaws drop and wide eyed excitement on Joe III and Jens's faces as we began to share our favorite stomping ground with them...Jeep style!

A side trip on this trail is Uranium Arch. We stopped and did a little exploring.

Our first adventure ended with a brilliant sky and was the perfect beginning of their week long visit with us sharing some of our favorite places and things to do.