April Trails...So Far!

Gopher Flats
April, 2019
Moab, UT


Moab...after six long months we are finally settled in at our favorite place to be !

Our first sunrise here...

We love it here at Gopher Flats... 

Apple blossoms...

and the pups do to.

Jack waits patiently to play ball...

   

Sally is constantly looking for grasshoppers...

Dover naps...

The weather has been such a hodgepodge...warm, cold,  heavy downpours, snow, dreary grey clouds, bright blue skies, breezy, and gusty winds that shook the MH.  A local said yesterday that in Moab can you experience all four seasons in a single day.  I think maybe he was right ! 

Still, we have enjoy a few trail runs.

Kane Creek Canyon: 

Kane Creek is a fun trail.  The trail itself is about 14 miles of  of desert,

We were following Dee...

 riparian,

Jeff, followed by Duane, makes one of the several creek crossings...

 and switchbacks.

Dee took this picture of our hearty trail warriors.

Each landscape offers a lot of fun, challenges and gorgeous scenery.  My favorite section is the riparian just because we don't see that much water in the desert. The cottonwood trees line the creek for several miles.




This time of year the leaves are just beginning to pop out, but in the fall the colors glow.





Poison Spider:
I can't say enough about Poison Spider.  We first did Poison Spider in June, 2014. What a hoot that was to drive Pearl (our 2013 JK...back then it was on 33" tires).  That year, with Dee's help we climbed the waterfall, did a wedgy, and drove the fins.  Ever since that day, Poison Spider has always been a special trail for me.  Wile E. is a lot of fun on Poison Spider too...we can take a harder line adding to the excitement.  Our first Poison Spider run this year was especially fun since we were with Harold and Tareese (friends from Germany)...

Harold skillfully works his way down The Chute.

and Al and Linda (friends from Washington state).

Al's Samuri flexes its way up The Chute.

Poison Spider is what we call a lollipop trail.  The stick is a combination of rock ledges, a sandy flat canyon, some sandstone slick rock fins and one section known as High Speed Mesa.  The entire trail is non-stop beautiful scenery.

High Speed Mesa

 Lunch was at Little Arch.  You may have spotted this arch from Kane Springs Road.

Looking through Little Arch you can see the Colorado River, Kane Springs Road and the parking lot for Moab Rim.

My favorite part of this trail is the lollipop section with all the ups and downs as you drive along the slick rock fins.

There is mama pig and her piglets...

Cliffhanger:
Cliffhanger is just down right hard core excitement from beginning to end as it curves its way along high rocky cliffs.  Challenges are non-stop and the scenery is, once again, incredible.  This run is what is referred to as a "light" Cliffhanger as we did not do the Cliffhanger obstacle...you remember, the one right on the cliff edge.  We had several vehicles that had never done this trial and wanted a last day of fun before heading home after Easter Jeep Safari.  



Even so, the "light" run is a challenge and keeps us on our toes. 

Claret Cup Cactus blooms...stunning flowers!

There goes Dee!

The "light" run also has an overlook.  The Colorado River and Potash Road...

At the overlook you can see the Poison Spider parking lot and the switchbacks at the beginning of the trail.

Indian paintbrush with its vivid red color sure caught my eye.

There's Joe...the overlook was our lunch spot.

There's Dee...always taking pictures and helping!

 Well, I'll close for now.  There is more to write about but it will have to come later.  So, until next time... 

                                                                     HAPPY TRAILS !

Tuba City...

Quality Inn and RV Park
Tuba City, AZ
April 2, 2019

Well, we all know the saying "the best laid plans...often go awry".  When we checked into the RV park in Tuba City, we were counting on a one night stop.  We pulled Belle as far up in the site as we could so we would not have to unhook Pearl.  Joe plugged in the electricity, we had dinner, watched a little TV and called it a day.  Saturday morning we were up early and excited about the days adventure to Moab.  But, uh-oh... some kind of valve on the air tank for the passenger side airbag did not work so that bag would not inflate.  Joe worked for an hour and a half hoping for a quick fix to get us to Moab, but didn't have any luck.  Joe called Freightliner in Flagstaff and the part was available from  Phoenix so they ordered it.  Being a Saturday morning, the part would not be at their shop until Tuesday am.  We were stuck right where we were.  The water and sewer hookups would not reach...our very first boondocking experience.  Thank goodness we had visited Sue and Dave at Catalina.  A tub was placed in the sink to collect dishwater, hand/face washing water, and toothbrush spit.  We found a Bashas' Grocery in Tuba City...thank goodness for bottled water and throw away plates !  

According to Trip Advisor, the top two things to do in Tuba City are, 1) visit the Tuba Trading Post and Museum, and 2) explore Coal Mine Canyon.  That was a no-brainer for sure !

 Information on Coal Mine Canyon stated, "It is a long way from any famous attraction and is not signposted in any way, yet it has become quite well known because of its amazingly colorful formations that line the upper end of the ravine."  
















This colorful canyon is about 15 miles from Tuba City right on Hwy 264 and borders between the Hopi and Navajo Indian Resevations.   Instructions said to look for a narrow and bumpy dirt road (fine for all vehicles) on the left side of the road.  Look for a windmill and water tank and bear right. 






 Parking is easy at an abandoned picnic area.  The flat land falls away quickly and abruptly several hundred feet to the floor of the narrow canyon about 4 miles long.  

Do you see me ?

The view is a jaw dropper...colorful, magnificent and intricately eroded spires and hoodoos.

There is a hiking trail that goes down into the canyon.  We really wanted to go, but Joe had stitches in his left arm and right leg that were less than a week old, so we couldn't.  

Can you see the trail?  Access is steep, but there is a rope to hold on to.

Tuesday,Joe drove to Flagstaff (about 75 miles south) to pick up our part.  Three hours of travel, a $22 part,

and 20 minutes of repair and we were good to go.    

Our puppies supervise everything!

Finally,  Wednesday dawned and as you can imagine, we were up early and excited.  It's not a long drive from Tuba City to Moab (about 250 miles), and it is such a beautiful ride, the time usually passes by quickly.

I haven't taken road shots in along time, but the clouds and scenery were so pretty Wednesday morning.  We experienced sunny skies, cloudy skies, rain and a few snow flakes.  It was quite chilly going through Blanding !

Finally!

Church Rock and the La Sal Mountains...wahoo!

 We have enjoyed our first sunrise at Gopher Flats for 2019 and are looking forward to many more...

Until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS !