5C's Que Pasa

Last Monday morning was a mix of rain and showers.  Once it stopped we headed out about 1PM to drive the Upper Colorado Scenic Byway on Hwy 128.  It is a 44 mile one way road that should take about an hour.  We only went from Moab up Hwy 128 about 30 miles and turned around to see the view coming back down.  It took us 3 hours 😀 with my nagging Colin that we still had to go back to Arches NP.  I read that driving from I70 down the valley into Moab is the best way to drive this route.  Personally we both feel that it is equally spectacular as the changing light and direction offers much more for the eye to capture that was missed from the first direction.

The view from the RV large dining table window in the RV park we were staying in.

From the other side of our home on wheels.

In no particular order the following are photos taken during our Hwy 128 drive.  Photos taken by Colin.  He was using two different cameras this day.

Our car looks so tiny and this is piece of rock has been eroding for thousands of years.

Beyond amazing.

So many huge boulders in this area.  Some even bounced to the other side of the road.  The sign mentions that people come from all over the world to climb these monster rocks.

Just a small chunk that fell off.

My own personal mini balanced rock.

We must do all that we can to preserve what nature has given us.

On the way out of the canyon I spotted something out of the corner of my eye.  I got this shot on our way back down.  Can you see the house in the middle?

Just a bit further down the road I asked Colin to stop and got this close up.  How fortunate to have a home in the midst of all this natural beauty.

On the way back down to Moab.

By now I was seriously nagging to get in the car and move on to the Arches NP.  I have no idea how many photos he took but he did the editing and these are the ones he wanted me to post.  Of course that does not include the ones that I took.  I actually stopped taking photos as what was the point of both of us taking photos when he was using cameras and lenses much better than my mini camera plus he is the pro.  I just enjoyed being surrounded by the glory of nature.

Nearing the bottom of the canyon along with the Colorado River.

As you can see, the sky is clearing.

More on the Arches NP next post.

Our destination yesterday was Monument Valley and we had prebooked one of the few boondocking sites right at the View Campground.  The plan was to watch the sunset and sunrise over the Mittens.  However Mother Nature had different plans with a very rare Western Hurricane named Rosa.  We were able to contact the Rangers at Monument Valley and they told us not to come.  For one you could not see anything with the low cloud level and already before the real rains (they were expecting 14 hours of rain ) had even arrived the ground was mucky and we would likely sink and be stuck.  Plus they would not be allowing anyone to drive the loop until everything had dried out which would be days away.

Should we stay in Moab?  No as rain was the forecast.  Later I read that Moab also had flash flood warnings added.  The Four Corner area was one area to be hit the hardest and we had to drive near enough to that area in order to leave the storm rain band, so we quickly packed up which was amazing seeing as we had a full set up including satellite dish up.

Yes our ultimate destination was the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.  So I called the RV Park that we would be staying the night before moving to the festival grounds just outside of Albuquerque and they were full.  They suggested a nearby truck stop or a Walmart not too far away.  We would figure it out when we got there.  As we drove I called the park back and asked to please put us on a wait list for last night.

Fortunately the local rain had stopped and we were able to pack up without getting wet.  We were hooked up and driving by 10:45AM.  The rain started 15 minutes later.  It was sad missing all the beauty around us.  About 40 minutes later the driver windshield wiper stopped so we had to drive for a bit not being able to see clearly before Colin was able to pull over and do repairs.

With no expectation at all suddenly there was this huge arch at the side of the road.  Wilson Arch it was called, would have been great to stop and hike up to it.

The rain varied in intensity for most of the drive.  Here we are following a Fun Seeker X that looked just like Chris and Juan’s RV.

The camera focuses on the raindrops.

This what the sign said.  Sure wish we were driving in sunshine and blue sky conditions.

We got a bit of a break here for about 15 minutes.

I am certain that the view of those cloud shrouded mountains would be magnificent.

Obviously we are going to have to return to this part of Colorado.  Great price on diesel here from 3.07 to 3.21 per gallon but we were already full.

We crossed into New Mexico at 1:30PM and stopped for a quick lunch. We drove non stop except for the 30 minute lunch break and later a 15 minute fuel fill.  Got that diesel at 3.099 which was the same price we filled the Jeep up with the night before in Moab.

Interesting  views.

A wee rain break.

As we got closer to I25 ( we were on Hwy 550 ) the terrain changed.  Beautiful.  The rain started again just after I took this photo.

Love the color of the license plate.

Earlier in the afternoon I checked in with the RV  park and they had a spot for us for two nights, not the pull through I had booked for tonight but a spot.  It did not matter to us as to be in one spot for two nights would make our life easier in that we only had one night to set up and we would have all day today to prepare for the boondocking days ahead such as laundry, hair wash, dumping the tanks and filling the water tank to the brim.  We arrived at the KOA in Bernalillo at 6:30 pm in a light drizzle.  I checked us in while Colin unhooked the Jeep.  We were led to our site and as we backed in, the sky burst open.  Earlier yesterday when I was checking the weather there was not even a shower in the forecast for Albuquerque.  I guess the Rosa rain band shifted to the East or just expanded.  Thank goodness we were in one spot for two nights.  We set up,  I got dinner ready and it was 9PM by the time we ate.   Once dinner was over, I headed to bed without even taking a shower.  It had been a very long tiring day.

We drove 349.4 miles and it took us 8 hours including one 30 minute lunch break and a 15 minute fuel fill.  It rained 98% of the time and there were puddles of water on the roads and along the ditches.  Twice we saw mudslides to the edge of the highway.  Most of the arroyos had water in them.  Glad we made the decision to head South.

I still have one or two more Moab posts to complete and hope to get those done today so be sure to check in later.  The sun is starting to peak through and it has warmed up to 66F so I had best get some chores done.  For some reason I expected it to be nice and warm here at this time of year.

UPDATE ON HIGHWAY MEXICO 15D

I have received an email from Catheline two days ago with the following:

The route

After taking the state road from El Fuerte to El Carrizo and 7 km before reaching the Carrizo, you must take a detour to the Ejido Revolución.

Then continue to the ejido Francisco Station and 100 meters before reaching the aforementioned ejido, take to the left and join the State highway that leads to the Chávez Talamantes ejido, which connects at the height of km 62 + 500 of the highway 1460 Los Mochis- Ciudad Obregón, section: Los Mochis- Don Station.

Sandy then sent me the following:

I found this this morning that was posted 18 hours ago.  I believe that all will be well by the time that you and I travel 15D.

So after driving 294 miles and setting up the RV on Sunday, September 30th, we quickly packed up cameras, walking shoes, water and snacks and headed over to Arches National Park.  I thought that the fee was $25.00 per vehicle.  It went up on June 30th to $30.00.  However that pass is good for a full seven days which I think is a great deal.  Even better for us, the park closes the ticket booth at 4PM and we did not have to pay at all 😎

This is how uneven the ground is where we are parked.  Both the front tires and the front jacks are up on boards.  As you can see one side is much lower than then other.

Because no one was taking payment at the entrance booth there were no brochures nor maps being handed out.  However I did have a good printed copy of the park roads and stops.  I also had purchased an app ( my first ever ) to help us navigate the park.  Arches National Park app by GyPSy for $4.99 US describes everything you need to know about the park plus more.  It knows where you are and starts talking about the area you are in automatically.  I put my iPhone on airplane mode to be sure that no roaming charges would be incurred and ran the app.  It was more than I could have hoped for and we learned so very my more about Arch NP than we could have hoped.  A great tool.  It was interesting to start with how what we were seeing started over 300 million years ago, how the area was covered over by the sea and evaporated and then covered over by yet another sea, in all 29 cycles of a sea covering the area and then evaporating.  That left a mile thick salt layer which sediment covered and then the pressure caused the salt layers to liquefy and shift and so began all these amazing formations.  Just a wee tidbit of the entire story.  Incredible.

I soon realized that there was no point in me taking photos what with Colin having two cameras in hand.  So the following shots were taken by Colin.  This formation is called Park Avenue, an they thought this resembled the sky line of NYC.

My photo re the que pasa of Park Avenue.

So many different configurations.

Balancing Rock.

The park is immense.

Walking up to the Windows.  The walks always start out easy but are deceiving.

North Window, quite amazing.

I could not believe that this couple complete with bridal party and relatives including the very old with canes were exchanging vows up there.  In behind is Turret Arch.

It was very windy up at the South Window. Pretty good selfie Colin.

Both the North and South windows.

Double Arch.  Note the low sun in the sky reflecting within the arch.

This was Colin’s favorite thus far.  I was too late for the light ( I had to go to the bathroom ).

We only got to see 50% of the park before the sunset.  It was dark by the time we got back on the main road.  We were eating dinner by 9:00PM and I was in bed by 10:30PM.  But at least we got to see Arches NP.

Next post will be what happened on Monday, October 1st.  The day did eventually turn out very well.  Stayed tuned for the details.

In real time:

Looks like the hurricane is going to affect ( mostly rain and flash flooding ) our destination today.  We had prepaid for the RV Park ( and it is non refundable  $44.00 ) and we were going to follow through and hope that the sun would prevail.  Now it appears that there are flash flood warnings for Monument Valley.  Trying to make a decision.  Just called and it is advised not to come.  Not worried about the RV park money but where can we stay tonight?  Working on it.  Until next time.

The last two days have been new roads for us to explore.  In fact we will have a total of 31 days before we get to the Isla to enjoy new territory.   Our Saturday stay in the Perry, Utah Walmart was almost perfect.  The wind came up at sunset and increased in intensity and it was 82F in the RV even with all the windows open and the three fantastic fans running.  At one point during the night the motorhome was actually rocked by the wind.  It was 75F when we woke up but overcast.  Another good day to hit the road.

The morning was a rush of traffic along I15. I believe this is the Temple in Bountiful.  Best I could do rolling along at 60 mph.

Sadly this is the best I could get of Salt Lake City’s Temple Square.  Just can just see a bit of white with a steeple in front of the tall middle high rises.  At least I believe that to be Temple Square.  Yes I know that we should take the time to stop and enjoy but we do have a destination with a fixed date that we have to meet.

Did you know that Salt lake City is 30 miles long?  Here we are at the far South end of the city and this dust is blowing in from the West and the open fields/desert.

We were happy to leave all the rush ( thank goodness it was a Sunday morning and quieter ) of I15 behind us and head East on Hwy 6.  Such a peaceful looking valley.

Not a mile in and we saw this.

We saw several smoke plumes in these hills.  A tough area to be fighting a fire.

Highway 6 was most enjoyable to drive and the sun came out and despite some climbing we just sat back and appreciated the beauty of nature.

We stopped on I70 and topped up the RV with diesel as were weren’t sure where we would find another truck stop, we only took on 28.579 gallons @ 3.439.   It was long before we were on Hwy 191 heading down to Moab.

Yes some of you guessed Moab.  Well done.  Sandy, Kay, Joanne, Kathy and Steve made guesses of some of the places we will be stopping at but not the destination.  One person got it right.  Carol I never heard of the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, I will have to look into that.  But Moab is not the ultimate destination that we have to be at by a certain date, the reason for our long driving days with few stops along the way.

Our first view of Moab. Love the colors.

We checked into the ACT Campground just 2 miles past Centre Street which is a Passport America park,  you get one nite @ 50% off the $49.00 rate plus tax.  Two nights cost us $81.78, but I am told that this is a good price for a Moab RV Park with 30amp full hookups.  They do have 50amps but it costs more.  I got the last open spot when I booked early last August and I think they made a bit of a mistake.  It was not an easy place to park and I later noticed that they had written on my reservation form that we had a 30 foot Class C 😯  Once settled I checked the computer ( thanks to your comments about the coming weather re Hurricane Rosa ) and saw that tomorrow which is now today had a forecast of rain.

So we packed up the Jeep and headed directly to Arches National Park.  We arrived at 4:45PM.  More on the rest of yesterday in the next post.

Yesterday we drove 294.4 miles.

We arrived at our destination today with no issues.  However once checked in, unhooked and the the RV backed in, I checked the weather.  It appears that the Mexican hurricane Rosa which is still a Category 2, is going to affect our weather both here in Utah and in Arizona this week.

Tomorrow was our only site seeing day here and suddenly rain was the forecast for tomorrow.  So after setting up we headed out to do some super intense site seeing.  It is 10:30PM and we just finished dinner.  Colin is tired and I am exhausted.  I had some heavy navigating to deal with today.  Okay I am now convinced to get a Garmin or whatever.  By next winter for sure.

We are good but trying to deal with what Mother Nature deals us and improvise as best we can.  I have a great post about today but I am way too tired to write it.  Plus if the weather is good in the morning we are out checking things out a 7AM and on.  It all depends on those weather gods.

No worries, I will catch you all up to date even if I have to do two posts in one day.  By the way Colin got some special photos this afternoon but that is two posts from now.

Stayed tuned.  Pray for sun 😎