When is an arch..not?

Last night’s site was called Ken’s Lake.  It was quiet and only two other sites were in use.  The rain came in around 9PM and lasted well into the night.  Good sleeping temperatures at last.  So good in fact that we slept till nearly 8AM!  We spent a little time exploring the falls this morning. 

We were undecided as to where to go next then remembered we never completed Tyler’s Ranger work at Canyonlands National Park.  We drove the 34 mile road in once again although we didn’t stop to read the newspaper this time.  Once Tyler had taken his oath we had time to check out the exhibits and movie at the visitor center.   It still amazes me how much the geology varies over a couple hundred miles around here.  All of it shaped by water (predominately) wind and time.

Nearing lunch when we left we set the GPS for Cottonwood, AZ and decided to stop someplace along the way.  At an A&W Root-beer restaurant we uploaded yesterday’s blog and tried to upload a few pictures.  Back on track we saw signs for Natural Bridges National Monument.  Detour.

A bridge, not an arch?  I suppose they really are one in the same, but the rock, and erosion patterns are so different that Arches N.P and Natural Bridges N.M. can’t be compared to one another.  We set to work on Tyler’s (nth+1) Badge where “n” = how many he had yesterday.  You do the math.  “Light bulb!” 20$ cash to whoever comments with the correct Badge and/or Patch number.

Rules:  I am sole authority in this contest.  All decisions are final.  Duplicates count as one, i.e.: if Ty got a Badge and Patch for a location visited it counts as one.  Employees of the U.S. Department of the Interior are not eligible.  Must be at least 18 years old to win.  Winner must claim prize in person within 30 days.  Only one entry per person.  Contest is now closed.

We had a nice hike down to Sipapu Bridge and took several photos.  Tyler is getting good at climbing up and down ladders and the numerous carved rock steps we have been encountering.  On an aside he’s getting pretty good with the Frisbee too!  We stopped at another one of the overlooks in the park and spotted a set of ruins way in the distance.  Why build there?  Why leave?

We made it, noisily, back to the Visitor Center and Tyler took his oath. 

Nearing closing time we chatted with one of the volunteers and Rangers about the park, our travels and what it is like working and volunteering at a National Park/Monument.

As they closed up we departed, noisily, for the Deer Flats BLM public lands to camp. The road was slick from the days deluge and signs warned that it was impassible when wet.  We’ll see if we can get out in the morning.  We found a nice spot a few miles in at (37.63452,-109.92134).

a wrong turn down this wash

 

The truck is sounding rough.  A small scape on the thin muffler wall has turned to a noisy rattling tear.  I think I can subdue it with some aluminum flashing and high temperature tape, tomorrow’s errand.  Still on the lookout too get that oil change too.  I am reluctant to trust Jiffy-Lube or the like but may, as getting it done is most important.  I’ll just thoroughly check their work after.