Day 62 (October 21, 2006) - Natural Bridges National Monument

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Another plan for a bike ride out of the window. By the time I get everything ready and don't feel guilty about leaving Petr with the camp cleanup, it is too late to get a head start. Our destination today is Moab, UT through the Natural Bridges National Monument and the east entrance to Canyonlands NP. About 34 miles on scenic Hwy 261, which I would have liked to bike. THANK GOD I didn't. 10 miles into the ride, warning signs posted along the way alert drivers about a series of dangerous switchbacks on an unpaved road with a 10% grade incline. We stop fearful that our RV won't make it and ask someone just exiting the Valley of the Gods if they think we can make it. They assure us to continue, that it's entirely worthwhile, so we go on. It's the Moki Dugway that my guide book mentions ("it suddenly descends a whopping 1100ft along a series of fist-clenching hairpin turns"), and I did not realize was on our itinerary. We make it to the summit and after the pavement starts, we pick up speed to head stright into Natural Bridges. The Visitor Center's ranger is helpful in pointing out the good hikes, and we decide it's not worth our time to prepare the bikes for a 9-mile loop if we plan to hike the trails to the bridges. We end up walking down to Kichina bridge and Owachomo bridge, the latter being the most famous and photographed since it has the biggest span. The ranger told us to look for a tiny fracture in it, which makes geologists think that it will collapse over the next 50-100 years. So if any of you is planning to visit, I strongly urge you to do so within the next 25 years to be safe. It's worth it!!! Back on the road by 2:00pm, we enter Canyonlands NP around 4:00pm through Hwy 211, a stretch of about 30 miles into some spectacular sights. We head straight to the overlooks which do not offer a view of the Colorado river from this side. This is the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers and we will see it tomorrow from Grand Point, through the north entrance. We are sleeping just outside Moab tonight, and we are definitely going for a bike ride tomorrow. Petr promised. I have the plan ready.

This is the sombrero-shaped rock that gives the town of Mexican Hat its name.

Along Hwy 261, so far, so good.

Uh oh. Are we in for trouble?

We climbed 12,000ft high mountain passes, a small mesa will not defeat us now!

Somehow, it's hard to see where the road takes you.

See what I mean? There are switchbacks and then there are switchbacks.

You didn't believe me? It's out of question with a road bike.

Welcome to Natural Bridges National Monument.

Sipapu Bridge.

Canyon.

Kachina Bridge.

Owachomo Bridge.

Petr taking a break.

On the way to Canyonlands NP.

Church Rock.

Newspaper Rock Recreation Area.

Welcome to Canyonlands National Park.

Petr said he had enough of red rocks. I think he is suffering of sensory overload.

The red alternates with the white in this canyon.

Mountain range in Manti-La Sal National Forest in the background.

White canyon walls.

Not everything around is red.

View inside the canyon.

Strange rock formations, mushroom-style.

More rocks.

Needles in the background, they look like a series of steeples.

Snow on Mt. Peale (12721ft).

There is vegetation around here, as opposed to Monument Valley. I told Petr it was a different "red rock".

Wilson Arch in the sunset.

Same mountain, seen from our campsite as the sun goes down.

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