Getting Mooned, Aliens were here, fauna abounds in Capital Reef

We interrupted this guy while he was snacking and checking out the petroglyphs!















Looks like a space ship hovering to me! To the right you can even see what might be an alien! :) LOL














Getting mooned!














See, in the middle, it looks like an alien face! :) LOL














Flora at Capital Reef National Park! Send me a comment and let me know if you know what this plant is

Capital Reef and jackets; petroglyphs, Freemont River

Jacket weather at Capital Reef National Park. One of the least visited National Parks . Early settlers described it as being impossible to pass through just like a coral reef.















Randy looking at a Cottonwood Tree and reminiscing back to childhood.














Freezing cold and rainy as we cross the bridge to see the petroglyphs. Here I am Becky...see I didn't get dropped off and left somewhere! ;) LOL














Petroglyph drawings always look like they were drawing aliens and not real people!!! Makes you wonder doesn't it! :)





can you see them?








A waterfall greats you as you enter Capital Reef National Park. It is a nice little hike down a very steep path to get close to the falls.

Man made waterfalls, sandstone, watch those turns!

How hot is it where you are? Want to go swimming?!? We wished we could but it is too cold here near Bryce Canyon, Utah off of Highway 12!











Waterfall flanked by sandstone!!!!!!
















This is not a natural crreek, river or tributary....it was hand dug over 100 years ago by pioneers who needed to irrigate their crops!! It is several miles long!















Yikes!!! watch that curve...and its uphill all the way!





What do you see outside your windshield?!?








What tales can you tell about all that you've seen through your windshield?!?

Scenic Highway 12 and waterfall in Bryce Canyon

Waterfall on Highway 12 in part of Bryce Canyon






























moving along highway 12 in Capital Reef National Park. Lots of petroglyphs here. Hey is that an orbe?













This highway seems so innocent to RV'ers...but beware!












Utah Rocks!

Braided Rivers, Scenic Highway 12

Aaron looking at a braided river (a river that is split by small islands) in Utah near Hanksville and Escalante










Randy enjoying the scenery.




























Utah Rocks! :)

















Scenic Highway 12! Little did we know what laid ahead. AKA the "Oh Shit Road" with 14% grades!

What do you see outside of your windshield?!?

Go! Nourish your spirit! Travel!!!!!

Previews

Stay tuned for the blogdition about Scenic Route 12 and the "Oh Shit!" road, Escalante and the Flash Flood!

Following that blogdition will be: Taking the petrified trail, Capital Reef, Bryce Canyon and the waterfall, cave trail, watch out for that snake!!!!, and Ruby's.

The next blogdition will be Bryce Canyon and the one mile tunnel through the mountain that has to be shut down for vehicles like big H, trailers, motor homes and 18 wheelers, the Virgin River and Kanab.

After that will be the Grand Canyon North rim in which only 1 in 10 visitors to the South Rim will ever see, Jacob's Lake and Crater RV park.

Today we spent the day viewing the meteor crater that has been used to train astronauts going to the moon and driving back to Gallup.

Tomorrow, we will go the Fire and Ice Valcano in Bandera and venture toward the New Mexico/Texas border in search of a great RV park....(maybe the Cotton Gin again).

Goblin Valley State Park- June 20, 2009 - Day 8

Goblin State Park is a strange colorful Mar's like place. Aaron is convinced that if we look hard enough we can find the Mar's rovers wondering around Goblin Valley State Park. Send us a comment if you stumble upon it one day! :)

Goblin Valley is made from deposits laid down around 170 million years ago by an inland sea. Nature sculpted the Goblins by various means such as uplift, wind and water erosion.

Goblin Valley was reveled to the modern world in the late 1920s when cowboys happened upon it while searching for cows.

The Goblins are made of Entrada sandstone. Plants have adapted to this desert environment by reducing the size of their leaves so that they don't loose as much water due to transpiration. Animals usually have to travel long distances to find water or wait for rain. Most animals here are nocturnal. Some animals get water from the food they eat and can go for weeks without water. Jack rabbits, scorpions (yuck), kangaroo rats, pronghorn, kit foxes, midget faded rattlesnakes and coyotes can all be found here.

There are various trails a visitor to the park can take. We decided to take the Entrada Canyon trail which is described as "an adventursome, moderately strenuous 1.3 mile one way trail from the campground to the goblins and bakc", and the Carmel canyon trail which is described as a "1.5 mile moderately strenuous loop." Any of the trails will be well worth your while.

For Mike! The windshield

The windshield!!!!! Need I say more! Everyone knows how Randy feels about all of his vehicles.

Aaron and Caylin playing with the Goblins.














What happened to my water? House Boats in the desert? !? Hanksville.















Aaron and Caylin discover a cave in Goblin Valley














Cayin loves the cave!

Day 8 photos continued

Randy trying to get a better view of all the Goblins around us!!!














What are you looking at right now?!!??














Aaron, Caylin, and Willie playing with the Goblins



















Not far over the hill, you will find a canyon that is absolutely beautiful!!!

Day 8 - Goblin Valley, Hanksville, and Scenic Route 12

Sandstone Goblins everywhere. Listen quietly and you can hear them talk! :)
















They are everywhere. Climb down into the canyon and you will be surrounded by 1000s of them














Willie investigates some of the Goblins to make sure it is safe to enter














Randy, Aaron and Caylin reading about the formation and discovery of the Goblins!














Looks like a painting or a back drop doesn't it?!? I can guarantee you this is real scenery from Utah!

Goblin State Park-Goblins-Hanksville Boats and Scenic Highway 12- Day 8, 6-20-09

The RV fits perfectly!!!!!














Some small mud mounds are a lot of fun to climb

This site had three campfire rings...Randy commented that it would be even more fun if friends were here camping with us

It was cool enough that all we had to do was open the windows and it was perfect!

Ready for a nice peaceful quiet evening. We can't wait to see all of the stars

What is outside your window?

Day 8, Sat. 6-20-2009. Goblins, The "Oh Shit Road" , Capital Reef National Park and the Flash flood in Escalante, Utah

Searching for a good Boon Docking site on BLM land near Goblin Valley State Park. The dirt on your 4 wheel drive shows where you've been!!! :) Go out and have fun!















This site is gorgeous and isolated...it is about a mile off the lonely dirt road reading down into this BLM site














We love it...we have our own private Goblins














Heading to Goblin Valley State Park














Cow Dung Road!!!! Need we say more.

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah. Get ready to meet some Goblins in the next blogdition!!!

Randy gets "rock-hounded" out and looks for off-roading opportunities with Little H.