Memorial Day at Moab

Ok, so I'm a little delayed. I've decided NOT to go back to Italy and rehash that trip. Instead, we'll forward to Memorial Day Weekend with good friends Chris, Janice & their 8-month-old Charlie, as well as Don and Leah. All of us met way back in another life at Fat Tuesday's and in the last year and a half I've reconnected with them.

Chris and Janice arrived on Wednesday so that Thursday morning they could go scout out camping sites and found a GREAT one right on the river. I arrived at 6 pm that night and cracked open an ICB while setting up my tent. Don & Leah, coming from San Diego, were overnighting past Vegas and we'd see them tomorrow.

I brought my road bike (yes, I know, it's Moab) and Friday morning we all struck out at the same time for the end of the road at Arches. I realized on my 10-day trip around the Four Corners in '05 that riding through National Parks is an amazing way to really see the landscape. They went for a hike and we met at the end of a looooooong uphilll climb. Let's just say that of the 20-mile road in the park about 1.5 of it was downhill. I kid you not.

Because of the time of day, heat (not a cloud in sight) and dry air, I took my time and stopped at nearly every pull-out or overlook in the park. When you're driving in, you miss out on some of the views and it really does get tiresome to get in and out of your car constantly, walk over, read, view, etc. SO much more peaceful and enjoyable in the saddle.

That night, after D&L arrived and set up their tent while sipping on an ICB, I pulled out steaks from Ranch Foods Direct and we all had ourselves a great meal (heck, ALL meals that weekend were delightful), great conversation and then sat around the fire until the wee hour of probably midnight.

We hit Arches again the next day and did a few hikes around there and then Canyonlands Island in the Sky District the following day. It was hot, we didn't get started early (11:30 at the trail head) and went on a 6-mile hike. Janice is a MACHINE!!! She carried the baby on her back in a pack the entire time. After the hike, where we saw an arch, several garden oasis, beautiful desert wildflowers, geckos, canyonlands and sky as the eye could see.

We did Arches one final time -- Delicate Arch and a few other small hikes -- before it was time for our last night of camping.

C,J & C are in the process of moving to Sedona. That was the plan since moving out to Arizona from NoVa and they've finally done it. We saw some pictures of their new place and I can't wait to see it! I'll see Don, who brought his guitar and serenaded the group at night, & Leah probably before next Memorial Day if I'm able to go to San Diego again. We brunched with them in March before Dave headed overseas and I'm looking forward to it again.

Sadly we had to head home and back to reality after five nights in the camp ground, but it was a good time. We're going to look into renting a house boat on Lake Powell and then exploring some of the canyons that are reappearing in Glen Canyon these days. We'll have to bring kayaks along to do some of the exploring, but it should be a good time!

I think we probably ate better during the camping trip (I usually do) than during a regular week. We were totally gourmet! Peet's coffee, steaks, brats, salad, you name it, we ate it. After all, if you're going to pull your car into a spot, you're not roughing it and should definitely reward your afternoon hikes with some good food / beer / wine / margs :-)

I have to say that Charlie was an amazing camper. He didn't cry much at all, was mostly giggly and totally into the outdoors scene: eating dirt, watching geckos run around, taking camp showers, going on hikes, etc. Nothing fazed this little guy. Watch for him in about 20 years in some amazing adventure race. He's getting primed for it now!

Ciao!