Ramblings of a Wandering Man

Today I left Moab and first went to Arches National Park.  I didn’t stay long, but I tried to get a few pictures that would look good.  Of course, I have to say that you would expect with a name like Arches, that you would find a lot of arches.  Perhaps there are a lot more if you go on the trails, but to find one I could see from my car, I had to drive a long ways in.  Sorry, no Delicate Arch or Landscape Arch, but hopefully still cool.

Unfortunately, I am having trouble posting pics tonight, so you’ll have to wait.

There were many things along the route today that if I had had more time, I could have gone to see, such as Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, Four Corners, Shiprock, and more.  Some I have visited, some not.  In New Mexico, I spent most of the time under a thick layer of clouds, but got no rain till the last hour or so of travel.  And just outside of Santa Fe, the wind was blowing amazingly hard.  I wish I could have got a picture of the dust storm, but it’s hard to drive and take a picture at the same time.  I did find a Mormon Battalion monument just outside of Santa Fe, though.  I will try again tomorrow to post the pics.

Drive safely, everyone!

 

I’ll be honest.  I’m a little nervous about being out on the road with no one to keep me company.  I made it to Moab a little later than I meant to, but without any real problems, just a later start than intended.

That being said, I will press on.  I traveled down through a small town I love: Ephraim, UT.  I got dinner at my favorite pizza place, where I ate many times in college.  It had a different name back then, but it is now known as Roy’s, and the food is just as good.

I then drove through Manti, where I took a picture of the Manti Temple (where I had some good memories, and where I almost got married many years ago).

Finally, I got some good pictures of some scenic views along I-70 of the San Rafael Swell, Devil’s Canyon (I think), Ghost Rock, and one other place I can’t remember now.  I guess I should start writing these down, sorry.  I had to pass a few others, like Goblin Valley, that would be well worth visiting if you have time.

Now for the pictures.  Hope you enjoy the scenery as much as I do.

On Saturday, I participated in a bike ride in order to raise money for the MS Society.  This is a cause that is important to my family.  Important enough for me to be willing to put on tight biking clothes, show off my white legs, and ride a bike 45 miles for a good cause.  Thank you to all who participate in any way in this event or others like it.

I decided about a year ago to do something a little crazy.  I decided to plan a road trip for this summer, and that I would spend some time in the South.  So I went to my boss, and asked if it would be possible for me to take six weeks off.  With his permission, (and a lot of saving of money) I will be leaving next week.  On this blog, I am hoping to show what there is to see in this great country of ours, and maybe show the value of getting away from the big cities and airports, and spending a little time in a car.

I hope that this will not just be read as a travelogue, but as a way to show the beauty and history of our country.  I will be visiting a lot of history sites (which shouldn’t be a surprise to those who know me) but I will try not to turn this into a history class.  I hope that this will be enjoyable, and if it encourages you to go a little out of your comfort zone with a road trip, than I will have done something right.