Blue sky and arches for our last day.

Up early, quick breakfast and out. Delicate Arch Trail had been recommended to us but we'd also been told that the trail head car park at Wolfe Ranch fills up early.

We parked ok and started the 3 mile hike. Nobody warned us that it was all uphill to the Arch, bit of a morning workout.

Thankfully Delicate Arch was worth the effort to get up close.

We hiked back chatting most the way with a couple from Michigan. We did ask if they would like our bear spray as we no longer needed it. He thanked us but said he had a pistol so if needed would just shoot the bear.

Balance Rock.

We decided to tick off a few more arches. Double Arch.



Turret Arch.

North and South Window.

Where's Wally?

We took the Primitive Trail back to the Parking Lot, it was fairly primitive as we lost our way a couple of times but it great little peaceful trail. Past a Parade of Elephants (rocks).

Returned to the hotel early and ate the muffins we acquired at breakfast before spending a few hours by the pool that we'd been promising ourselves.

The land of canyons.

We were a bit late setting off this morning. The hotel provided breakfast and we made the most of it. Most of the time we've been having a simple breakfast in our room.

First view point today was Mesa Arch along a short loop trail. If the view appears familiar it's used as one of the backgrounds on Windows 7 PC's.

Grand View point trail was described as an easy 1 mile out, 1 mile back trail. I don't know if we need a rest but we both found it not so easy, but it gave great views over The Islands In The Sky area of Canyonlands National Park.

I become a little confused at this point as to what we were doing! We drove a 12 mile round trip to view Upheaval Dome. I thought it was ok but Hazel wasn't so impressed especially as it was an uphill walk and quite warm.

We returned to Moab about 4 pm and the bakery had shut. 1 bag of crisps since breakfast!

We did manage an hour or so by the pool, a very nice way to finish the day.

In the valley

We were up early to watched the sunrise from our balcony.

The View hotel designed to look natural in the surroundings.

For this morning I'd booked a Monument Valley tour in an open air vehicle (basically seats fastened to the back of a pick up truck), luckily the weather was good and not too cold. Taking a Navajo led tour is the only way to get into the backcountry to see rock art, natural arches and coves. An intresting tour, if a little bumpy and dusty.

Is that John Wayne?

For all you movie buffs, this is the point where Forest Gump decided to stop running.

Utah's highway 191 had some very intresting sights, here's just a few. Church Rock and Wilson Arch.

We had a brief stop at the HOLE N" THE ROCK. We joined a 12 minute guided tour of the unique home carved out of a rock with 14 rooms and a fireplace with a 65' chimney. Albert Christensen excavated  50,000 cubic feet of sandstone over 12 years.  When he died in 1957 his wife Gladys continued his work until she died in 1974. (Photography in site was not allowed).

After the short stop we continued to Moab for the last 3 nights of our trip. We managed to spent a short time at the pool & hot tub but promised ourself more time tomorrow