Home Again

Got back to Star Valley on 23rd of Sept.  Getting a little cold and the most everyone has exited the park.  But the deer are plentiful.  Kim and John are still here for for some 4 wheeling.  We head out on the 28th, but the jeep couldn't make the trail that the side by sides could, so we just did some exploring on our own.  Hadn't been up to Granite Falls this year.  Last year they had a big fire in that area and we wanted to see how far it had advanced.
Bucks playing around on Golf Course

Does in Kim and John back yard.  Love Bird feeder

the fire didn't reach Granite Falls

Looking beautiful with snow in the mountains
On the 29th, we decided to head out and stop along the way back to Happy Trails.  We met up with Judy and Rita on BLM lands near Goblin State Park in Utah.  Never had been here, but had always wanted to get over to the west side of Canyon Land National Park.  Great time jeeping and 4 wheeling and hiking.  Dry camped for a week.  Rita and Judy left a day earlier since they had been there for a week before us.  The area is covered with Pictographs. We walked up the street to Temple Wash Pictograph area  and took some pictures while waiting on Rita and Judy to get ready for 4 wheeling at Bull Creek Pass and then Turkey Knob.
Pictographs at Temple Wash

Good to get back to red rock country

Saw some deer

View was spectacular

some wild turkeys

The man is great too
The next day, Bob and I took Judy's side by side and Judy and Rita rode Rita's quad.  We explored the Temple Mtn. Loop  in the morning

Deserted mine shack

Following the leaders

Great Country




That afternoon, Bob and I took off to Little Horse Canyon to hike. It had rained the week before, but we decided to try it anyway.  It was a great Slot canyon, but a mile or so out, we were in water.  Up to the crest on me.  But a great hike.  Would like to do it again, but without the water.

Entering the Canyon
Did I say water?



A dry place, but no boots, tried to save them from getting wet

Uh-oh more water

Forget it, just walk in the water with boots
On the 3rd, we rode over to Horseshoe Canyon on the west side of the Canyonlands National Park
Lots and lots of history with Pictographs and petroglyphs.  Only about 10 miles round trip.  Also saw some wild burros.

Wild Burros





Headed out on the 4th, but stopped in Goblin State Park to dump and get more water since we would be dry camping at next location.  Wasn't sure where we were going, but Rita and Judy had asked us to join them at McComb Wash.  We went into the Natural Bridges National Monument looking for a site there, but no luck.  Got to spend more time with Judy and Rita. They are much more prepared for dry camping than we are.   Goblin State Park is apply named.  The rocks resemble goblins.



At McComb Wash, we went exploring in the jeep.  Went to Moki Dugway and Valley of the Gods. Moki Dugway is  State Route 261 running thru the Moki Dugway.  It has steep  switchbacks and turns.

Just a portion of the road       



The next morning, Bob and I headed out to hike the Natural Bridges National Monument.  It was supposed to be a 10 loop hike.  It ended up being around 13 miles and wasn't easy by any means.  Trail was hard to follow and even had ladders to descend and ascend in places.  Great and worth the effort. 





Another Jeep ride following Judy and Rete and then discovering remains of the settlement of Rincone on  the San Juan River.




Fall was in the air

You can actually Raft or Kayak from Bluff Utah to Mexican Hat, AZ
Next day, we took the jeep to explore Arch Canyon.  Rita and Judy had years before explored in on 4 wheelers, but the road was too torn up to make it the way they had gone.  We decided to go up another direction.  I think we finally got a view of the arch.
Huge Canyon

Another View

Trail in bottom of canyon is probably what Judy and Rita Took

 Left the next morning.  Went to Monument Valley for 2 nights.  Actually stayed in a RV Park and did laundry and cleaned the rig.  Took jeep out for tour in Monument Valley.





End of summer and heading home to Happy Trails for the Winter.  Now we're here, had great Thanksgiving with 11 other friends at our place.  Between Bob's swimming, he entered his first swim meet since 1990.  Did pretty good.  Working with the YMCA Master's program in Goodyear.  Swimming 4 days a week.  A couple of days for pickleball and maybe a hike.  I'm playing pickleball 3 or 4 days, walking 3 to 5 miles daily, and hiking one day at least  a week.  Just living the Good Life.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

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