Moab, and Back

There is WAY too much to put into one post. We packed the days with driving hiking driving, looking, and more driving. We probably spent a cumulative 12 hrs per day in the car. Which, is what we do. Have you ever known us to do the 7 hrs drive to Vegas in 7 hrs? It usually takes us at least 12. We don't do the 15. Back road less traveled are the best, the ones with the ghost towns. This first picture is from Thompson Springs, by far my favorite spot that we stopped. It was an old hub for steam engines to get water, in the early 20th century, It dried up in the 1950's. There are still a few that live there, but it was abandoned. Sego canyon was a little stop up the canyon behind Thompson Springs, with petroglyphs you could walk right up to. Trent and I wanted to open up the old hotel in the center of town that was a few feet from this old abandoned diner, and turn it into a tourist attraction "haunted hotel".
One of the cool things about this trip, the house we stayed at, (Thank you Paynes) had a book about the history of Moab, so we found a few of these ghost towns from reading that. I have a new fascination with the old west. I would love to take another trip in the next month or so, and go see some old ghost towns through SE Utah, and SW Colorado.
We spent a lot of time in Arches, took a back road into the park, went up the Colorado River, (It was really cold, but I'd love to take another trip rafting. Maybe when the kids are a little older. The mom in me was even nervous with the kids running around in Canyon lands. Holey Cliffs)

Our first stop in Canyon lands was here, what an awesome spot. I can only imagine what the first people to see this thought. This was a popular spot for horse thieves "Robbers Roost" to hide from the law. I can't see how you'd hide from anyone, from this vantage, but if you go in the south entrance of Canyon lands, you can very easily get lost. Or loose someone. I'm not a big fan of the desert, in the summer. (I grew up in Vegas) so right now was a perfect time to go. It never got above 86. (although when we got back our house was 58, apparently it snowed?)

That's all for right now, I will probably do a few more post today while the memory is still fresh.