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Road tripping USA 2023
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  • Paula King-FoullieRoad tripping USA 2023Путешественник
    Dead Horse Point Park with the Canyonlands National Park
    Canyonlands National ParkAnother place more snowUntouched snowHard to see but the snow had a wave in it from the windMy attempt at a snowmanGorgeous sceneryHard to tell in this photo but where Dave is standing there was a sheer cliffJust looking at this photo, I can hear the crunch of the snow under my footPerfect scenery for a selfieBreathtaking sceneryDead Horse PointThe reason we were oohing and aahingThe gooseneckThose coloursTrying to get a photo to show the sheerness of the cliffAs spectacular as the Grand CanyonCan you see the ghost horseThe perfect backdrop

    Another day, another amazing adventure …

    28 февраля 2023 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    Destination Dead Horse Point State Park and what an amazing day we had. Dead Horse Point State Park is located 17 kms out of Moab and is definitely a mini Grand Canyon with views that are just as spectacular. Both Dave and I were oohing and aahing the whole time we were there.

    According to one legend, around the turn of the century, the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck, which is only 30-yards-wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush. This created a natural corral surrounded by precipitous cliffs straight down on all sides, affording no escape. Cowboys then chose the horses they wanted and let the culls or broomtails go free. On one haunting drive, for reasons still unknown, the cowboys chose the best horses and left the others corralled on the point. With the gate across the neck closed, the remaining horses were trapped with no way out, no water and no hope for survival within view of the Colorado River 600 m below. Those who found the remains of the unfortunate horses gave this place the name Dead Horse Point.

    A view of a ghost horse can be seen in the rocks left on the riverbend.

    We had read about the legend behind the name of this point however we never knew about the ghost horse at the bottom of the canyon and didn’t read this until we were about to leave the park. I, however, without knowing got a great photo of the ghost horse.

    Another day of so many amazing views, so many photos and oh so many memories. We even got to see a Scrub Jay bird (he was too quick and I didn’t get a photo) and a Hopi Chipmunk.

    Tomorrow is our last full day in Moab, we head to another gorgeous small town of Torrey on Thursday to explore the Capitol Reef National Park.    Читать далее

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  • Paula King-FoullieRoad tripping USA 2023Путешественник
    Couldn't resist a photo at this sign
    Snow is and always will be something special to usOur dream is to convert a bus like this and tour America in itMoab township signMoab is nothing like you expect it to be having an interstate running through the middle of itGorgeous little townshipShows how little the township isWe love how gift shops are called Trading Posts in AmericaDowntown MoabDave and the Moab signPaula and the Moab signMick and usThe township and surroundsDowntown MoabJust loved this mail boxThought the police car was uniqueWhere we stayedSelfie at the Arches National Park signSelfie at the Arches National Park signThe view from our hotel - those snow capped mountains

    Relaxing day in Moab

    1 марта 2023 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    We woke up to glorious snow again today so we just sat around watching it before heading down for breakfast. And then after breakfast we sat in the common seating area of the hotel looking out over the pool watching the snow fall.

    As the snow started to ease we went back to our room to rug up to walk downtown (we staying about 2.5kms out of town). We had a very enjoyable walk around town. We were taking our photo at the Greetings from Moab sign when a guy pulled up and said jokingly ‘Get away from my sign’. He said he drove past and saw us taking our photos and had to come to speak with us and take a photo of us together. He introduced himself as Dan Mick from Dan Mick's Guided Jeep Tours Official and we had a great chat and even got a photo together!

    Headed back to the hotel for some lunch and a bit of a rest of our legs (even though we only walked 8kms it felt like we had walked 30kms as our legs are so sore from our hikes).

    This afternoon, we took a long drive around the backroads of the township looking at the residential side of Moab. Didn’t realise so many families lived here but soon did as we drove past 2 schools at end of school time.

    A quick trip to the Arches National Park sign for a quick photo then it was time to head back for dinner.

    We have had a truly amazing time in Moab, onto Torrey tomorrow to explore the Capitol Reef National Park.    Читать далее

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  • Paula King-FoullieRoad tripping USA 2023Путешественник
    Goodbye Arches & Moab, thanks for the amazing memories
    Goodbye Dead Horse Point State Park, you were breathtakingTruly breathtakingThe way the snow was sitting on the mountains caught my eye while we were driving alongJust like a paintingInterstate 70 WestThis is not kms per hr this is miles per hr and oh my that is fast!Everything perfect for an amazing photoThe vastnessEvery corner is a totally different viewFrom snow to rockAnother unique scenery that caught my eyeThe Fremont RiverHeading into Capitol Reef National ParkA photo just doesn't do the size of the cliffs justiceSome of the orchards in Fruita section of Capitol ReefAnother different sceneryAll the different layersThese hills were mined for uranium many years agoMain street of Torrey

    To Torrey we go ….

    2 марта 2023 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

    Due to a change in internal flights after we had booked our international flights, we had to make a few changes to the end section of our holiday to make up a couple of days so that we can meet Kenzie in Vegas on 8 March. Her internal flight to Vegas was booked with her international ticket so it couldn’t be changed.

    Torrey wasn’t on our original plans however after some research, we decided to make a stop here to explore the Capitol Reef National Park.

    We set off from our Moab hotel at 9.30am, did some grocery shopping, filled the car with fuel and got some money out to do washing and tipping the cleaners of our rooms. We drove out of Moab around 10.30am.

    Onwards towards Torrey. We took I70 West for part of the way and wow it was 80 miles per hour (130kms). Dave set the cruise control to 80 and we had everyone passing us including semi-trailers or as the Americans call them tractor-trailers!

    We turned off I70 onto SR24 and went through some very interesting and questionable towns. We were wondering at some parts of the trip if we were in the right place as we didn’t see any cars for miles and no cars were coming the other way.

    Just before Torrey you go through the outskirts of Capitol Reef National Park and if those views are anything to go by, there is going to be some amazing scenes within the park.

    We drove into Torrey which is basically about 5 buildings with most places ‘closed for the season’ including the convenience store and all eateries so lucky we stocked up on food! It’s a very quiet quaint town though.

    Where we are staying, Days Inn by Wyndham is just a room but it is everything we need. It’s just a pity that it is one of the most expensive places we have stayed so far!

    Tomorrow we will enjoy the sights of the National Park with lots of walking ahead of us.    Читать далее

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  • Paula King-FoullieRoad tripping USA 2023Путешественник
    The obligatory national park sign photo
    The road leading up to the Panoramic View PointGoosenecks Point - the red and snow makes for a great photoLeading up to the Goosenecks PointThe timber in this tree caught my eyeThe colours are truly magnificentGoosenecks sign explaining how they were formedTrying to show the sheerness of the cliffsAnother mini Grand CanyonThe colours in this view caught my eye

    Exploring Capitol Reef National Park

    3 марта 2023 г., Соединенные Штаты

    Another breathtaking National Park. We set off to just do the scenic drive today as we were both not feeling the best, we both had nauseous feelings.

    First stop was for the Panoramic View Point and the Goosenecks just outside of the National Park. I tried to take photos to show just how spectacularly high these cliffs are but the photos just don’t do it justice. Truly breathtaking and awe inspiring.

    A little more of a drive and a stop off at Capitol Reef Visitors Centre which has been one of the best set out visitors centres we have visited. A couple of small souvenirs bought and then we were back in the car to do the scenic drive.

    Through the Historic Fruita district which is an old Mormon settlement that dates back to 1895. We will explore this more closely tomorrow. Onwards to the Grand Wash.

    The Grand Wash is a seasonal riverbed that you can walk in the dry season. It is prone to flash flooding so if there are storms or heavy rain predicted you aren’t allowed to walk the trail as there is literally no where to go if the water rushes through.

    Oh my what magnificent scenery through the wash. From wide river bend into the Narrows, from sand, to rock to snow - truly amazing.

    We walked about 13kms which was exactly what we both needed as we both started to feel much better.

    After the walk, we drove the rest of the scenic drive which has many spectacular scenes.

    On the way out, you can stop at the ruins of an old uranium mine. There are warnings about visiting this site as there is a radiation risk so we didn’t visit but took photos from afar. You can see the timber slats that hold up the tunnels of the mines.

    Torrey definitely is quiet at this time of year. We are staying at a hotel that has about 60 rooms and we are the only people staying here. Another car was here last night but we are unsure if that is the night employee or another tourist. Another car has just turned up here now (it’s 6.00pm) and again not sure if it is the night employee or another tourist.

    First photos are Goosenecks and Panoramic Viewpoint.    Читать далее

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  • Paula King-FoullieRoad tripping USA 2023Путешественник
    The road leading up to Larb Hollow Overlook on the way to Boulder, Utah
    The scenery is breathtakingLarb Hollow OverlookWhat an amazing backdrop for a selfieThe snow was so powdery and softToo beautiful not to take another selfiePhotos just don't do the scenery justiceYep another selfieBreathtakingSomething even more spectacular everywhere you lookMy turn for a selfieWe just couldn't get enough of this viewHow deep the snow wasThe height of the snow and the ice I slipped on at Dave's feetDave's at it againEven a toilet block looks spectacular in the snowThe snow banks on the road leading out of the overlookOne final photo of that viewI love red barns and they look even more amazing in the snowAs we came down from the mountain, the snow slowly disappeared

    Our last day in Torrey

    4 марта 2023 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ 🌬 -1 °C

    We had a much needed sleep in today before starting our daily adventures.

    To break up the adventure a bit we decided not to explore the depths of the National Park again today instead opting for a drive to the nearby townships. We drove through Bicknell, Lyman and Loa. All very small townships but the backdrop scenery was breathtaking and even more so in the snow.

    We headed back to the hotel for some lunch before heading out for our afternoon adventures. We had seen numerous cars take a road right near our hotel and we wondered why so many people were going that way so decided to take a drive up there. About 40kms into the drive and after winding our way up the mountain through some amazing snow covered landscape we stumbled upon a scenic lookout. We were both blown away (literally as well as figuratively as the wind was immense). Photos and videos just don’t do it justice, lucky we have our memories to look back on each time we close our eyes. We both had so much fun playing in the snow, walking in the snow (and nearly disappearing at times the snow was so deep) and at one point I slipped on some ice and landed head first in a bank of pillow soft snow! I couldn’t stop laughing!

    From here we drove back to the entrance of the National Park where the historic Mormon settlement of ‘Fruita’ is and explored that. It was ever so peaceful there and extremely interesting. I said to Dave could you imagine living here in the late 1800's, how isolate it would have been.

    The district comprises a former Mormon agricultural settlement that was active from 1895 to 1947. It includes what remains of the town of Fruita. The Leo R. Holt House, oldest in Fruita, was built in 1895 and the Fruita Schoolhouse in 1896. The orchards that gave Fruita its name are preserved as a "historic landscape" by the National Park Service.

    This makes our last full day in Torrey and we have enjoyed every minute of it. Tomorrow we make our way to Springdale to explore Zion National Park. Before arriving there tomorrow, we will spend most of the day exploring Bryce Canyon National Park.    Читать далее

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  • Paula King-FoullieRoad tripping USA 2023Путешественник
    Otter Creek State Park and the fisherman setting up their tents to ice fish
    Otter Creek General StoreThe entrance to Otter Creek State ParkThe fence reminded me of tipis in old western movies

    Onwards to Bryce & Zion National Parks

    5 марта 2023 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ 🌬 4 °C

    We were up early, had breakfast, showered, packed and on the road by 8.30am with our first destination being Bryce Canyon. Bryce has been on my bucket list for a long time.

    We travelled through lots of small farming towns and each time we travel through these areas both Dave and I are flabbergasted by how much junk is around the houses. It’s like if something breaks down they just don’t fix it, they leave it where it broke down and buy another one whether it is a harvester, truck, pickup, tractor or even buildings.

    We drove through Otter Creek State Park which is a large dam that has ice fishing in winter and many water sports in summer. We saw quite a few ice fisherman setting up their tents for a day of fishing. The wind and cold was unbelievable though.

    The drive to Bryce had everything, clear valleys, snow capped mountains and state routes with high snow banks on either side with some sections of the route where we had to drive through snow and ice and other sections where the dual highway was down to one lane due to the snow banks.

    Entering into Bryce you just got the feeling it would be magical and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Many sections were closed for the winter and had snow about 3 metres high on the roads into those sections but the sections we wanted to explore were all open.

    We explored Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Bryce Point and Inspiration Point and every point took our breath away.

    The amount of snow banked up against the viewing walls and the fence along the walking paths just shows how much snow they have had this season, truly magical.

    Some of the places we walked the paths were clear but had ice, others were snow ladened and you just followed the track other people had made. Once you got to the fenced lookout high up in the Canyon from these snow ladened paths, the fence that would normally be about 1 to 1.5 metres high was about 20 cms high, the rest was under snow!

    We spent about 3 hours exploring this magical park and feel extremely blessed to have seen it in all its winter glory. If we are ever fortunate to make our way back to the states, we would look at spending much more time exploring this park. Both Dave and I said yesterday, though extremely hard to pick our favourite place on this trip as everywhere has been amazing, this one was the most breathtaking.

    We got back in the car around 2.30pm for an hour and a half trip to Zion/Springdale.

    Each time we plug in our destination in google maps (we prefer using google maps on our phone than the navigation system in the car as it is in kilometres and has an Aussie voice) we wonder if we are going the right way. Each time it takes us on roads were we never see another car ever and this time was no different. From Torrey to Bryce we went on a road called Johns Valley Road for 60kms and didn’t see one car!

    And then from Bryce to Zion we seemed to be going the backroads again, only seeing a few cars until we got closer to Zion then the traffic got a little more. Coming from Bryce to Zion you enter the east entrance and you actually drive through the outskirts of the park, going through 4 different tunnels. You only drive at 15 miles per hour (25 kms) through the park which at time seems way too quick as there are lots and lots of sharp turns. One thing we have noticed in the national parks here is that Americans don’t believe in getting to the top or bottom of anything gradually. The climb up or down whether being a walking trail or road is steep and with about 180 degree turns! Makes for some hairy drives and exhausting walks especially in cold snowy icy conditions.

    We saw some amazing scenery driving and the last tunnel we had to take was long and very narrow. When campervans or buses come through, they have to get special permits as they have to close the tunnel to allow them through, it can’t be dual.

    We made it into Springdale at about 5.00pm (due to the slower speed limit and half hour wait to go through the last tunnel) and we were both stuffed. We unpacked and had dinner and just relaxed. Tomorrow and Tuesday is for exploring.    Читать далее

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