Friday, the 24^th of October, I traveled from Tucson to Phoenix for a meeting concerning estate issues; I then just kept driving, spending the next several days in Flagstaff, where I revisited the Puebloan ruins of Wupatki. I then traveled on to Moab, Utah where I have spent 10 days. Most of the days were spent along the Colorado River and in Arches and the Northern half of Canyonlands National Parks, where multiple short hikes (more like long walks) with rocky elevation changes have assisted me in strengthening my second new hip replacement. I have been told my skeleton now is in two pieces, dis-contiguous at the hip.

This trip was a last-minute idea, and I won’t be reporting on much due to limited interest to others. I will, though, include some scenic photos and shots of native American rock art. I have included below some of my favorite shots of extraordinary views of arches and the huge river canyons, most from the Parks. Also included are 3 shots of rock art, two petroglyph panels which include a birthing scene and an owl, both of which are unique to my knowledge among the 10s of thousands of Puebloan petroglyphs; the third is a pictograph (painting) in the Barrier Canyon style (thought to be from 3 to 5 thousand-years old), unique in apparently showing a humanoid with internal intestines displayed.

As I collect more photo opportunities, I occasionally will report same. Later. Dave

I spent a week in Vernal, Utah, after a long drive north from Moab. Vernal sits in the North-east corner of Utah where the Green River flows into Colorado then back into Utah in the Dinosaur National Monument. I enjoyed a number of short hikes in the Monument, and some more difficult hikes including to a Dinosaur trackway with numerous petrified prints of a Dilophosaurus (the double crested beast in the original Jurassic Park), and a hike up to the Moonshine Arch. I previously have written about the many Freemont petroglyph panels near Vernal so will not repeat here.

From Vernal I traveled on Nov. 12 to Torrey, Utah just outside Capitol Reef National Park. Capitol Reef has more stunning high rock cliff views available from roads than any other spot I have visited in the US. The color shades in the sheer cliffs and incredible rock formations absolutely pop in vibrance, with clear delineations in orange, red, maroon, grey-green, yellow and patches of snow-white, all under some of the clearest blue sky on earth. I have included a number of photos of these spectacular views, including the sunrise colors of the view from my window and front door in the Noor Inn. I went on several hikes, both for photos and to continue to strengthen my new hip, including the Chimney Rock circuit which starts with a 600-foot climb up steep switchbacks to overlook central parts of the Park. The extravagant views are due to the geologic uplift called the Water Pocket Fold, a monocline which exposes numerous different rock layers which stack to sore into sheer cliffs.

This next Wednesday, the 19^th, I plan to drive to Cortez, CO. for another week of hiking – after that I have no current plans, other than to wonder where I might get some turkey and stuffing. Later. Dave