No “up and atem” this morning. Hubby woke up not feeling the best this morning so we were moving slow. Guessing he’s got a case of whatever I had that got me down Saturday on the way to Bryce. So we had a bit of a shortened day today – no hikes.
We pulled up to Dead Horse State Park a little after 11:00. One of the best views is right there at the Visitor’s Center so we spent some time there wandering around a bit before exploring the other viewing areas. Honestly, it’s a pretty small park so it doesn’t take long to go through it unless you are spending some time camping or hiking. There is a trail along the rim if you’re so inclined. Basically you’re seeing the same view, just from different perspectives. So combined with a small park, same view just different perspectives and no hiking, there aren’t many pics from here.
However, some points of interest … I had to do some research to see where in the world a name like Dead Horse State Park came from. I gotta tell ya, it ain’t pretty. You can probably guess part of it, right? The main theory I could find was that cowboys would steer the wild mustangs through the narrow passage onto the natural plateau, choose the ones they wanted for personal use or to sell and leave the rest to die up there with no water. There are different variations but that’s the basic gist. I got nothing. One a lighter note though, it’s also where Thelma and Louise drove off the cliff. LOL
The Island in the Sky part of Canyonlands is another small park and there aren’t many viewing points along the way. In fact a lot of the drive from one point to another is rather bland. So just as in not many pics from Dead Horse, not many from this part of Canyonlands either. If we had hiked I’m sure there would’ve been more but it wasn’t meant to be this time. It was really difficult to get images that would show the definition between the edge where you’re standing and the vast canyon below. It really is enormous. I’m sure the overcast sky didn’t help with lack of lighting and colors showing through. I did fall in love with the way both parks landscaped their viewing areas. The trees, bushes, flowers, the petrified pieces of wood all over the place. All of it truly is a photographer’s playground. Side note: this is the only park we’ve been to where you had to work for the shot at the overlook area, vista point, or whatever it’s called. At most of them you park, walk to the edge and that’s it. At these parks, you can just keep going all over the place, scrambling as far out as you dare for the perfect shot.
Bob was fading pretty quick by this point in the afternoon so it was a good thing we were only about 40 minutes from the Hoodoo Hilton Moab. And guess what? We are here for FIVE NIGHTS!!! Woohoo!!!! Seeing as how my buddy isn’t up to par, I ordered some room service and we watched a movie. Guess what I found? My favorite movie, “My Cousin Vinny!” I have no idea how many times I’ve seen it but it never gets old for me.
Peace out for tonight. Hopefully Sparky is feeling better in the morning because we have an 8am pass for Arches.
It's a Wonderful Life! 