Desert finale

Finishing our desert trip...

We wanted to spend our last weekend of the trip in an area that we know well. The problem was that it was only about 40 miles from Moab - which made us nervous about "crowds". But, we've visited there at this time of year before, and it's been very quiet. The world there is dominated by pink and white striped cliffs and deep blue skies.

Our first sign that it might not be so quiet was that our favorite campsite was occupied, which threw all our plans into a tizzy. It was early evening when we arrived so we just found a nearby 4WD road, went up it a little ways, and stopped the van for the night. Despite my bad mood over the change in plans, I have to admit that our impromptu campsite had pretty nice views.

The next day, I made it my mission on my bike ride to find a nice campsite for our last night, and I did! I searched an area that is very lightly traveled, following every spur 4WD road that headed to the base of the cliffs. After riding for what felt like forever, I found an ideal spot, in a semicircle of cliffs with a slickrock spot for watching the sunset.

I quickly rode back to the pack, and we took the Labmobile there. The Duo thought that it smelled divine. R looked very interested but Shyla's eyes looked ready to pop out of her head.

The campsite included our own little slickrock playground where I played with the Duo.

R barked with enthusiasm for the spot.

The spot was also ideal for viewing the sunset and soaking up the incredible colors of a good sunset. I captured my favorite photos of Shyla in that spot. A chocolate lab in sunrise or sunset light is my favorite photographic subject!

Fortunately, Shyla loves our photo sessions. As she sniffed the wind in this photo, she looked at me out of the corner of her eye.

Then, she gazed at the setting sun...

The sunset was a beauty.

The star-viewing from our campsite was stupendous. Our campsite was so secluded that it was very dark, and it felt as if we could see a zillion stars that we'd never seen before. The North Star (Polaris) shined through a dip in the cliffs that loomed on the north and east sides of our camp, and I made photos of the world spinning around it.

Early in the evening...

Each exposure was about 30 minutes so I got only two tries before my eyelids were too heavy for any more photography. Later in the evening...

In the middle of one of those very long exposures of the star trails, a fireball shot across the sky but somehow didn't show up in my photo (unless it was the faint red line in the first star photo). It was the second fireball (a close meteor burning up in the Earth's atmosphere) that we'd seen on this trip. I'd never seen one before this trip. It made a hissing noise, which caught my attention. I looked up to see a flaming object, with a long tail of flames, hurtling across the sky. In seconds, it burned out, leaving a lingering glow where it had traveled for just a moment. It was an incredible sight. I've found that others reported the same fireball in Utah... very cool.

The next morning, we agreed that we'd discovered a new favorite campsite, even though it doesn't get morning sun (making getting out of the sleeping bag very tough). Someone we know sat atop a slickrock hill early in the morning.

Having our "old faithful" campsite not be available had forced us to explore and find another wonderful place on this planet. My friends often shake their heads with confusion when I tell them about the spontaneity of our trips - they're used to a more conventional travel style, including reservations in campgrounds or hotels, and planning the itinerary for each day. We find that, by following our spirits rather than a schedule, we discover more out-of-the-way and gorgeous places than we ever would if we planned every detail. Of course, we have occasional "duds" due to our lack of planning but the great days more than make up for it.

The next morning, we arose early and headed out for a pack run/mountain bike up a steep route to the "Top of the World". It truly feels like the highest place around when I peek over the edge at the desert floor thousands of feet below me. It was Shyla's first visit to a spot that our pack has visited many times.

We held the Duo well back from the edge so I have no photos of them up on the cliff. But, it was a stupendous view, and all of us returned to the Labmobile safely!

It was a warm, sunny, and restful trip. I am wistful for Utah as I gaze out the window at snow pelting out of the sky! Yes, I know that Mother Earth badly needs it but I am yearning for warm and sunny weather! I can't wait to visit the desert again.