Day 17-18 ~ Moab, Utah

Yesterday we went to Arches National Park. Hard to believe but "yes" it was another day of amazing scenery. Like Canyonland, Arches is located on the Colorado Plateau. We stopped at the visitor's center and watched a Discovery Channel film. We also rented a CD to guide us though the park. It was very informative and useful. The park is full of rock formations and narrow rows of fins that are created when the sandstone erodes as a result of water and ice. Over many years some of the centers thin out and form arches which are found throughout the park. The erosion has taken place for 100 million years and continues today. One of the great rock structures is called Balanced Rock.

We visited Wolfe Ranch and the tiny, primitive ranch house. It was home to John Wesley Wolfe who settled there in the late 1800s. He had suffered a serious leg injury in the Civil War and was seeking a dryer climate. He chose a tract of 100 acres along Salt Wash which enabled him to raise a few cattle.

Just beyond the house and across Salt Wash, we viewed some great petroglyphs. This rock art was created by the Ute Indians between 1650 and 1850.

This is a picture of Skyline Arch

Today we had a relaxing morning followed by a 7 mile float trip on the Colorado River. Thirty one of our RV group went on the trip. Our guide was Kevander (a combition of Kevin and Alexander). We learned he is a rock climber. Coincidently we watched him climbing at Arches yesterday. Our trip was supposed to be Class 1 & 2 (pretty mild). We did float through four rapids that were probably Class 1/2 if there is such a thing. The river is VERY low. We still had a great time and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and canyon walls.