Brett and Kaiyun invited me to join them in mid October for a road trip to Moab, with a stop on the way in Flagstaff and on the return, in Sedona. I've wanted to return to the Southwest since the bus trip I took with Pam Proctor in 1999, so accepted without hesitation.
Brett hasn't hiked in several months because of painful knee issues. However, biking doesn't cause a problem, so he gets his exercise pedaling rather than walking. He wanted to go to Moab to bike The Whole Enchilada, a 26.5-mile ride, with 7,000 vertical feet of down hill challenge.
Our route would pass Monument Valley on the way to Moab, so we detoured for a short visit. In the background are the Three Sisters.
Taken at Monument Valley's Welcome Center, behind Brett and me are the Left and Right Mittens.
Friday morning, with Brett off to ride The Whole Enchilada, Kaiyun and I began our hike to some of the Arches National Park sites, this one the North and South Arches.
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| Visible from the North and South Arches is Turret Arch |
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| Me, under the South Arch |
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| An example of rock formations in Arches National Park |
I intended to hike to Delicate Arch with Kaiyun, but realized that the last quarter mile or so was more difficult in ascent than I anticipated. I sent her on to finish what we had started and sat on a rock to wait for her return.
Cyclists are told to expect the ride of The Whole Enchilada to take 6 to 8 hours. Brett had finished in under 5. We met him as he finished that last few yards.
Once back in the motel room, he showed us the bruise he'd gotten when he took a tumble over his handlebars.
On Saturday, we picked up doughnuts and coffee and headed to the Canyonlands to sit on rocks while "picnicing." Then we were on to see some of the vistas Brett had seen on his trip in April 2017.
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| Upheaval Dome |
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| Brett and Kaiyun on one of their Utah bike rides |
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| Hot air balloons awaiting sunrise |
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| Monday sunrise in Sedona |
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| The three of us "chilling" while waiting for sunrise in Sedona |
We were back in Tustin Monday evening where I continued my visit before returning to Ohio on Saturday. It was a memorable trip, made so by both the places visited and the great people I traveled with!
