Arches Nat'l Park - Day 2 - Part 2

After lunch we jumped back into the van and headed over to Arches National Park for our first adventure. (Click on the photos to see them larger)



Arches! 

This place is totally amazing.  The rock formations are just awesome, inspiring and beautiful.  You can't stop looking at them, and for us crazy picture takers, we were snapping away like it was going out of style.  Here are just a few of the amazing things we saw . . .

The Three Gossips -
We decided it could also be called The Three Kings
or The Three Wise Men

The Courthouse Towers (with our van parked in front)

Another view of Courthouse Towers and Sheep Rock 

At one time they believe there was an arch connecting the Courthouse on the left to Sheep Rock on the right.  Here's a sign that gives more information about that . . .

Another look at Courthouse Towers

And from a different angle

We drove a little further up the road and then hiked up to see the famous . . .

Balanced Rock

A closer look at Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock from the other side



Tee Hee

More information about Balanced Rock

After walking completely around Balanced Rock, we hiked over to the Windows Area . . .

One view of the Windows Area from Balanced Rock

And another

Still closer - Turret Arch on the right



Turret Arch

The path leading up to Turret Arch.  Think this is steep?
You ain't seen nothing yet!

Looking the opposite direction from Turret Arch, we had a really good view of the Windows . .



South Window

Carol in front of the South Window

We hiked up and under the South Window to get a closer look . . . .

Looking up from under South Window

What is holding those rocks?  Why aren't they falling out?  I'm pretty sure they will soon, and wouldn't want to be underneath when they do . . . they are larger than they look!



North Window

North and South Windows

A little closer look at North and South Windows -
Doesn't it look like two eyes and a nose?

There were other interesting rock formations in the area as well.  Here are just a few . . .

See the baby arch on the left?  And another larger arch in the making?

Beautiful sky, clouds and scenery

Next we hiked over to the Cove of Caves area to see some more gorgeous works of nature . . .

Cove of Caves Area -
Look closely at the rock formations . . . what do you see?

We thought we were so clever to name this rock the Elephant - 
When we got home and I looked it up,
I found out it is officially called Parade of Elephants -
Guess we're not the only ones finding animals in the rocks! 

Double Arch on the left, Cove of Caves on the right

Double Arch - What does it look like to you? 
To us it looked like a mommy bird feeding a baby bird,
or possibly two dolphins kissing.

A closer look

Double Arch was once what they refer to as a pot-hole arch . . . here's more info about how it was formed.

Info about how Double Arch was formed

We hiked up the slickrock to get an even closer look . . .

Can you find us? 

It was super hot and we look a bit like drowned rats in this photo!

After finally getting our fill of looking at Double Arch, we hiked back to the van and drove to the Park Avenue area for another hike . . .

Tommy and Carol strolling down Park Avenue -
so named because the formations resemble the sky scrapers of NYC

Park Avenue

As we strolled along, we were having lots of fun finding faces and animals in the rocks. 

Can you find the bear?

How about now?

Tugboat?

Gorilla?  Baboon?

Such a gorgeous canyon!

 

Part of the "path" through Park Avenue -
Just a tiny inkling of what's yet to come!

After our adventure, we drove back to Moab and checked into our home for the next few days.  We were staying at the Super 8, so we didn't have a lot of expectations.  The motel/hotel was on the outskirts of town, and from the outside it looked clean and nice and super huge.  Tommy checked us in while we waited in the van.  When we opened the door to our room . . .WOW!  Another very pleasant surprise was waiting for us.  We were treated to a mini-suite!  One room had two very comfy queen-size beds with lots of pillows (a big plus in my book!) and a large flat-screen TV.  The other room had a roomy L-shaped couch, a table, another large flat-screen TV, plus a sink, fridge and microwave.  There was the vanity area and then the tub/shower and potty were in a separate room.  Spoiled again!  Oh my!

We got settled in, cleaned up a bit, changed clothes and then drove back into Moab for dinner at a place Tommy told us was a major fixture in the town and had been there forever . . . Eddie McStiffs.  The place was jammed and the food was yum-o!  The perfect ending to a perfect day.  Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow!