Above and below, a view of the Green River from Island in the Sky in Canyonlands National Park.
From the website: “The Island in the Sky mesa rests on sheer sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Every overlook offers a different perspective on Canyonlands’ spectacular landscape. Island in the Sky is the easiest area of Canyonlands to visit in a short period of time, offering many pullouts with spectacular views along the paved scenic drive.”
Some desert flora.
We took the “hike” to Mesa Arch and No Falling being the Prime Directive, we stopped when we decided it was a little too steep and slippery for going down and then coming back up. Of course small children, and parents with babies on their backs, and other grandmas were doing just fine… You can see people there in the middle, standing under the arch.
We enjoyed a lively Ranger Talk on the topic of water in the desert.
And enjoyed the always welcome potty-stops of which there seemed to be a goodly number in good condition.
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We had a Big Date for tonight with Brandon of Moab Dark Sky Tours, our new best friend. So next we went to the market for some food – late lunch/early dinner, and then came home to attempt a nap before our 10pm (you read that right, 10PM) start time to meet Brandon at the Double Arch deep into Arches National Park, about an hour’s drive from our cabin.
We knew there was going to be a nearly full moon but every indication was that we should have a cloudless sky, which was not to be, but we had a fabulous time anyway!
I put the Milky Way into the arch to annoy Brandon.
I might have some more later but for the sake of moving on…
Our meet-up place.
Notice the people in the white circle.
A wider angle of the double arch that didn’t turn out so well for detail but that I like for composition.
We see the hand sign for OK. We saw things in everything!
From Windy, the most stars of the night.
Artsy-fartsy, right up my alley.
