Day 17 (01 September 2015)

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, near Moab, Utah.

Meng walking around the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, near Moab, Utah.

We approached the arch from the right hand side, literally climb on top of a 500 feet drop!

In amazement - near the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, near Moab, Utah.

Balancing Rock in Arches National Park, near Moab, Utah.

The Red Cliffs Ranch near Moab, Utah. Much scenes were taken here for western films.

The serene Colorado River along the Red Cliffs drive near Moab, Utah.

South of Moab - can you see the sculpture of Roosevelt in the rock?

Approaching the town of Mexican Rock, Utah - it is easily seen why they name this town.

Forest Gump jogged along this road - approaching Monument Valley, in Utah and near the Arizona state line.

A "butte" in Monument Valley, Arizona.

The famous director worked from this vantage point during the making of many westerns, Monument Valley, Arizona.

What a view! In Monument Valley, Arizona.

From our balcony - approaching sunset in Monument Valley, Arizona.

This mesa is located near our Monument Valley accommodation - in Arizona.

Sunset view of a Monument Valley butte, Arizona.

Sunset view of a Monument Valley butte, Arizona.

Wow - the sunset over the desert, Monument Valley, Arizona.

Just to prove we were there in Monument Valley, Arizona.

Just to prove we were there in Monument Valley, Arizona.

At 8 am Meng, Choon and Neil headed for Arches National Park and walked 5 klms to Delicate Arch. It was an adventure ascending slick rocks with a 500 feet drop to the bottom if careless. The end result was a magnificent vantage point looking at this Utah icon. Back to Moab and checked out at 11 am all of us headed to Red Cliffs Ranch nearby and wandered over the film museum. This is the location of many western movies over the past 70 years or so. Stars like John Wayne, Michael J Fox, Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford had walked these same paths in the ranch. Also it was the scene of many famous movies with the red cliffs and mesas in the background scenes. We left Moab at noon and headed south to Monument Valley. Passing Utah locations of Hole n’ The Wall and Mexican Hat. We entered the Navajo Reservation of Monument Valley at 4 pm and after checking in to the View Hotel we took the SUV “Bertha” along the dirt road around the buttes, missens and mesa that adorn Monument Valley. Again the valley is the scene of many John Ford westerns and the highlight was his specific vantage point overlooking the valley during his directing activities. The sunset over the valley is spectacular and we are looking forward to the sunset tomorrow morning. We will leave Monument Valley at 8 am tomorrow for the North Rim Grand Canyon. It is expected to be a 6 hour drive passing Page and Lake Powell. There is no internet available until Las Vegas, so a few days’ worth of posts will be belated. Cheers.

Day 16 (31 August 2015)

The countryside near Price, Utah - coal mining area.

If you seen Thelma & Louise this is the spot where they destroyed a tanker vehicle - Woodside, Utah.

In Park Ave, Arches National Park, Utah.

In Park Ave, Arches National Park, Utah.

In Park Ave, Arches National Park, Utah.

Frankenstein's head? In Park Ave, Arches National Park, Utah.

A fine gesture! In Park Ave, Arches National Park, Utah.

In Park Ave, Arches National Park, Utah.

The Three Chinamen. In Park Ave, Arches National Park, Utah.

Petroglyphs is Canyonland National Park, Utah.

A good balancing act in Canyonland National Park, Utah.

Colorado River from 1500 feet above in Canyonland National Park, Utah.

Colorado River from 1500 feet above in Canyonland National Park, Utah.

Crossing over Musselman Arch in Canyonland National Park, Utah.

Musselman Arch in Canyonland National Park, Utah.

Almost sunset in Canyonland National Park, Utah.

Sunset glowing a distant mesa in Canyonland National Park, Utah.

We just drove along this track in a 4 wheel drive vehicle in Canyonland National Park, Utah.

Left a busy Salt Lake City and headed south to Moab in Utah. Stopped at Green River for a picnic lunch and reached Arches National Park at 1:30 pm. We did the mile walk along Park Ave that trails along eerie rock features. After this visit we checked in to our accommodation and headed to our meeting point for our 4x4 vehicle into Canyonland National Park. Our guide and driver was "Johnnie" a local who knew every corner and feature inside this park. We were in the park at sunset and what a magnificent 4 hour excursion we had. The scenery is almost Grand Canyon like, in fact they say that this is the start of the famous landmark. We were very happy that we experienced the way nature has made the rock formations and photographs taken does not do justice. We have a short drive to Monument Valley tomorrow, however we will go back into Arches National Park and walk the 5 klms to Delicate Arch before heading south to Arizona. Cheers.   

Day 15 (30 August 2015)

Leaving Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - the early morning scene in the Upper Geyser Basin.

Still in the Yellowstone National Park - a bison jam near the southern entrance.

One side rivers flow west, the other side rivers flows east. Located in the southern district in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

A lake view of the Grand Teton, Wyoming.

A fox cub found along the shores of Jackson Lake, The Grand Teton, Wyoming.

A beautiful view of the Grand Teton, Wyoming.

There's still ice on one of the peaks in the Grand Teton, Wyoming.

The Grand Teton with the Snake River in the foreground, Wyoming.

Tourist stagecoach in the main street of Jackson, Wyoming - sometimes called Jackson Hole.

Passing alongside Bear Lake in Idaho.

Inside Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Mormon Temple, Salty Lake City, Utah.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The State Capitol Building of Utah  in Salt Lake City, Utah.

View of Salt Lake City from the State Capitol Building, Utah.

Inside the Utah State Capitol Building in Salt Lake City.

Along State Street, Salt Lake City - the falcon.

Having cocktails in the Cheesecake Factory, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Our large dinners in the Cheesecake Factory, Salt Lake City, Utah.

A fine architecture along Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.

It was a long drive today travelling from West Yellowstone in Wyoming to Salt Lake City, Utah. An early morning start saw us going through the park and witnessing many wildlife - bisons, mule deers, foxes but no bears. We travelled southwards along the majestic Grand Teton and what a view along the Jackson Lake. We stopped at Jackson (sometimes called Jackson Hole) and discovered that this is a rich person's playground. Continuing south we left Wyoming and entered Idaho for a short distance and reached Utah. Somehow our Bertha's GPS was shutting down and left us exiting the wrong junction in Salt Lake City. Neil had to extract his good ole Tom Tom to find our accommodation in SLC. We believed we had one hour before the local Macy's closed at 6pm and rush to find the store was closed on Sundays. bah said the girls so we walked around the Morman Temple Square and visited the State Capitol Building. On the way back through downtown we found the Cheesecake Factory and sat down for dinner - mmmmmm.......gumbos, desserts and cocktails were enjoyed. Tomorrow we travel to Moab in Utah and have a 4x4 vehicle tour of Canyonlands. Into desert country now and will experience some degree of late summer hot weather. Until tomorrow - cheers.