Desert Not So Solitaire

 Desert Not So Solitaire

We were up and out early today and got to the entrance to Arches National Park at 0700. This was about 30 min before sunrise.

The entrance station was not open but there was a stream of cars entering the park. We drove to the very end of the park where we stopped at Skyline Arch. Then reversed our route back towards the entrance. The main stop was at Windows Arches area. Since no pups are allowed on trails this was a parking lot pullout visit.

We did make a stop at the Visitors Center and got our passport stamped. Sadly the exhibits were not open just the gift area. The only park personnel I saw were a couple VIP’s (Volunteer’s In the Park) helping people with information.   

Eventually we left the park as about 200 cars were in line to enter.  Later in the day as we drove by at 1255 the park had reached it’s capacity and the gates were closed.

We the drove Utah Hwy 128 into the BLM area, a beautiful canyon headed to the Red Cliffs Lodge. This is a really kewl place where they have a museum dedicated to all the classic western movies filmed in the area. Basically name a movie John Wayne, Ben Johnson, etc etc were in and it was filmed in that area. The lodge was great and the front desk staff were most gracious. This is the kind of place I would like to return to and spend a couple days.


From there we headed to an area of petroglyphs located in a canyon on the way to Potash, Utah. 

Yes, after visiting this area I want to reread “Desert Solitaire”. 


Here are a few pictures form the day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONUMENTS EVERYWHERE!!!

 Monuments Everywhere

We are still getting up a bit before 0500, such is life. We got ourselves together and hit the road a bit after 0700. 


We drove 191/163 south to what we thought was the entrance to Valley of The Gods. Only got a couple miles before we turned around and went a bit further south to the entrance.

Valley of the Gods is about 17 miles of gravel and dirt road through colored bluffs and rock formations. This is BLM land and there are many areas for dispersed camping. For me, the road would be a bit rough pulling the trailer. 

Photos tell it all.

After leaving Valley of The Gods we made our way to the Moki Dugway. The Dugway is not a drive for the timid, scared of heights, narrow road fearful folks. This is another three miles of dirt, steep inclines and many switchbacks. 

At the top of the Dugway make a sharp left turn and you are on the road to Muley Point. Muley Point provides panoramic views with Monument Valley in the distance. I did not mention the road is also dirt.


Leaving Muley Point Road, we took a left and headed to Natural Bridges National Monument. Since The Boys were not allowed on the trails we enjoyed viewing the Bridges from several view points. 

We retraced our route, making a stop at the Goose Neck State Park. Here the San Juan River travels 6 miles back and forth while advancing only 1.5 miles as the crow flies. 

Sounds like a short day but it was a rather full day by the time we got back to camp.

Photos tell more than I can describe and yet do not do the splendor of the area justice. 

Remote Control Hot Air Balloons

 Remote Control Hot Air Balloons:

New at AIBF this year will be Remote Control Hot Air Balloons. These balloons are from 3-20 feet tall and work just like their big brother hot air balloons. They have a gondola and propane burner system but it is operated via remote control.

They are flown tethered and to my knowledge there is only one manufacture at this time. Many of these RC Balloons are owner made from scraps of the larger balloons. Some full size balloon owners have made miniature versions of their big balloon. 



These are new to me, so I don’t have a lot of technical information at this time. The cost of a ready to fly RC Hot Air Balloon is for $2300 to $3300. 

Last I knew there were about 30 RC HAB register for AIBF 2021 and the hope is to set a record flight in 2022 at the 50th AIBF.

Here are some pictures of them at AIBF.  

I wonder if they could lift Koda. 

 

 

PAINTED DESERT< PETRIFIED TREES AND WIGWAMS

 Grants NM to Holbrook AZ

Taking a break from AIBF Blog posts, there will be more to come. 

We got on the road and made our way towards Petrified Forest National Park. The North end of the park has The Painted Desert and the Southern area has the Petrified Forest. We started at the North Entrance and at the Visitors Center we signed The Boys up to be Bark Rangers. It is nice that pups are allowed on many of the trails. We stopped at many of the vistas and pueblo ruins. The Boys got lots of compliments.

We made sure to stop at the 1932 Studebaker marking Route 66. Then onto the Crystal Forest where there are a whole bunch crystals can be found in the petrified logs.

The wind really picked up and we push on to Holbrook, AZ, where we are staying at the Wigwam Motel. Think of Cozy Cone Motel in the movie “Cars”. These renovated concrete TeePees were designed by Frank Redford and there were seven such properties built using his design. Here there are 15 such individual units. 

I can say this much the parking lot is like a drive through as there is a fairly steady stream of cars passing through to take photos.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
We arrived early and Lynn wanted to get some tiny pieces of petrified wood. There is a place in Holbrook called the Rainbow Rock Shop, look for the big dinosaur. 

We found some nice pieces of petrified wood to take home and became engaged in a conversation with the gentleman running the operation. 

His name is Adam Moon Alexander. We were the only ones there and he asked how old I was, I told him and he nodded his head. I told him I bet I would not be able to guess his age. I guessed 70. He told me he was 81. He had nary a wrinkle in his face. We talked about how he liked small towns, and how he did not like computers and other things that make life too fast. He talk of needs vs wants and getting by with keeping things simple. It was one of those times where those 20 minutes were the true highlight of our day. 

So if you are in Holbrook, AZ stop by the Rainbow Rock Shop, say “hi” to Adam Moon Alexander. Spend some time with him and your day will be brighter and better. 

I so wanted to take his photo and probably could have. I decided to keep the memory in my mind and respect his dislike of computers and such. 

Night Events with Team Fastrax Skydivers and Fireworks

Team Fastrax is the largest professional parachute demonstration team in the world. The team roster has more than forty active members with a culmination of more than 175,000 skydives. A Team Fastrax demonstration skydive typically consists of multiple members exiting one of our aircraft over a large crowd such as an airshow or major sporting event and descending to a precise landing, thrilling the spectators. 

As the sun set, a Cessna Caravan flies overhead and soon little specs fall from the plane. These are the Team Fastrax Skydivers. Soon smoke trails emerge and the America Flag is unfurled, as they present the colors for the evening events. 

Later, after it is dark, again a plane flies over the launch field and, yes, Team Fastrax jumps again, in the dark, with their jumpsuits lit with sparks flying.

Soon thereafter, the fireworks start and, yes, these are very nice displays, equal to some of the best I have experienced. 

 

 

 

 

 

AIBF BALLOON COMPETITION

 Competition:

Here is where a pilots flying skills are tested and there can be some good money and prizes to win. 

There are many events to the competition, basically flying into the launch field and trying to drop a marker at a target or maybe a ring to toss over a pole.

As part of the photo team, I can be on the competition field with the scoring officials. This area is closed to all others. KEWL!

Here the competitors launch offsite and fly into the launch field where the targets have been set up. Here are some pictures of the ACTION! 



 

                    

 

 

 

Competion is Closed 

 

 

Time to score