We got up when it was still dark and made our way into Utah. We stopped at an information centre at Monticello and then carried on up. We saw Church Rock and then took a small road to get to Needles overlook. Now, our key has been sticking for ages and just when we get to the Needles overlook - 22 miles or so, off the main road and now a soul in sight. We had a picnic lunch, everything was going swimmingly when the key wouldn't turn. We both had slight colonies and then it worked. We drove back to the main road and saw some more rock formations; Wilson Arch, Looking Glass Rock. At Wilson Arch Claire developed Asthma when she tried to run up and have her photo taken. We were at around 6000 feet. The next town was Moab where we filled up with gas and went into Arches National Park. This park is truly stunning and at this time of year really quiet. We got here quite late, 2:30pm, so there was no way we could see everything so we saw a few things and went to Delicate Arch with a cuppa for sunset and then headed back to Moab to sleep.
Friday 19th December
Got up bright and early and were in the park by 7am. We stopped at one viewpoint - Fiery Furnace - and had breakfast and then onto Devil's garden and the (evil) hike. We hiked all morning and saw everything. I surprised myself as I thought it was going to be real torture but in actual fact I really enjoyed it. The landscape arch trail was closed due to rock fall and the path was very icy in places. We risked life and limb for a photo on a fin and a photo of our feet. It was lunchtime by the time we got back so we had another picnic and then did a couple more trails including one called Park Avenue and we then made our way out of the park. We drove along a scenic route beside the Colorado River up to highway 70. This road was simply stunning. We stopped for information to enquire about the road conditions and decided to stop at Green River for the night as after there there is 100 miles before another stop. Claire called the Ranch and after many directions were given Marcia's Dad said that Marcia was coming from Aspen and could we pick her up? So, of course, we said yes as this solved the problem of finding the right dirt track off the highway. We stayed the night in a truck stop which had a tv, showers, restaurant etc. We didn't use any of these amenities as we were too intimidated by truckers. Instead we had a good wash in the bathroom.
Saturday 20th December
The luxury of a lie-in. Marcia wasn't arriving until at least midday so we slept in and had breakfast in bed and generally sat around. Claire called home and then we explored the mighty metropolis of Green River! After writing many postcards Marcia finally arrived at about 1:30pm and off we set to the ranch. The road that the dirt track leads off from it known as the "loneliest road in the USA" it has no towns, farms or dwellings of any sort for about 100 miles. We found the track, "it was that one we just passed" and drive the 20 or so miles to the ranch, stopping for post on the way. We reached out ultimate destination at 8:30pm. I had a parcel and 5 cards and Claire had one - from my Mum. I heard from Mum, Heather, Sharon and Richard. We had a real hot meal - soup for dinner - and then went to bed - with a mattress and blankets!
<these are extracts from my diaries written whilst travelling and working in Canada and the US in '97-'98>
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