We set off for Moab, Utah (the home town of Arches Nat'l Park) right after the Grand Canyon. It was around noon, and despite our physical fatigue from waking up at 3am, we were excited to traverse into a new environment. The drive took about six hours, give or take.
The drive was, as per usual, quite breathtaking. I mean, to be honest, I don't think there's a part of this country that I don't find breathtaking (man-made dirty cities excluded). Utah was less red than Arizona, more of a pinkish/greenish color. Little bursts of moss-colored shrubs popped out of the salmon earth, and strange rock formations were the norm again.
We rolled into the entrance to Arches National Park around 5:45pm. And guess what?! We didn't have to pay the $10 fee to get in, because it was approaching sunset and the entrance-money-taking-people were home and probably nestled in to their soft southwestern beds for the night!
Travel tip #578: it pays to show up to National parks either before sunrise or after sunset.
Our plan all along was to camp at Arches for the night, something we assumed would be both easy and fun (especially after the White Sands Epic). Upon rolling through the entrance gate, we did notice a sign that said "Campground Full" in authoritative and sure letters. No, we hadn't made a reservation to camp that night. Why would two nice girls need to plan ahead like that?
So we decided to make the crawling drive up the mountain and into Arches proper, crossing the camping bridge when we came to it.
The drive into the park was absolutely beyond words. The sun was slowly drawing the Earth's eyelids close, and the light this was shedding upon the surface was gorgeous. Red dirt and the strangest rock formations my eyes have ever seen were all around us. It seemed as though this place was either made by gods or aliens.
Before the sun completely set, we thought it would be a good idea to investigate where we could camp for the night. We parked the car in an emptying parking lot, gathered all of our camping supplies (the dreaded non-portable camping supplies!), and walked off in the direction of the "Campground".
Well, turns out, when Arches Nat'l Park says "Campground Full", they really mean it. First we saw a nice little hut that apparently housed a campground monitor. Then we saw a camp ranger drive by, very slowly. Then we saw maybe 20 or 30 neatly laid out camp sites, all filled with either cute set up tents or this-isn't-real-camping RVs. Not an empty spot in the place. Crap.
Our stomachs sunk a little bit. Our dreamy eyes blurred with shattered dreams. Our arms ached from the heavy camping equipment. Sad, unprepared girls.
At this point, it was dark. We didn't have a camp site, nor did we have an alternative. It would be impossible to sneak our tent into the site, because not only was there a ranger and a monitor, but the sites were just too crowded. So we decided we'd walk back to the car and just sleep there. Take shelter in our nice car in the nice empty parking lot.
But wait! As we were walking morosely down the hill towards the car, the aforementioned ranger pulled up and asked us if we were looking for a camp site. Yes, yes we were! We didn't know about this reservation thing! We didn't know of the popularity of the arches! Help us!
He told us that the handicapped spot wasn't reserved, and if it's not reserved for the night, they give it away to the first people who inquire. So he directed us to the campground monitor, Lila, who just so happened to be the sweetest old lady in all the land. She was sympathetic and helpful, and soon enough, we were set up with a large camp site and some fire wood.
We set up our tent like absolute pros, and Miss Aj started a beautiful fire. Then we cracked open a bottle of the finest Merlot, heated up some black and garbanzo beans, and kicked back for a lovely evening.
As was our camping norm, Aj and I engaged in a spirited conversation about big dreams and bright futures. The stars were plentiful and the silence was comforting, not stifling. All was well in the world.
Soon we decided to get some sleep, seeing as we had been up since 3 that morning. We felt great--no wind, no rain, no lightning, no danger. It would be a good night's sleep indeed!
Well, for reasons I won't go into, it didn't really work out like that. Yes, I'm sure it would have been a great night's sleep in the tent. But...well...we didn't sleep in the tent. We slept in the car, about 7 feet from the tent. Slept upright in the car--me in the driver's seat, Aj in the passenger's. Contorted our spines and necks in ways we didn't know were possible. Tossed and turned, at least metaphorically. It was a horrible night's sleep.
We woke up at sunrise, feeling foolish and sore. Feeling a bit like the worst campers in all of America. The sun rose and cast its judgement on us.
I took some photos for a while that morning. Aj took a nap. We went on a little hike to see some of the famed arches. We tried to forget the fact that we had yet to actually sleep in our tent on this trip.
That morning, we started the drive to Boulder, Colorado. Beautiful drive, once again. More stories there for another time.
Here are some more pictures from Arches.
Until next time,
S.moore.
No comments:
Post a Comment