the desert of UT

We are definitely in the desert. It has its own kind of beauty, but I wouldn't want to be here in the middle of the summer. It would be too hot. I am glad that we are seeing it now when it is still mild weather.

Leaving Jordanelle

I LOVE these mountains and all the green and the blue water. We are heading south into the desert where the green is sparse, the water is muddy colored and it is much hotter.

WOW. Are these total opposites or what?

Our first stop is Green River, UT so that we can visit these--

We are in Goblin Valley SP. I knew immediately when I read about this SP that I had to see it. Isn't the name of the park perfect?? We had fun here taking photos--

It was really hot on this day and it felt like we were on another planet.

Utah Landscapes

The last of my photos that I can't resist sharing. Don't they inspire you to create something? Or maybe to travel and see some of these places for yourself. I truly get that we are blessed to be able to be on this trip...I am thankful each day for this experience.

Jordanelle SP Campground

We are staying at Jordanelle SP just outside of Heber City and this is our view from our RV. It is beautiful and I will be sorry to leave here tomorrow.

PS I am thrilled to be caught up with my posts and my photos...let's see if I can keep it up!

Bridal Veil Falls

Today, we visited Bridal Veil Falls not too far from our CG. The weather was absolutely perfect and there were tons of people out picnicking and enjoying this gorgeous day.

Apparently, the locals like to climb as high as they can to get close to the falls...we decided not to attempt it. It is quite a steep climb.

Salt Lake City

We head into the city and our first stop is Temple Square--home of the Church of Latter Day Saints (or Mormons as most of us know them). Here we get to visit any of the buildings we choose, except the Temple which is not open to non-mormons. There are plenty of tour guides (young mormon women on their mission) to show us around and answer any questions we have. The first photo is the inside of the Tabernacle where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings. The statue is Brigham Young. We went briefly into the Family History Center and I would have loved to spend days in there looking up genealogical information, but that was not meant to be on this trip.

Before heading back to the RV, we want to see the Great Salt Lake. It's not as close to downtown as you think, but worth the drive. We stop and walk out to the water so we can at least say we have been to the salt lake. Just as we are about to hit the water...it's getting muddier and before I know what has hit me, my feet fly up in the air and I am butt in the mud!

I was fine, but I am not too sure about my camera.

It took me a couple of hours to clean my camera and get the salty dirt out of it.

Dinosaur NP

We head for Dinosaur NP in Vernal UT. We are driving 191 South coming down mountains in Ashley National Forest and we see signs that there will be 10 switchbacks on this road (a switchback is rounding a curve that takes you back the way you came but headed in a different direction). That's a lot of action on one road! I have to go to the back of the RV because I can't handle looking out the window anymore at how far down the mountain it is (how far up we are). We find a pull-off and stop for lunch and to give our brakes a rest because we are smelling them burning. This is all making me a little nervous and I am glad that Randy is handling the driving. By the time we make it to Dinosaur NP we are all ready to get out and have a look around. Look at Jesse next to this giant dinosaur leg bone they found here at the park and think about how big the rest of that dinosaur was!

On our hike, we have to climb up this small hill to see the actual dinosaur bones still there in the rocks. Thank goodness, the park rangers marked them because they really are hard to make out from the surrounding rock.

But here is one (I am pointing to it) and Jesse took the other photo to show how far away we were because I ended up kind of stuck/frozen up there. Randy was kind enough to let me follow him down (and hold onto his shirt). I nearly had a heart-attack when Jesse's foot slipped and he almost tumbled down that hill.