I feel like it’s been forever since I posted anything about some of our travels – that’s because I had a minor setback with my website – let’s just say that I had a question for my tech guy who set up my website…I asked it and I totally MISUNDERSTOOD his response – ending with me deleting MANY pictures from the posts I had done!!!!!!! After several calls back and forth with him, and then Leonard getting on the phone with the company who hosts the website, I am “back up and running” !
LESSON: don’t think you know more than you do (ME) and just start pressing buttons on the computer!
I have to try to remember where I left off – haha! After seeing Yellowstone National Park and Devil’s Tower, we headed off to Moab, Utah to see Arches National Park and Capitol Reef National Park! WOW! I know I have said this before, but driving out west is incredible – it seems like the scenery is prettier around every corner! I sat in the passenger seat just looking out the window in amazement and awe!
When we got closer and closer to Moab, we could see the amazing rock formations that make up the many “ARCHES” that the park is named for! WOW!
After checking into our campground, we decided to take an evening ride into the park just to see what it was all about! We couldn’t get over the beauty of this park and the huge rocks everywhere! It was almost as if we couldn’t see it all quick enough as we drove and looked out the window – mouths open at the WONDER of it all!
After a great night’s sleep, we decided to hike to some of the arches in the park – enjoy the photos of God’s majesty!
. (This was our picnic area where we stopped for lunch – right under a tree surrounded by the arches!!!)
Of COURSE we had to find a delicious and fun eating place to try out – don’t we always? – and I saw a Donut place on a YouTube video called DOUGHBIRD DONUTS – OH MY GOODNESS!
It’s hard to describe how delicious these donuts were – one of their “main attractions” is the CRONUT – a cross between a donut and a croissant – here it is…
The next evening, we had reservations for a boat ride called CANYONLANDS BY NIGHT & DAY – I had seen a YouTube video (oh the many videos I have watched planning for this trip!) about this tour and we decided to do it – boy are we glad we did!
Here is the description of the tour:
“For an ol’ time show and the finishing touch to a perfect day, come along and enjoy a cowboy-style Dutch oven dinner and a slow moving evening boat ride on a calm part of the Colorado River. Your evening begins at our location two miles north of Moab, Utah. You will be served a cowboy-style Dutch oven dinner in a dining room overlooking the Colorado River. After dinner, you will be our guest on a flat-bottomed boat as we head upriver with a knowledgeable and entertaining guide who will highlight interesting things and ignite your imagination.
Once darkness settles in, the formal part of the evening begins with 40,000 watts of natural light illuminating the canyon wall. Lights, shadows, music, and narration make the stories of the canyon’s formation, creation, and history come to life on the walls above the river. The Canyonlands by Night and Day Sound and Light Show is a not-to-be-missed unique experience and a great end to a perfect day in Moab.”
THEY WERE RIGHT! It was a GREAT end to a PERFECT day!
Next stop…Capitol Reef National Park!
We hiked to a natural bridge and I am just going to let you enjoy the photos – hard to describe and my words can’t do it justice! WOW!
The next morning. we had a WONDERFUL surprise! Our son, Andrew, was driving from California to Virginia Beach (they are coming back to the East Coast!!!) and he was only going to be an hour from us in Torrey, Utah – so he stopped and had breakfast with us and spent a few hours – one of the highlights of this trip for sure – it was so good to see him and Drea (our “grand dog”) and just catch up before he continued on his journey…after visiting and having breakfast, we sent him on his way with lunch for the trip and …DONUTS!!! We gave him one of the sprinkle donuts (it was hard to share one, but for him I was willing…) – he called later and said it was the BEST donut he had ever eaten! I ditto that!
It’s good to be back at it, writing and having you “come along” with us this summer on our trip! I hope you have enjoyed the photos of this part of our country – there is MORE to come!!!
Until next time….
Omigosh such beauty in God’s creation. Everything sounds great including the donuts. I would love that boat ride! Best of all tho – Andrew!! How cool that God aligned your time and location! He is a good, good Father!!
The boat ride WAS spectacular for sure! THe narrator had a really deep voice, and it made it even more amazing – they started by having NO lights in the canyon and then the narrator’s voice came over and quoted GENESIS about creation!!!!!
Wow!!! Amazing photos and so glad you had a chance to spend time with Andrew. Your pictures look so much like Austin’s – he is on his way OUT to California and hiking some of the same places you guys did. He and Andrew are swapping places 💙💙
I can’t believe he and Andrew changed places! Glad he is enjoying some fun on his way out! I hope he likes it out there – Andrew and Leigh really did love the area and had a nice community as always! The fruit and vegetables out there are SPECTACULAR!
What a treat! Andrew, great donuts & awesome beauty! Never have i ever heard you refer to Drea as your “grand dog!” ( I can almost detect a touch of you becoming a “dog person!”) Loves it!
It is incredible to have the variety of geography & landscapes in our wonderful USA! May God make us a blessing to HIM as HE is faithful to bless us!
As always-thanks for sharing your adventure!
Praying for Andrew, Leigh, the Boys & Drea as they get settled in Virginia! And for all y’all as you travel! 🙂
You are funngh – i will NEVER have a dog – but I do love Drea (except her hair that sheds terribly!) – she is the calmest, sweetest dog…We had such a great time – you are right, He blesses us abundantly!
Thankful that you all enjoyed with a wonderful trip.
THANKS! It was great!
so glad to hear that Andrew and family are moving east! y’all must be estactic! also, great pictures and thanks for sharing! LuAnn
We are SO happy!!!!! Love and miss you!
SO great you got to be with Andrew unexpectedly! Definitely fun traveling vicariously with you and Leonard. Hope to see you both soon! ❤️
It was a nice “surprise” for us! Hope you are doing well – and healing great! Dinner when we return for sure!
So glad y’all are having fun! Looks lovely!
We had a great time!!! LOVE YOU!
Incredible pictures. God’s country for sure.
THANK YOU!
I loved every word and photo in this post. Glad you’re back in business! The beauty in the west is so different from western Pennsylvania, but so breathtaking! Thank you for the amazing pictures!
I loved the donut (and cronut) post since donuts are probably my favorite food. I think the cronut looks awesome! And what a treat to see Andrew (he looks great! ) and your grand-dog!
You are so sweet, Linda! I hope your vacation was amazing!!! Seeing Andrew was definitely the highlight!
So thankful and happy you got to reconnect with Andrew on your travels!! 💕
me too – it was the best!
Again, just wow! I especially loved the nighttime pictures from your boat tour, with the canyon walls lit up. Just so stunning! Thank you for sharing!