Johnny Depp Joins The Fun

Turns out technology issues follow you wherever you go.  We've had blog issues the last couple of days but it looks like Space Provided is on the mend.  We're in Moab, Utah.  Our vacation is coming to a close and I'd like you all to know that I'm probably done with the desert.  Moab is beautiful but I don't think we are the target audience.  It's really more of a 20-somethings playground chalked full of adventure tours, exciting hikes and enough mountain biking to last you from now until Christmas.  It turns out, no matter how daring and willing your 3- and 5-year-old are, some outdoor activities just aren't appropriate for those with under-developed gross motor skills and short limbs.  They both have been more than willing to try whatever we let them.  At lunch today we were by a large rock (think large house, not pebble) and both kids were betting each other that they could climb it without help.  Both of them took a stab at it and neither had enough height to even lift themselves off the ground.  But they tried, darn it!  

Day one in Moab was relaxed.  We hung out at our abode in the morning and then headed into town for some hearty consumerism.  I purchased my requisite pound of salt water taffy and all was right with the world.  We were lucky enough to sample chile mango taffy and bacon taffy.  I'm not entirely sure how I feel about all the bacon products I've seen this summer.  I do really, really love bacon but I just don't know if Burger King needed to crumble it over an ice cream sundae.  Again, I digress.  We found a swimming hole upon a recommendation from a local.  Mark and I were able to simply spectate as it was knee deep and very small.  It was nice to let the kids splash around while we lazed in the blistering sun.  

Yesterday we canoed down the Colorado river.  A rafting company dropped us off at 9am and then picked us up 11 miles down the river at 2pm.  Mark and I paddled, the kids pretended that smurfs were lurking in the water and we all enjoyed some splashing in the water.  The river is at a 50-year-low so in a lot of places it was less than a foot deep.  Super for swimming with kids but as a paddler it proved to be a pain in the butt.  The raft guide warned us that when we came  to the end of our canoeing adventure we would be docking in the middle of a movie shoot.  No joke.  We were merely yards away from Johnny Depp deep in the middle of shooting The Lone Ranger in Moab, Utah.  The whole place was crawling with people, trailers, boats, more people and a lot of very, very fancy porta-potties.   We did not see Johnny.  We did find out that this particular shoot has pretty much paralyzed tourism in Moab for all of June and July.  TLR (that's what we in the biz are calling it for short) rented out 850 of the 1400 available hotel rooms in Moab and rented out a whole campground along the river for the shoot.  That's just a little tidbit.  Not all that relevant to our visit (other than I've been looking for Johnny everywhere we go).  

Today we went to Arches National Park.  We hiked into a few slot canyons, saw many arches and played in more red sand.  The kids were very happy to be hiking in the canyons as it meant a lot of shade and much cooler temps.  The place we hiked was full of sand so we were all able to take our shoes off several times for some playing.  Milo and Mark scouted out a slot canyon/cave trek for us and we all ventured in a bit.  We picnicked and then headed back to the condo for some rest and swimming at the local pool.  Tomorrow is our last day in Moab.  We are going to Canyonlands National Park and then we're going to seek out some  4th of July fun.  Thursday we begin our trek home with a 16 hour drive from Moab to Des Moines.  

The swimming hole.
Moab, UT

I believe this was a wild game of Power Rangers.
I know the trip isn't over yet but I'm thankful that we have not made a trip to the ER for a poked out eye or head wound .  They really get into their roles.
Moab, UT

Sometimes Odelia forgets that she isn't an adept swimmer and she'll tackle Milo and end up underwater.  This was right before one of her tackles.
Moab, UT

She's trying to catch a fish.
Moab, UT

Jump!
Moab, UT

Taking a break.
Moab, UT

This is outside our condo in Moab.  They are watching a stream of water flow down the hill to the gutter.  You know you've been in the desert too long when a puddle on the side of the road is novel to your children.
Moab, UT

We begin our canoeing adventure.
Colorado River, UT

The day is young.  This is around mile 1.
Colorado River, UT

First stop to swim.  We "beached" the canoe on a sand dune.
Colorado River, UT

Love the reflection in the water.
Colorado River, UT

She really, really wanted to paddle.  We have paddles for both kids back in Wisconsin but the rafting company wasn't offering up kid-sized paddles.  After about mile 6 they both found long sticks to use as paddles.
Colorado River, UT

Paddles Up!
Colorado River, UT

Discussing something really important.
Colorado River, UT

Arches National Park, UT

Odelia can always find the sliver of shade.
Arches National Park, UT

Rock climbin' Milo
Arches National Park, UT

Love this girl!  She's up for anything (except sun, being told what to do or going to bed)
Arches National Park, UT

Do you see them?
Arches National Park, UT

This was the hike in the sand.  Mark climbed way up high and got a picture of us making "snow" angels.
Arches National Park, UT

Jump!
Arches National Park, UT

Here's the slot canyon/cave Milo and Mark found.
Arches National Park, UT

In the cave.  Milo, it turns out, is not the least bit claustrophobic.
Arches National Park, UT

A rare pose.
Arches National Park, UT

Milo shows off his discovery.
Arches National Park, UT

Arches National Park, UT

Odelia is not claustrophobic either.
Arches National Park, UT

Hiking back out.
Arches National Park, UT

Mark made a bridge for them to climb under.
I included this picture because you can see the sand pouring out of his shoe.  
Arches National Park, UT

Odelia makes a bridge.
Arches National Park, UT

Can you find Mark?  He scaled the arch for this picture.
Arches National Park, UT

Dumping the sand.
Arches National Park, UT

Mark went back later in the day for a hike to Delicate Arch.
Here it is up close.
Arches National Park, UT

And another shot!

Arches National Park, UT

(Uncle) Bryce Canyon

(Uncle) Bryce Canyon was exceptional in every way.  We hiked down the canyon on a 1.3 loop mile trail.  About 1/2 way through the hike Milo started getting a little more inquisitive about our hiking plans than usual.  He had scaled all the rocks needed to be a happy 5-year-old boy and now he was ready for some lunch.  I didn't pick up on his questions right away but did wonder what was motoring through that brain of his.  Finally after a few minutes of talking about turning around and being "ready" to head back we caught on.  We've never done a loop trail with them nor does he know what the term loop means so he's a little panicky about how far we've gone and the fact that neither Mark or I are worried about heading back.  We spend the next quarter mile explaining a loop and I think he gets it but his little legs can't take another step.  On Mark's back he goes.  With Odelia on my shoulders we start heading up the steep path.  We instate a no talking rule and both Mark and I silently head up the canyon with an extra 40-50 pounds on our shoulders.  Halfway up we took a break and Mark pleaded with Milo to give walking a try.  Being the utterly compliant and people-pleasing child that he is, he does.  I tell him a story about a trip to Wal-Mart and a sneaky Power Ranger who comes to life as we finish out the hike.  It proves to be just the distraction he needs to finish out the loop.  He was tired, but triumphant, when we get to the top.  I think he'll understand a loop now but not sure if he'll ever trust our trail-picking skills again. 

Yesterday we left Kanab, UT and headed to Moab, UT.  It was a full day in the car with a stop at Capitol Reef National Park for a picnic and apricot-picking.  The park is an abandoned Mormon settlement filled with apricot, apple and cherry orchards.  You can pick the fruit in season, so that we did.  We also visited with a few horses, splashed in a creek and hugged some huge trees.  The park was outstanding.  As many things as I feel our government abuses and misuses, the national park system is a gem that I truly feel serves and educates the masses with a strong eye on maintaining the beauty and ecology of our country.  I am always proud of how pristine and preserved they are and the rangers are always helpful and accommodating. 

We are staying in a 4-plex in Moab that is run by hippies.  Organic coffee, patchouli body wash and more recycling directions than I can wrap my head around in a single reading.  We'll be exploring around here for four days and then heading home.  Tomorrow is an 11 mile canoe trip (downstream). 

No explanation necessary

This has been my favorite stop so far.  It's nothing I have ever seen before and the colors were so amazing.
Bryce Canyon, UT

Bluest skies you could ever imagine.
Bryce Canyon, UT

We begin the loop.  Notice the switchback in the upper right corner of the picture
Bryce Canyon, UT

To the bottom of the canyon
Bryce Canyon, UT

Bryce Canyon, UT

We'll be bringing dust home with us.
Bryce Canyon, UT

Teeny Tiny Milo
Bryce Canyon, UT

Looking up from the bottom of the canyon.
Bryce Canyon, UT

Odelia loved all the rocks and dirt.  She built many rock towers and dirt piles throughout the loop.  She was oblivious to the "loop" discussion.  Only caring about getting on and off Daddy's shoulders for her "dirt/rock breaks".
Bryce Canyon, UT

Milo LOVED climbing around on the rocks.
Bryce Canyon, UT

They found a teeny tiny cave.  They both crawled in and played.
Bryce Canyon, UT

Hunkered down in the cave.
Bryce Canyon, UT

This is about the point where Milo started to really get concerned.  We were out of the shade of the cave and he saw no good point in continuing on if we didn't have rocks to climb.
Bryce Canyon, UT

Loops suck!  Milo fades
Bryce Canyon, UT

As we climbed back up the canyon.
Bryce Canyon, UT

Happy Home Yoga:  Downward Dog
Bryce Canyon, UT

The switchbacks up the canyon that Mark and I carried the kids' up on our  shoulders
Bryce Canyon, UT

That's Mark
Bryce Canyon, UT

Little O.  Loving life.
Bryce Canyon, UT

She is seriously the best hugger, kisser, cuddler, displayer of affection...Here she is telling me that she loves me.
She manages to do this when other travelers are in ear shot.  It always gets her lots of positive attention from middle-aged women.
Bryce Canyon, UT

The town is old, not the uncle
Bryce Canyon, UT

Visiting the horses
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Milo kisses the horse
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

More horse lovin'
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Apricot grove
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

They had these pickers...fun
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Picking apricots
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

The kids loved the ladder.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Eating a sun-soaked apricot.  Mmmmm.....
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Capitol Reef National Park, UT

We found a creek.  Odelia instinctively lifted her dress.  Very Little House on the Prairie of her.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Odelia got so close to this deer we had to tell her to stop.  The deer didn't move.  Just hung out by us, eating grass.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Love these kids.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

It looks like he's hugging a tree but really he's really hanging over a creek.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

We hadn't planned on hiking around hence the skirts and dresses.  It didn't stop Odelia...
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Creek splashing....
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Love this picture.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

This is Milo looking like he's 14.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Again, he just looks so old.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Family picture.  Big, giant, humongous tree.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Moab Brewery.  Milo samples ginger ale.
Moab, UT

Milo photographs...
Moab Brewer, Moab, UT

Odelia's first self-portrait.  Many more to come....
Moab, UT

Yup, that says 114 degrees.