We've gotta roll with the punches.....

Since entering Utah following our drive through Flaming Gorge NRA we have had a few interesting experiences. Our initial landing spot was Vernal which is Utah's version of Drumheller. We spent several hours the next day at Dinosaur National Monument visiting the Fossil Bone Quarry where there are actual dinosaur bones still embedded in a rock wall which has been enclosed for viewing purposes, an interesting way to show and explain the discovery process. We also did a short hike along the Fossil Discovery Trail where mother nature is uncovering new treasures over time.

From Vernal we drove directly to Moab, a place we tried to explore several years ago but late November freezing temperatures sent us scurrying home early the next morning. On this trip we planned to spend a week in the general area and it might last longer than that. This past week-end was a very busy time in Moab since it was the Columbus Day long w/e and special events were planned, including a Land Rover National Rally and a 24 hour mountain biking contest, both of which brought all kinds of adventure seekers to town. With the National Park campsites all fully booked we settled into one of the last few spots at an RV park. On Friday morning we drove 5 miles north to Arches National Park to find out the Fiery Furnace hike we wanted to experience was totally booked (Park Ranger required to lead a group through some tricky spots) so we decided to try again after the w/e. There was a golf course near our RV park so we played golf in the afternoon on a nice course and discovered that a Senior Men's & Ladies' Amateur tournament was scheduled for the next 2 days. While the tournament was totally booked for a month leading up to our visit, there were a couple of last minute cancellations and they had room for us if we were interested. Since we liked the course and both played well, we signed up for the last two spots. Rhonda was unable to duplicate her score on the first day of the tournament and a potential reason emerged early Sunday morning when she awoke with extreme abdominal pains. When they wouldn't subside we decided a trip to the hospital was in order and several hours later, following a CT scan, the doctor determined that she had diverticulitis, an intestinal infection. Those that know Rhonda well are aware that she has had stomach cramp problems in the past so this was a culmination of a festering situation. Fortunately it can be treated with anti-biotics, so she will be taking it easy for a few days and be on a liquid diet during that time. The drugs seem to be working and today she felt well enough to do a bit of walking including a trip to the grocery store to purchase some items that she can consume for now. Her spirits are good and she fully expects to be back to normal in a few days.

We have lots of spare time in our schedule since we arrived in Moab quicker than planned so we are in no hurry and will wait for her recovery before trying anything too adventurous. Moab is a beautiful place to be "stuck in", surrounded by reddish brown mountains, nice shops and 20-25C daytime temperatures. When the time comes we will start with some shorter hikes in Arches NP and then spend several days dry camping in Canyonlands NP where there are some more lovely hiking opportunities.
Internet access will be limited over that time so don't be concerned if we don't report on our activities for a while.

Real dinosaur bone

Fossil Bone Quarry