Bill's Aviation Log

We drove back to Moab, then turned north on Highway 191, past Arches NP and the Canyonlands Airport, until we reached I-70. We headed west on I-70 through some serious nothing until we reached the small town of Green River.

I wanted to see the John Wesley Powell River History Museum. I didn't know what to expect since Green River is a small town in the middle of nowhere. But it was an excellent museum.

The other boats in the expedition used boats like this.

A contour map in the Visitor's Center shows the entire San Rafael Swell.

It was very hot -- 100 degrees + -- so we only hiked a little ways into the Valley; just far enough to get a close view of some of the Goblins.

Heading east from Goblin Valley State Park. Can you say desolate?

We made it to the small Visitor's Center just before it closed. Capital Reef is a long, narrow park running roughly north to south. Route 24 cuts east to west through the top of it, alongside the Fremont River, in what they call the Fruita area. It is appropriately named, because, thanks to the lifegiving water, the area is lush and green and filled with apricot orchards.

Going for the good fruit up high.

Mule deer hanging out in the shade.

It definately was scenic.

The trailhead for Capital Gorge Trail. Maybe someday we can hike this, but not today.

Then we drove to the Sunset Point Grail and Goosenecks Overlook.

And there is our B&B. Our room was on the second floor.

I think this is the first time in my life I've ever watched a moon rise.

June 27, 2018 - Green River, Goblin, Capital Reef
We are heading over to Capital Reef National Park today. Here is one last look from Highway 128.

We drove back to Moab, then turned north on Highway 191, past Arches NP and the Canyonlands Airport, until we reached I-70. We headed west on I-70 through some serious nothing until we reached the small town of Green River. I wanted to see the John Wesley Powell River History Museum. I didn't know what to expect since Green River is a small town in the middle of nowhere. But it was an excellent museum.

And there is the man, one-armed John Wesley Powell, leader of the first expedition through the Grand Canyon in 1869, sitting atop a replica of the boat. He actually did sit on a chair like that so he could better see rapids up ahead. He lost his arm in the Civil War battle of Shiloh.

The other boats in the expedition used boats like this.

I was happy to see "Bus" Hatch in the River Runners Hall of Fame. Bus Hatch started running the rivers of northeastern Utah in 1929 and began what is now Hatch River Expeditions. HIs grandson Steve currently runs the company which was responsible for our fantastic week in the Grand Canyon last week.

Appropriately, the museum sits on the bank of the Green River.

Leaving Green River, Utah, we continued on Interstate 70 for a few miles, then turned south on Route 28 through some of the most flat, barren land I've ever seen. The San Rafael Swell ran parallel to the road off to the west but we there wasn't much to see from the ground. From the air, I had enjoyed it very much. We came this way to check out Goblin Valley State park. That is Wild Horse Butte straight ahead.

A contour map in the Visitor's Center shows the entire San Rafael Swell.

The centerpiece of this State Park are these uniquely shaped "goblins".

It was very hot -- 100 degrees + -- so we only hiked a little ways into the Valley; just far enough to get a close view of some of the Goblins.

A very unusual rock formation with the San Rafael Swell in the distance.





Yurts like this are available for spending the night in the park.

Heading east from Goblin Valley State Park. Can you say desolate?

We continued on Route 24 which veered west into Capital Reef National Park.

Now that is a strange white rock. Sort of like a big chocolate kiss. White chocolate.



We made it to the small Visitor's Center just before it closed. Capital Reef is a long, narrow park running roughly north to south. Route 24 cuts east to west through the top of it, alongside the Fremont River, in what they call the Fruita area. It is appropriately named, because, thanks to the lifegiving water, the area is lush and green and filled with apricot orchards.





We stopped and picked some apricots.

Eating an apricot brought back memories of when I was a kid, growing up in Sunnyvale, California where we had an apricot tree in our front yard -- the community was new and had been built where an apricot orchard had been. You know this area now as Silicon Valley. The little rancher house we lived in then in the early 60s is still there, and worth more than $1 million dollars!

Going for the good fruit up high.



Mule deer hanging out in the shade.

This huge Fremont cottonwood tree is believe to be over 130 years old.

A shot of the entire massive tree.

We drove the 4.5 mile scenic drive south of Fruita.

It definately was scenic.




The trailhead for Capital Gorge Trail. Maybe someday we can hike this, but not today.

The many different colors of rock is what I remember about flying Capital Reef a year and a half ago.



Groundhog!

Then we drove to the Sunset Point Grail and Goosenecks Overlook.

We didn't feel like waiting around for an hour until sunset so we headed to our B&B was on the east side of Capital Reef NP.

And there is our B&B. Our room was on the second floor.

The B&B horses.

Looking east, watching the sunset from our balconey.

And then watching the moon rise!

I think this is the first time in my life I've ever watched a moon rise.



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June 27, 2018 - Green River, Goblin, Capital Reef