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Post by Tonyterner on Aug 8, 2009 8:44:43 GMT -5
Well it took us 20 hours total travel time, we started at 5 am eastern time, but we finally got here. The drive was long, 10 hours with stops, but the scenery was just so incredible and kept changing with each hour. From the Desert in Phoenix to the mountains at Flagstaff and to the monoliths in Monument Valley our eyes kept bugging out. We took 150 photos, mostly from car while driving. Here are a couple of pics from our drive up. Nearing Flagstaff with the San Francisco peaks in the distance. We were at 7000 feet and the area was alpine with lots of evergreen trees. Painted Desert sandstorm. It was very windy for most of the ride and we had quite a sandstorm while driving through the Navajo reservation east of the Grand Canyon. Typical butte in Arizona. It was hazy from the storm and the photo is through the windshield so it doesn't do the colors justice. Monument valley is just stunning. Again it was hazy from the wind. You can't appreciate the scale of these things in a photo, you have to see them in person. The San Juan river. Odd to see water flowing through such a dry area. Mexican hat. One of many many monoliths we saw on the drive. This morning we are going on a drive into the La Sal mountains east of Moab. They reach over 12,000 feet in elevation and its a remote drive through an area very different than the surrounding desert. Adrian, Catman, Wyobrian and Thunder69 are due to arrive this afternoon. We've got a case of beer chillin' guys, can't wait for you to get here.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 9:20:44 GMT -5
Good to hear you made it safe and sound. I was getting ready to text you guys LOL. Enjoy your trip, and stay in touch when you can!!!
Shan
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Post by rockmanken on Aug 8, 2009 9:30:41 GMT -5
Great pix. Keep them coming.
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Aug 8, 2009 10:06:39 GMT -5
Well it took us 20 hours total travel time, we started at 5 am eastern time, but we finally got here. The drive was long, 10 hours with stops, You drove to Maob in 10 hours of actual drive time? Starting from PA???
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 8, 2009 10:52:31 GMT -5
I was thinking the same thing. How many Red Bulls did you chug?
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Post by Tonyterner on Aug 8, 2009 16:30:59 GMT -5
Sorry for the confusion guys. We flew to Phoenix then drove to Moab from there and took the scenic route.
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Post by mohs on Aug 8, 2009 20:31:14 GMT -5
Wow! What a fabulous drive and great pics! You guys brought the cool weather! Friday was a spring day in Arizona Hard to explain... but you couldn't have asked for better August desert morning !
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Post by sitnwrap on Aug 8, 2009 21:40:16 GMT -5
Great pics Tony. Good to see you and Amber made it. that sand storm looks like it would hurt if caught out in it.
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Post by sbreed on Aug 8, 2009 22:28:48 GMT -5
Can't wait to see you guys!!
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Post by Tonyterner on Aug 9, 2009 7:34:56 GMT -5
Lori, we got out of the car an hour past the sand storm and were getting pelted and yes it does sting. Can't wait to see you either Sheri.
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highplainsdrifter
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,266
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Post by highplainsdrifter on Aug 9, 2009 12:24:41 GMT -5
Great pics! Thanks for sharing. Glad to hear you made it safely. That is such a beautiful part of the country.
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Post by frane on Aug 9, 2009 16:34:46 GMT -5
You sure got some good shots of the drive! The mexican hat one looks like a post card! Gotta love them sand storm! They come up all at once and can really sandblast you! Glad you made it safely! Fran
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Post by BAZ on Aug 10, 2009 8:46:37 GMT -5
Hey Flagstaff! I've been there before.
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Aug 13, 2009 15:45:47 GMT -5
Your pictures bring back a lot of memories.
Mexican Hat - We were leaving Capital Reef headed toward Arizona and asked the Park ranger for some ideas of where to stay along the way. She asked if we liked funky places and she suggested Mexican Hat. She was right. It was real funky. We stayed in a little motel and had dinner with some people from France and Italy and Michigan. The place had barbecue by the Swinging Cowboy and it is a FUNKY place. To get there we went down the Moki Dugway, did you go up that way? . We never made it up the Laselle Mountains. Looks like a great side trip
Charlie
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 13, 2009 16:07:44 GMT -5
Holy crap Chas. That was fun to watch! Even though I was nervous about the edge of that road! Glad you didn't scrape the wall when that car passed.
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Post by Tonyterner on Aug 14, 2009 12:51:00 GMT -5
Chas, I don't know who that guy Shane is but he was a complete nut case to drive down that in a motor home one handed. We did go down that road but saw signs for it. We took Rt. 12 through the Escalante Staircase National Monument. At one point we were on a spit of land maybe 50 feet wide with 500 foot deep canyons on either side with no guardrails. Amber got nervous and asked me to drive, which was good because I found some really nice agate and brecciated jasper.
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karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Post by karenfh on Aug 14, 2009 16:05:55 GMT -5
Wow, that was crazy. Reminds me of my childhood in Wash. State, when Dad took us on fire trails in the old white station wagon, and I got carsick. Thanks so much for the memories, Charlie!
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Aug 15, 2009 1:55:55 GMT -5
Great pics Tony.
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Aug 17, 2009 7:41:58 GMT -5
i know that drive down rt12, one of the best in the country, that area is the Hogsback.
You and Amber must have had a great trip
charlie
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Post by Tonyterner on Aug 17, 2009 7:55:25 GMT -5
We did. I'll post more pictures today.
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