Short Stories: Schwieterman Summer Adventure Series (Part 2 - Utah, originally posted 8/5/22)
As we crossed into Utah in our rented motorhome, we noticed the elevated terrain appeared sandier than the rocky cliffs of Colorado. It is certainly different than the views of Ohio. Being from farm country, we noticed the lack of vegetation and the absence of livestock. It was desolate, yet there was always something to look at. However, as we approached our destination in Moab, the clay-colored dunes that came into view were intoxicating. I’m glad I wasn’t driving because I couldn’t take my eyes off the landscape.
It was a shorter day of driving, and we were thrilled to pull into Seven Mile campground with plenty of daylight left. Better yet, there was only one other camper parked—we had the place to ourselves! I busied myself getting the inside of the camper organized, while Ryan joyfully set up our backyard for the evening. My husband loves camping, and I love campground Ryan—he is so relaxed! He is in his element cooking over a campfire. But with the fire restrictions out west, he was finally able to pull out the neglected tailgate grill to cook our supper.
After basically forcing the girls to look at the dazzling landscapes of our drive from the window of the RV, we were happy to see them take such an interest in our surroundings. They were eager to go hiking, but settled for a short walk around the campground, while tolerating Mommy’s insistence of capturing every moment on camera.
We had a 7:00 AM entry reservation for Arches National Park, so we packed up early to start our first adventure, which didn’t disappoint. It was a remarkable kickoff to our tour of the West. The cliff formations in the red-rock wonderland are absolutely stunning, especially at Balanced Rock. But nothing compared to the natural stone arches. . . words can’t relate the majesty of it all. . . it is truly one of the world’s must-see wonders. God is a master architect!
We ended up spending four enthralling hours exploring at many of the viewpoints. Most of the hiking trails were longer than we were up for with younger children—especially while carrying our daughter, the backpack ventilator, and the deceptively weighty suction bag that also stores emergency trach supplies. My husband and I traded back and forth with carrying either our daughter or the backpack vent, while our ten and nine-year-old daughters shared the duty of carrying the backpack suction bag. It was a team effort!
Everyone we passed was so pleasant, I imagine it is hard to be a grump in such a beautiful place. Many people offered to take pictures for us so we could get the entire family in some of the shots. We captured some great pictures and made beautiful memories. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment—even in the July heat.
Our next stop was to checkoff one of my husband’s bucket list items—the Forrest Gump spot, AKA Monument Valley Scenic Outlook. (Where Forrest Gump decides to stop running.) We headed south out of Moab and shortly after leaving the town, we encountered a rouge arch just off the side of the road. Unfortunately, we missed the opportunity to pull off to walk up to it. . . so travelers be on the lookout for it!
The scenic drive toward Monument Valley continued to be a stunning view—seriously breathtaking! I didn’t know the color orange could be so beautiful. It was a winding route and after we came around one of the curves—there it was—Monument Valley. The road straightened out for as far as the eye could see, as if it was leading you directly to the stunning landscape used in many movies. It was our intention to enter the loop and see it up close, but after spending so much time at Arches National Park and two hundred miles yet to drive to stay on schedule, we opted to keep driving. But not before pulling off at the official Forrest Gump spot to take pictures—many pictures. I opted to join in with the other visitors daring to stand in the middle of the road for the epic photo opportunity. It was an amazing moment for my husband and I, although the girls have never seen the movie. . . so they didn’t understand our enthusiasm. One day they will.
Since Monument Valley is practically on the state line, as we headed toward our next destination, our time in Utah came to a temporary end as we entered Arizona. The adventure continues--next stop North Rim Grand Canyon!
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