Newspaper Rock and Moab Swimming Hole

Newspaper Rock and Moab Swimming Hole

6-28-16

DAY 10

After the via ferrata, we earned ourselves a chill day. We drove from Telluride, CO to Moab, UT. We were surprised that western CO looked so much like the UT desert. Driving into Utah felt like quite an accomplishment, so we stopped and took some pics. We even got Papa to jump, although James wasn't feeling into it until Papa joined the fun.

Near the eastern edge of Canyonlands, we got to see Wilson's Arch (a cool arch right along the highway). Then we went to check out Newspaper Rock. It is a rock where many people for over 2000 years have been "doodling." It was fascinating, and we got to see different petroglyphs featuring animals, footprints, and an assortment of people and symbols.

Then we headed for the ACT Campground in Moab, UT where we had a tent site reserved. However, when we arrived, there was a high wind and storm warning so my parents splurged and got a room with bunk beds. There is a nice shared kitchen and the shared bathrooms are well-presented with free showers. Good thing we got the room, because chairs were blowing away later in the winds, so our tent would have been long gone!

Next, we went to a swimming hole. It wasn't quite as nice as our swimming hole (lots of people), but it was a beautiful canyon and was refreshing after the 104 degree desert heat. Everyone jumped off, although James and I jumped more than everyone else. Since it was pretty hard to get up to the jumping rock, a guy stood up above the last slab and had to drag many jumpers up over the top. It was sometimes very funny to watch, especially when a tiny kid would scale the side and then an adult couldn't even attempt to make it up. Since it was fairly shallow, you had to be pretty careful when you jumped, bending your knees so you wouldn't hurt yourself by hitting the bottom. Papa could stand with the water up to his chin at the deepest part.