Saturday, May 25, 2024
After four consecutive days of national parking, and anticipating a long driving day tomorrow, we decided to have a do-nothing day. So, we hung out in the RV most of the morning. But, eventually, we became antsy and decided to take a short hike on a nearby trail to investigate the Potash Road petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks.
To reach the trail, we drove back through Moab on US-191 then turned south onto UT-279 which runs alongside the Colorado River. The side of the road opposite the river was ajacent to towering red sandstone cliffs. Vehicles were parked along the roadside and rock climbers were scaling the cliffs. Shortly past the climbers, we saw a sign indicating roadside petroglyphs and we pulled over to investigate. We enjoyed searching the cliff wall looking for, and trying to interpret, the numerous images that we discovered. They were human and animal image etchings from the Fremont culture (450-1300 A.D).
————— Along UT Highway 279 —————
We then proceeded further down UT-279 to the Poison Spider Trailhead parking area. The Poison Spider Trail is a popular four-wheeling road and the parking lot was full of adventurers starting or ending rides. We, and other hikers, took a separate trail that climbed up a rocky hillside. During the climb, we first encountered a rock slab with two three-toe imprints from a Jurassic era theropod dinosaur. We continued climbing and encountered more interesting petroglyphs from the Freemont culture in several different areas. On the downward return route, we enjoyed views of the surrounding area and the Colorado River below us.
After too much exertion on our do-nothing day, we stopped in at Proper Brewing Company in Moab for a late lunch and beer. We enjoyed our food and drinks but the service was flaky. (I had to ask three times to get served a beer in this brewery. Didn’t seem proper somehow.)
We’re back in the RV now, making plans for our next destination and doing nothing. Even Jane’s urge to do a load of laundry was thwarted because this campground lacks a laundromat.
It rained here for a few hours. After the clouds moved out and the fog lifted, we noticed that the snow caps on the nearby mountains had increased and the setting sun’s rays cast a fiery hue on them.
Well, that’s all for today… we’re off to do nothing until bedtime.
