I Could Stay here Forever...Almost

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer

The vastness of Canyonlands makes it extremely difficult to photograph and write about...its like a young child being in a candy store for the first time...."I want it all...but where do I start".


(c)2014 Horst Kelly photographer

 

Forget about catching the magic light to capture the "perfect shot".....you end up chasing your own tail....I enjoyed my short visit immensely...the one regret was not getting the  early morning iconic shot of "Mesa Arch"...The Cloud cover just didn't allow for it...I only wish I had the time to stay longer...I think 3 or 4 weeks with nice weather would put a dent in it a small portion of the Island in the Sky section. ...I really enjoyed Willow Flat campground... When it wasn't raining the evenings would be majestic...I even made a friend  with a Raven....he stayed pretty much at my site and soon we struck up some thought provoking evening conversations...I think it was the left over "corn on the cob " that did it..I started calling him "Rob", as in Rob from Casita Adventures who has a great fondness for Ravens and  even has a stuffed Raven Mascot he takes on all his trips... Sunday morning was departure day....I would have stayed longer, but again weather was chasing me, which seems to be the common thread for this trip.

When you enlarge notice(right side) my new found friend.."Rob" The Raven
(c)2014Horst Kelly photographer

I was hitched up by 0830...and on my way. Initially I was going to southeast on Rt 191 to the Needles section of Canyonlands and stay at Dry Campground  there...in doing some research it appeared that most of the neat stuff had to be hiked into and down ....with the weather being as unpredictable as it had been,  I decided to go north, head west on l-70 and then south on rt 24...Destination, Goblin Valley State Park....after making a couple pit stops, I arrived there around noon...it was a desolate place...some Hoodoo's but not much more. I went inside and spoke to the Ranger about the CG...open, pit toilet and can get hot with this weather, am allowed to run a generator....cost 20 + dollars...Mmmmm. I asked about any dispersed camping and there are several places, and the price is right.... as I am leaving to seek a DC site another Ranger approaches and informs me of a Flood watch in the area until the 9th and I may want to reconsider the dispersed camping option..

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer

I look at my map and see that south of here is a Town called Hanksville and Good Sams says there is a Campground there..Ok, lets give that a try...The team travels the 40 plus miles and behold, right there is Duke's Slickrock Grill and Campground...I inquire...they have Wi-Fi, showers, laundrymat, full hookups and this steakhouse...and the price wasn't that bad....for tent campers they have several grassy knoll areas..its nothing to write home about, however its Friendly, clean, functional and they guarantee flooding will NOT occur on the Campgrounds...with the iffy weather I decide to stay until Tuesday the 9th...do a daytrip to Capital Reef on the 8th, even though there probably  will be rain involved...

(c)2014Horst Kelly photographer

I unhitch, do a couple weeks worth of laundry, take a LONG shower and eat a Utah Trout at the Slickrock Grill...not bad...meet some Young Germans who are going to set up there tents, hoping the weather doesn't get too bad.

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer

I'm tired and so its off to Dreamland...until the next post...Happy Trails...Horst sends