Canyonlands National Park @ Moab

     Debbie and I spent 5 days meandering around the National Parks and various other attractions Moab, Utah has to offer.  Everywhere we turned, a spectacular rock formation appeared and amazed us. While in Moab, Debbie and I attended a talk sponsored by the Moab Information Center entitled Stars: The Night Sky.  The  speaker was the Director of the Planetarium in Salt Lake City, Seth Jarvis, who got a little off topic, but gave a wonderful symposium on Pluto instead. He had a very unique ability to explain abstract concepts, and put them in terms even people such as myself could understand.   International Dark Sky Association, has just recently teamed with the National Park Service and certified Canyonlands National Park and a Dark Sky Place.  The certification took many years to complete, and as expected, the NPS was pretty excited.

  ANYWAY.....the following night, Mr Jarvis, the National Park Service, (NPS), and several other astronomers came to Canyonlands NP and allowed everyone in attendance to view the night sky, as many of us had never seen it.

Mr Jarvis was able to wow all participants with his ability to identify stars and constellations, and it was truly an amazing night. Neither Debbie nor I had ever viewed Saturn through a telescope, and it was amazing having Mr Jarvis explain to us how to find it in the night sky.  But then we could actually see Saturn's rings through several telescopes, which made it truly incredible.
     Every National Park is unique, and Canyonlands lives up to everyone's expectations.  I'll include several photos of the park, and hopefully inspire some of my followers to come out west for a visit on their own.  Utah is an amazing state and needs to be explored at a leisurely pace.

We also took a road trip up Utah Rt. 128 which followed along the Colorado River,  allowing us to see some dramatic cliffs protruding along the river, But we were also able to view the way visitors are able to enjoy the Colorado River as it meanders southward.

 It seemed to be quite peaceful on its journey, and we were told the wild water begins at the meeting of the Green and Colorado Rivers a little further south in what's known as The Needles.  

We're heading south for Monument Valley and the home of numerous westerns starring my personal favorite, John Wayne.  I apologize for the numerous photos and little blah,,,blah...blah.., but the scenery we're experiencing and enjoying is capturing the show.  Just a few days out from San Diego and we'll soon be spoiling Jamo as we wait for Baby Doo to arrive!