Western Parks Trip-Day 14, Saturday, August 22, 2015

Today was a maintenance day.  We slept in until 7:07 AM!!  After a breakfast of bacon and orange-scented blueberry pancakes prepared by Chef Dave, we did 5 loads of laundry and I did some more blog work.  After lunch, we drove to a winery located along the Colorado River.  There were lots of swimmers, kayakers, canoers,  and rafters on the River.  It was likely a very good way to cool off in the 98 degree heat.  The pollution from the western fires was very evident again today. 

This portion of the Colorado River is quite calm.  Rafters didn't have any rapids to thrill to through the sections we drove.

As we drove back along the River from the winery, I saw more of the yellow flowers I had earlier thought were sunflowers, but too small; then I decided they were black-eyed susans.  Well I have since learned they are prairie sunflowers!

Prairie sunflowers abound in AZ, NM, CO and UT!

We ate an early dinner at the best restaurant in Moab, located in the former home of uranium king, Charlie Steen.  The restaurant, called Sunset Grill, is located "220 feet above the road" according to the waitress.  Moab is at 4000 feet elevation.  They are famous for prime rib, which Kathie ordered and took almost 1/2 of it home and Idaho trout, which David and I ordered and again took some of it home.  David and I had an escargot starter which was prepared in a puff pastry with a creamy mushroom and onion sauce.  There were 8 on the plate which could have been an entree.  This was a very different way of serving escargot, which we used to enjoy trying at different restaurants in southern Africa.

These boots were just outside the entrance to the restaurant.  We think Paul Bunyan left them behind! The bench next to them is standard sized.

The smoky haze is very prominent from our cliff-side dining spot.  

Sunset Grill from the road below.  It is a windy paved road with many curves to get to the restaurant.  David was driving so he abstained from having wine with dinner.

It was an early-to-bed night for all of us!!