Western Parks Trip--Day 15, Sunday, August 23, 2015

We were ready to decamp by 9:10 for a 2.5 hour trip to Cortez, Colorado.  Smoke hung heavy in the air but we were able to see why this camp is named Archview.  We could see the North and South Windows of Arches NP which we had visited on Thursday as we left camp.  

The holes in the rock are what are called the North and South Windows (sometimes called the Spectacles)  in Arches NP which is seen from the Archview Camp in Moab.  

 

 

We continued down US 191 to Monticello, UT, actually named for Thomas Jefferson, but we don't know why.  Nearby is Wilson Arch, probably our last arch of this trip.  There we turned southeasterly on US 49.

Wilson's Arch

David drove the entire trip on very nice US hiway.  We arrived at Cortez's Sundance RV Park by 11:45 and were set up by 12:30 when Kathie treated us to brunch in Cortez.  We selected "Once Upon A Sandwich" restaurant which served spectacular sandwiches and soups and had lots of what looked to be locals eating.  Outstanding!!!!

From there we visited the Colorado Welcome Center which is actually nearly across the street from our camp. We were greeted by a very knowledgeable woman who told us all about the local attractions, especially Mesa Verde, NP, which we will visit tomorrow.  

Back at camp Kathie and Dave read while I blogged.  We were planning to grill salmon on our charcoal grill and David had the coals almost ready when the only rain we have seen (we've had a few sprinkles enough to briefly use the truck's wipers) on this whole trip.  And it was a deluge.  I watched it on my Wunderground Weather app and the heaviest part of the cell centered over us for about 15 minutes.  David braved the downpour under an umbrella trying to salvage the fire, but finally gave up.  

The rain cell was only green on Wunderground at this point!

Now the rain shows dark yellow on Wunderground and it is time to go to Plan B (the oven) for the salmon. 

The reward of a beautiful rainbow!! Both Jay and RBII got much-needed bathing from the rain, too. 

We will be able to sleep without air conditioning tonight for the first time on the trip.  Temperature is predicted to be 55 degrees tonight.  Even now we have the windows and doors open and the crickets are chirping, the first time we've heard them on this trip, too.  We are at 6,201 feet elevation here. Colorado High!!