I haven’t seen my friend Ethel (aka Lynne from WinnieViews) since we said goodbye and went our separate directions, blowing out of Big Bend in 25mph winds last March. Lynne spent the summer liquidating a garage full of gadgets (they don’t call her “Gadget Girl” for nothing!) becoming a Craig’s List and ebay mogul while preparing for full timing, while I took off on The Amazing Race around the Olympic Peninsula. We agreed when we both ended up in the same state, we would reunite for more “Lucy and Ethel Adventures.” Only now, being in Southern Utah, somehow the theme seemed to morph into more “Thelma and Louise!”

The Tracker is Back, Baby!

Lynne and Millie have been boondocked over in the back door of Arches National Park, one of two National Parks on my radar for exploration, along with nearby Canyonlands. So I say a temporary, gut wrenching goodbye to “the gang” and head east.

Lynne sends an email with the subject line, “Your Primo Moab Boondock Awaits!” so I plug in the coordinates in my GPS, and head the 150 miles to the Willow Springs turnoff just 10 miles north of Moab. As I am lumbering down the rough, rocky, pot-holed road, my GPS alerts me to “Make a right turn and go off-road.” Off-road? Are you serious?? I have never heard those words from my GPS before. Do you have any idea what I am driving?? But I can see RVs in the distance, so I trust and push on through, hitting the accelerator as I cruise through the soft sandy wash. As I pull into the boondock spot, Lynne and Millie come out to greet me. “Okay, Ethel, you are taking this ‘4X4’ thing a LIT-TLE too far!”

The spot is beautiful with a tall bluff on one side, a distant view of Arches on the other, and quite a few cedar trees to offer a little privacy (or at least a dust screen!) from the road. No need to even get out the legos, as the spot is level.

We take off for a little “orientation” of Moab, as Lynne is waiting on items from the USPS. And I quickly learn that no visit to Moab is complete without a stop at Milt’s, home of the famous Chili Cheeseburger. “Building a Better Burger since 1954.” Not sure it could get much better, with burgers from grass-fed beef, real potato fries, locally grown produce and homemade ice cream!

“The Three Gossips.” Would make for a nice painting, don’t you think? 😉

I call this one “Three Grumpy Old Men”

Over 2,000 arches in the park, but very few visible from the road.

Sunset is nearing, so we take a drive through the park to find a spot for the best red color. The Park Ranger has recommended “Windows” arch, but Lynne has a better idea. She was here a few years ago with Randy, her brother, where she got some great lighting shots in the “Double Arch.”

“Balanced Rock,” a famous icon in the park.

By now, the sun is dropping fast, and Lynne, being the photographer she is, takes off like a race horse with cameras dangling. I tease her that her “slow hiker tortoise/hare persona” gig is up!

Lynne capturing the Double Arch

I want up there…

The Double Arch is glorious with the golden hour glow on the underside of the arch. There are people in the overlook, so Lynne says “Climb up there! I will take your picture.” Having just come from the Red Rocks Gang Bootcamp, I am feeling nimble and a tad bit invincible, so I shinny on up the steep, almost vertical rocky face to reach the opening. When I arrive at the top, there are others sitting along the ledge, watching the sunset. But when I see what’s on the other side…a stunning view of the setting sun, but also a sheer 100 foot drop-off with no margin for error on what could be the sunset of my life, I freeze. My mouth is dry.

Ethel: “STAND UP!”
Lucy: “ARE YOU CRAZY??? There’s not even enough room for me to SIT, let alone STAND!”

Eventually, I get up the nerve to stand on the ledge, which appears to be the width of a size 9 shoe, though it is probably more like three feet wide.. My knees are knocking, but I manage to stand long enough for a quick photo. Now, it is time to go back down. GEESUS, it is STEEP! Straight down, with no place for footholds. People above and below are giving me conflicting directions. “Turn around! Back down facing the rock. NO! Over here! It’s easier over here!”

View of the setting sun from the Double Arch opening.

Finally, a handsome Frenchman comes over to help me get my footholds. He is cooing French to me, trying to reassure me he will guide my feet down by holding my ankles. 😉 But he is barefoot, and I cannot understand his instructions. AND, with his bare feet, I am afraid if I fall, I will topple him! On the other side of the rock face is a nice woman my age, fit, wearing sturdy hikers, with a very calm voice coaxing me over to her side, where she has just scaled safely down the rock face. “Come this way. It’s easier. I will talk you down.”

I sit there in between them, considering having my ankles caressed by the fondling Frenchman versus getting to the bottom without my ankles being broken.   Finally, I look at him, smile, shrug, and utter the only French I know. “C’est si bonne. Merci bu coup!” and work my way over toward the safer side.

Aaaahh, “Sense and Sensibility!”

Photo courtesy of Lynne