Wednesday, June 1
Bridget and Reggie, Needles Overlook, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
~ ~ ~
Earlier . . .
The crew and I leave our camp at Devil’s Canyon and motor northward on Route 191.
We usually make an early start for outings like this. Today a busy morning in preparation for moving camp tomorrow led to this late start.
It’s already noon as we turn onto Route 133, the road that goes to Needles Overlook.
“This is going to be fun, guys. You can get out when we get there. We’ll have a picnic together and look around . . . . ”
It’s times like this I’m grateful for our good tires . . . .
We pass several interesting rock formations.
I’m putting this camera up so I can enjoy the drive. I can take photos on the way back.
After several miles we come to a fork in the road.
Gee, I haven’t seen one vehicle since leaving Route 191. . . .
Seven miles later we arrive at the overlook!
It’s weird because one drives and drives across flat ground covered in sagebrush and then, all of a sudden, the earth opens up in a humongous canyon . . . and that’s an understatement.
Wow!
I wonder where the movie, “Thelma and Louise,” was filmed . . . .
I park the Perfect Tow Vehicle next to three cars in the small lot.
“Well, this is it! Bridgie, come here and put on your suit. Hold on, Reggie. I’ll let you out in just a sec.”
Inside the PTV we’re comfortable.
I step outside and, man, is it hot! All around is red rock, red dirt, pavement, and concrete.
Here we are in the hottest part of the day . . . .
I set out a dish of water in the shade of the PTV and wait for Bridget and Reggie to have a drink. Reggie pulls on his tether.
“We aren’t going anywhere until you drink. So get to it.”
I squat and press my hand on the sidewalk.
Well, it’s hot, but it’s okay for paws . . .
I grab the bag containing our lunch and we search for the picnic area shown on a “You are here” map. The closest one is nice and shady, but it’s occupied.
We stop for a brief moment while I photograph the canyon.
(Most of my photos come out poorly. Too hazy,the subject too immense.)
Both Bridget and Reggie are panting. Bridget heads for the PTV and Reggie catches up with her.
She’s right. It’s too hot to sit out here for a picnic . . . .
“Good idea, Bridge.”
I move the PTV out of the parking lot and pull up alongside some junipers. I open up my door to catch any breeze (now that’s optimism!) and reach for the bag of lunch.
“We can have our picnic in the PTV. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m hungry! ”
Actually I do know about you guys. You’re always hungry for chicken.
“Here ya’ go.”
In between taking bites of my chicken sandwich and orange, I dole out chicken pieces to the crew. We have a nice, little picnic as evidenced by Bridget’s smile and bright eyes as she awaits the next morsel.
“You’re enjoying yourself today, aren’t you, honey.”
To be continued . . . .
rvsue
NOTE: I didn’t intend this post to be broken into two parts. Photos are loading very slowly at our new camp and the crew is restless to go outside. I know what you’re thinking: They can’t go outside by themselves? No, they have to cling to me, especially during the first day or two at a new camp.
I’ll try to post Part 2 soon. In the meantime, feel free to discuss a range of topics. Among the previous post’s comments, the question was asked: “Is a Class C noisy inside when traveling?” If you have experience with a Class C, I invite your input.
I’ll award the honors in The Race To Be First and then turn it over to you. — Sue
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Have fun with the crew 🙂
Wow, Weather #1. Now that is a first. 🙂
Hi, Shirlene… Good to see you here. Hope you’re well and happy.
I missed that you’re in THIRD PLACE, SHIRLENE! OH MY GOSH!
Didn’t Shirlene get second???
No, I see from the times.
Top 3 is still in the money :). Thanks for sticking up for me!
Okay, here it is”
FIRST…12:03— weather
SECOND…12:05—-milliehubbard and Retiredcajunlady
THIRD…12:07—-Shirlene
FOURTH…12:08—-Lynn
EXCELLENT, WEATHER! CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING FIRST TODAY!
Love the crew! Congrats Weather, looks like you made first!
SECOND PLACE GOES TO MILLIE! YAY!
We were at Canyonlands and Arches as part of our 2014 NP Odyssey. That was a life changing trip for me…the splendor was something I will never forget. We will make our way back there someday. RVSue and Crew how fortunate to have that be your daily experience. Wow…just wow! Chills…
First?
RETIREDCAJUNLADY TIES SECOND PLACE! WOW!
Beautiful pictures!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Lynn B. (Baltimore, MD)
CONGRATULATONS, LYNN! THIRD PLACE!
(Well, not really. I missed that Shirlene came in 3rd. You can keep the honor, Lynn, because you’re so sweet.)
What a fabulous picture of Bridget. She’s so happy!
Hey, I think I’m in the Top 10 again! Those pictures are beautiful! It makes me wonder how they were developed because they are all so different. My mother-in-law who lives in Phoenix said they were expecting record breaking heat this week-end. Please stay safe but keep blogging!
Kay from KC MO!
Wow! Nice photos, Sue. The fifth one reminds me of an elephant’s head. Pups are so cute! Bridget looks so happy and healthy, and I love the picture of them together! I tend to be overprotective of my pup and never let him outside alone…not that he would go alone anyway. Willee’s strong suit isn’t bravery!
Enjoy your time at the new site. Take care and thanks for sharing.
Hi Sue, Hi Weather, Hi Blogorinos! I have been waiting all morning because now that I am feeling my old self again I was going to race to be first…ha! So I went out to grab some free Pizza that is being served and came right back and a new post. And……guess who beat me to the punch…Good Job Weather! I know that you don’t get a big a kick out of being first as I do, but enjoy the feeling anyway! 🙂
Sue, I thought of you this morning when I was having my morning coffee (without my peanut butter toast). I have been trying to cut down on the carbs also, but then “free pizza” for lunch, who could resist that on a Friday.
Love the pictures, hate that it is so hot, but we are getting to that time of the year. I am waiting for my RV Tech to put a new solar panel on the roof of my RV so that the house batteries stay topped off while it is sitting in the storage facility while Laura recovers from her back surgery. I guess it will sit another month, and then we can start taking trips…short ones at first, getting ready for the big launch around Nov.
Besides feeling almost back to normal, nothing new happening…I am car shopping for something to tow behind our motorhome, but flat towing is limited to only a few choices..I prefer what we have, but it will have to have a tow dolly…holly cow, such a hard decision…so I am going to put it to bed and just enjoy the warmish weekend ahead. I say warmish because at the beach it should remain under 80 degrees while the rest of So Cal cooks…..Location, location, location.
Have a good weekend Sue and pups…stay cool and happy.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better Shirlene. For what it’s worth my Dad used a tow dolly for the toad behind his class A and never seemed to have a problem with it. Plus I would think you have the advantage of having the front wheels (the ones attached to the transmission) off the ground. I’m sure you’ll figure out what’s best for you.
Oh, and free pizza is the universes way of letting you know that today’s supposed to be a “cheat day.”
🙂 Thanks Rick…. maybe I just hate bending over..ha!
I wish I was first, but I know that by the time get this posted I’ll be #100. Great post
Yup, heat and I do not get along so I’d be picnicking in the PTV too. My littlest furkid is a mini Dachshund and despite his black fur just loves sunbathing, the hotter the better.
I have a little Pom-Chi (4 lbs) with a thick undercoat…she, too, loves the heat!!! All the others are panting away but she’s just laying there enjoyin’!!!
Hi Crew…thanks for scouting out our trip to Canyonlands. Next month we’ll hit the road. Carry on joyfully. Toodles.
Shirlene, good news: free pizza on Fridays has no carbs so just enjoy it while you can.
Hi, Sue and Crew.
🙂 Yum! Pesto Pizza
whoo hoo…….lookee here a new post……..
thanks Sue
chuck
Rereading one of my favorite RVSue’s post April 26, 2014 wind,cold, rain and happy tears. Utah seems so immense!
Utah is worth a month or two of your time just to explore and enjoy the beauty! Just avoid SLC at all costs! Traffic is terrible there!
Hi Sue,
Thanks so much for the pictures! I was there in 2005 on my first trip to Utah. Bet I sat there looking at that same view for a few hours. It was Sept and in the 80’s so quite comfortable. Not a soul was around. Brock and I look forward to returning next year for a much longer trip. Can’t wait.
Thelma and Louise was filmed at Dead Horse Point State Park. It’s a great park and very serene. The campsites are very close to the canyon.
Yes you can see it from Dead Horse Point State Park but the somewhat open flat area and cliff they drove off is off the Potash Road. I don’t remember exactly how far, 8 to 10 miles of easy 4×4 trail but I wouldn’t recommend it for the PTV.
I agree Dead Horse Point is a great park with wonderful camp sites. But I can’t find it serene. I’ve never been able to camp there tho I’ve been there twice. I can’t get over the horror of how it got its name. If you go do not read the signs explaining the history and I hope you can enjoy it for what it is today.
I’m sorry I used the word horror. Now natural morbid curiosity will have you looking it up. I’m sorry if I’ve ruined it for anyone. Maybe you can edit it RVSue. Or not. I guess it is what it is. History – we can only change the future.
Missy, according to my movie info site, Thelma and Louise was filmed in many locations but the suicide scene is what I believe you are interested in apparently was at Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah. That must have been quiet a thrilling downhill ride.
I see John picked another of the locations listed. Tell you what here is a list of the locations I guess we can all take a guess as to where the girls last ride occurred. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103074/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt
I hope you got credit for the Lulu sandals I ordered! My first pair of FitFlops and I love them!
I’m a new follower and was curious….why does everyone want to be the first commenter? Do you win a prize? ?
No prize, we are just a playful bunch. Stay with us and if you get first sometime you will see. Welcome to the RVSue Nation.
I must admit I don’t get it either. Welcome Kellianne….
It’ all fun and games …
’till someone gets their eye poked out.
Then it’s a game of chase the rolling eyeball. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If an item shows up in a link at the end of one of my posts, that means I received a commission because I take those items from my Amazon earnings report. If it doesn’t appear at the bottom of a post, that doesn’t mean I didn’t get credit. I pick six items as a sample.
Thank you, Kellianne, and welcome to my blog!
Welcome to RVSue’s Blog!
Welcome, Kellianne.
OK, I’ll address the Class C question. We used to have a Honda Ridgeline and a Casita. I still miss them. Now we have a 30′ Class C with a Ford 450. It is much noisier than the Ridgeline and not as comfortable to ride in. We tow our Honda Fit on a tow dolly. I’m fairly used to the noise after 2 years and I have a comfy gel seat pad to sit on, so that’s good. The Class C is quite comfortable for staying in long term. We have stayed in it for 4 months. It has a queen size bed, a spacious bathroom, great fridge, dinette and sofa. It has oodles of storage space. I like it, but to be honest, I liked the Casita better. For one thing, it’s easier to heat/cool the Casita and it’s better insulated so less outside noise intrudes. Also, it doesn’t really seem like “camping” to me in the big house on wheels. I think my hubby liked the small FB trailer better, too, but he hasn’t really admitted to it yet.
Hi Marcia – I met a couple while camping near Bryce Canyon a few years ago who had a small trailer and traded it in for a large motor home. When I met them, they were in a small teardrop trailer after downsizing from the big RV. I asked them how in the heck does one go from a 30 ft RV to a teardrop. They explained to me that it wasn’t camping anymore and they loved their teardrop. They found that they would arrive at the campsite, press all the buttons that leveled it, and whatever else there was to set up and found themselves living inside the RV. No hikes, very little sight seeing but watching way too much tv and movies. I thought that their downsizing was a bit extreme but they were very happy with their little teardrop. I own a Casita and I love it. It’s not big and fancy but it has everything we need and a king size bed!. I can see why you miss it. They are so easy! Come back to the Casita life!
Chris
King Size Bed!!! In a Casita! I must investigate this 🙂
as Yogi Berra would say…WHEN YOU COME TO A FORK IN THE ROAD TAKE IT….
ha……..
magnificent pictures this post….you are camping in a very nice place…wish I was
there 3 camps down from you….
chuck
Wow, Top 40!!!
The canyon is magnificent and very expansive. The rock formations & Aspens in Utah along with the Desert flowers of Arizona are my favorite still photos. I love the first picture of Bridget and Reggie. Looks like both have pep in their step today.
Hey Sue,
Thelma and Louise was filmed near Moab, at Arches and Canyonlands….so you are definitely in the area, your canyon shot looks a lot like the final scene.
Take care.
The ranger at Canyonlands showed us on a map where Thelma & Louise drove off into the canyon, and I believe it was at the Needles overlook! They brought the car back up with cables, he said. (Sounds like a big job!) We were there just last week but now am headed home to NC for a few days (then up to the nice cool Upper Peninsula of Mich. for the summer) Love that cute bright-eyed photo of Bridgie!!
I’ve had the privilege of visiting Canyonlands NP four times, the last was in August 2012 – number five coming later this year methinks.
The first time was in 1977 when the Navy saw fit to transfer me from a west coast ship to one in Mayport FL. As I traveled I chose to take the small roads and ended up spending the night at the Grandview Point overlook , nearly due north from where you were in this post.
Then, there were no paved roads. No cement curbs. Nothing to separate you from the cliffs but some strategically placed boulders. The visitors center was still in a (IIRC) single wide house trailer.
I spent that late summer night on my air mattress no more than 20′ from the edge, with my pickup and camper just a dozen more feet away.
Being on a Navy ship out in the Pacific I’d seen the Milky Way and comets. Yeah, yeah, so what.
But that night at Grandview Point was the very first time that I felt deep inside the majesty of the universe when I looked up at the points of light blazing from horizon to horizon.
I suppose I finally fell asleep in the wee hours, but I still remember the night sky some 39 years later.
One other memory of that special night.
Over to the south from Grandview Point are two overlooks – The Needles and Big Spring. I can’t say fer sure which one, but there was someone there flashing a light. Headlights on their truck methinks. I remember turning my pickup and flashing my lights back at them. We swapped light flashes for a few minutes before we got tired of the game.
At that moment I was confident that those folks and I were the only people in the whole world. Obviously not, but it sure seemed that way.
For me, Canyonlands is a magical place. Enjoy your time there!
Oh, if you like beer, there’s a brewery in Moab called ‘Moab Brewery’. Good snacks and good brews!
Such neat rock formations!
What a BIG SMILE Bridgee babee! Funny how Reg man always seems to photo bomb your shot!
Went back to look for the Class c question….couldn’t find it! Having a class c…is it noisy? As in things rattling around? No. We used shelf padding…between the pots and pans and lined the pantry.
AZJim, Detta, DeGin and everyone else in AZ ….take care in that heat.
Thanks but aren’t you guys here too?
Hi RVSue and Crew! I’ve missed you! I’ve been working to much. I’ve been reading your blogs but I’m way behind on comments. Sorry. We finally got our new to us (97) Bigfoot home. I’m so proud of Dana. He backed it right in the first try. Neither of us have ever backed a trailer. We have a one lane alley perpendicular to our 16′ gate leading to our back yard. We haven’t gone anywhere yet. We just used a 4 point plug to run tail lights to get it home. We still need to wire brakes n get stabilizing bars n stuff. We haven’t had time to work on it. Overall it’s in very good condition n doesn’t need much.
No doubt you’ve moved on by now but I love the greater Moab area.
As the owner of a Class C built on a Ford E450, I can expand on Marcia’s answer: Both Class Cs and As that run on gasoline engines are noisy. This is because these are big, powerful engines and are right in front of you and even stick partly between the driver and the passengers under that cover. I have to adjust the radio louder when I am on the highway and turn it down when I slow down for towns.
Class A “diesel-pushers” are much quieter because the engines are way in the back under the rear of the vehicle. Basically it is the difference between being 2′ from your engine and being 35+’ away from it! I love the engine because in four years and 80,000 miles, it has never caused me even a tiny bit of concern–just keeps pulling my 15,000 pounds up and down mountains.
My Class C is very comfortable to live in and drive. Because I am very short, I have a foam cushion I used as a booster seat because my driver’s seat is not adjustable up and down. I would LOVE to have an adjustable seat, but am stuck with what I have and manage with my booster seat, which originally was one of those wedge pillows for people who need to prop themselves up a little to sleep. A regular foam chunk hurt my legs on the edge, so I tried the wedge pillow and cut it to size and stuck it in a cover I pin to fit.
The one thing I DO like with my E450 cab and booster seat is how high up I sit. I can see over cars and pickup trucks and a lot of other things! Now on the rare times I drive a car, I feel like I am sitting on the pavement.
Judy, that ability to see out and over things is one of the pluses about driving a Class C. I can relate.
We just downsized from a 36 foot Diesel Pusher Class “A” that was very quiet, to a 25 foot Class “B+” some people call them class “C’s” its on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis with the V6 diesel engine. The greatest noise while driving is tire noise. Noise from items in the interior compartments can be eliminated by carefully stowing so that vibration is reduced. IE socks on glasses and mugs. The RV manufacturer may or may not build the unit without squeaks. Test drive as many different manufactures RV’s as you can before buying. This is our 6th RV and we like it as much as all the others. We found that as we aged, our style of RVing changed also. Fred
That’s ok, Sue. We’re used to you giving us cliffhangers. 😉
Error….I guess today it should be overlook hangers!
Dadgum auto-correct….I said Errrrr, not error!!
Getting hot fast. Bridget was the smart one to head back to the car. I’m sure you and the crew will be heading to higher areas soon. I get upset when I take time to take pictures and the haze doesn’t let the real colors come out.
My home and my car are one and the same and they are a Class C Ford 450 with a V10. It is noisy when driving? Yes, compared to driving a pickup towing a trailer. Yes, if you have a lot of loose items rattling around. I do not find that it is so noisy that it bothers me but it could be a problem for others. If you are expecting that the loudest noise you will hear is the radio then you will probably say that it is noisy and have to turn the radio up as Judy Fulltimer has said.
Hi folks,
My RV is a Class C, a Lazy Daze. It’s (one of) the best built Class Cs. They are built one at a time when an order is received. New ones can only be purchased directly from the factory. Nothing in my (bought used) 2005 23.5TK rattles (unless I leave a frying pan in the oven). Years ago I owned a Tioga, also a Class C, which definitely had its rattles and creaks. It just depends on the quality of the rig. Looking forward to getting back on the road, tumor and all?
Cheers,
Ilse
Ilse,
Good to see you hear. Sounds like you are doing well in spite of the tumor. Love your attitude. Take care of yourself.
Sue, you sure like the desert , dont you. Pretty there but I would have to be up in the High Mountains around now in an RV. Wishful thinking. I do plan to get an RV soon.
As to the Class C question. I lived for 2 years in a 20 foot class c and I sure dont remember noise being any kind of an issue while driving.
Altitude problem, remember? We will increase our altitude gradually.
Any overlook of Canyon Lands is spectacular. Grand View at Island In The Sky is beyond belief. I hope in your next blog you took the other fork in the road.
But no matter just enjoy it.
We have visited the Needles area of Canyonlands National Park, and it is fascinating! Did you pass the Six-Shooter Peaks and Mushroom Rocks? That overlook is amazing too. Glad you and the crew enjoyed your visit. I am looking forward to Part 2.
The scenery is beautiful, but as usual, Bridgee Babee and
Reggie Roo get the cuteness award. Enjoy the weekend.
Helpful information about the class c’s, thank you.
Gorgeous photos, Sue. I really love them all but there is something about that ribbon road leading off into seeming infinity that gets my sense of adventure going. I’ve read from other sources that southern Utah is exceptionally beautiful.
I have an oldie-goldie Class C Winnebago and I just love it for so many reasons. Yes, there can be a little bit of noise but I use earplugs that allow me to still hear, just filter out distracting sounds. I like the headroom of the Class C. Husband and I have visited friends who have a traditional tow-behind trailer, and we’d sleep in it whenever we’ve visited them in the past before we got our own RV. Hubby is about 6 feet and he said he felt claustrophobic in their RV but not in ours. I guess it has a higher headroom area in order to accommodate the cab-over area.
The thing I like best is the ability to use the interior of it while driving. If he’s driving we can fire up the generator and I can brew a pot of coffee if we want, forget about stopping and buying potentially stale coffee.
Also, I like the fact that it’s so contained, as in when I’m alone on a trip, which I’ve done many times before, I can pull over when I’m tired, already locked in, and no need to exit the vehicle if it’s after dark. I just make sure the dogs are walked right before dark before I’m ready to call it quits.
We passed thru Needles a month ago on our cross the US trip. U are right, awesome view of the canyon just dropping away abruptly? Currently in DC area,.
Hi, Ken,
Good to hear from you again! The first and last time you wrote you were in Seattle and reported my blog was mentioned at an RV show. I think you were planning your cross-country trip at that time. I’m happy you are still reading my blog.
Awesome pictures. I got a little dizzy just looking at that vast canyon. The last pic of Bridget really shows her inner puppy. Nice to see her looking so frisky, especially on a hot day. Take care. Looking forward to installment #2.
Hi Sue,
I have another question for you ? What cards do you use….. like Good Sam, or America the beautiful.. Or do you use a pass card for each State ? Scott
I use the senior discount pass that costs $10 and lasts a lifetime, takes 50% off public campground fees. It’s called America the Beautiful or Golden Age card. I have a Good Sam card but since we rarely camp in RV parks, I haven’t used it much. I think I used it one time in five years.
Thanks again Sue…. Your the best.
🙂
AWESOME!!!