Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Moab UT

Found the park in Moab without a problem.  We got settled and the next morning left for the Arches National Park.  We were early enough that the traffic through the park wasn't terrible (yet).  There was a huge tour bus full of Japanese tourists going through the park when we did.  The driver felt he could stop in the middle of the road blocking traffic while his clients piled out for photos and hiking.  The nice park rangers "explained" to him that he could not do that.  On a side note, I have been surprised at the number of Japanese tourists who obviously have rented cars and are touring the country without a guide.  I wouldn't have expected that.

Arches is stunning scenery but for my money, Canyonlands National Park (20 miles away) is at least as beautiful and a whole lot less visited.  See photos of both parks below.

Arches

Arches

Note how small the hikers are in this photo.

Mary Anne at Canyonlands

The drop from where this kid is sitting to the bottom of the canyon is probably 800-1000 feet.  You will note the person who took the photos is 'way back from the edge...

We left Moab and stayed one night in Rawlins, WY, where the wind just about blew us away.  Glad we weren't staying any longer.  Next night in Casper, WY, and now we are in Sheridan, WY.  Friday we will be in Garryowen, MT, preparing to spend two days at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.  George Armstrong Custer is an interesting character...wrote my high school senior history paper on him and have been reading about him since.

More to come.