The Road to Moab
Another
year, another vacation out west with my niece
Jessica and her husband Marc. This year's adventure begins in
Salt Lake City, where we met after our respective flights from
Cleveland and Chicago, rented a bland Ford Explorer
and headed off (as per tradition) for the nearest Walgreens
to stock up on ice, Coke, water, chocolate and munchies.
Jessica and her husband Marc. This year's adventure begins in
Salt Lake City, where we met after our respective flights from
Cleveland and Chicago, rented a bland Ford Explorer
and headed off (as per tradition) for the nearest Walgreens
to stock up on ice, Coke, water, chocolate and munchies.
Prior to my flight to Salt Lake City, I do a final check on "The Beast,"
a Fuji G-617 medium format panoramic camera. This thing shoots
HUGE negatives, 6cm by 17cm, four shots on a roll of 120 or eight
shots on a roll of 220. Also snugly nestled in my 40 pound schlepping
bag is my motordriven Nikon F3, used for shooting transparencies.
The bulk of my shooting, however, would be on a 2 megapixel Nikon
(for which I will forever regret due to the small file size of such an image.)
On the road to Moab.
I-70 cuts across Utah through the San Rafael Swell.
There are numerous scenic pulloffs along this route.
Jessica and Marc absorb the scenery.
After checking in at the lovely Ramada Inn in Moab,
we headed into Arches National Park for some
sunset photography. The actual full moon would be
out tomorrow, but a 99% full moon will do the trick.
Sunlight on the sandstone formations called Park Avenue.
The rocks are smaller than they look.
I've had pretty good luck photographing this rock over the years.
After a hard day of driving and shooting, we settled in at the Moab Brewery
for a fine Dead Horse Ale. Afterwards, we would retire to our room, with its
droning air conditioner, scratchy sheets and leftover food in the 'fridge. (Did
I mention that when we first were issued room keys,we were put in a room
that was already occupied -- the guy in his underwear sitting on the bed when
I keyed in was a little surprised to see me. They found us another room.)
When staying in Moab, avoid the Ramada Inn.
Next...in quest of Arches