US trip -Orlando, Colorado and Utah- Part 4

On the 2nd day at Arches National Park, my thighs are aching from the fiery furnace hike and I had a hard time trying to walk down a flight of stairs. Nevertheless, I still have one more trail to complete and that's the delicate arch trail. Its a uphill 4.8km trail and took me about 2 hrs to get to the delicate arch. The thought of seeing the delicate arch kept me going despite my flu and aching muscles.

 Start of the trail to see the famous delicate arch

The initial start of the trail was still quite ok, no uphill climb yet.

 Start of the up rock climb...

Looking back where we started, the entrance is beyond the green patch of trees on the right...cant even see it anymore.

Taking a break on the way.

Finally, we get to see it! It looked strangely alone yet so majestic looking.

 Me standing below the giant arch!

Standing together with Hubby

Seeing the delicate arch in person was truly amazing as it looked just like what I have seen in the picture. I'm just struck by how alone it stood all by itself. Strangely, its not fenced up as I thought it will be coz its fragil and supposed to be the state symbol of Utah, yet anyone can just walk up to it, touch it or climb it.

The next day, we embarked on a 8hrs drive back to Denver. Since I was feeling a bit better, I helped Hubby with the first 1.5hr, stopping at Grand Junction for a bit of makan and shopping before passing the baton back to him.

2nd pit stop at a town called Aspen, a ski resort town for a coffee break.

 Goto have my green tea frappuccino, even though its freezing outside. Hubby having a white chocolate latte.

 First time I saw a real chimney inside starbucks.

The rest of the journey to Denver was through some snowy mountainous region.

Temperature dropped close to freezing as we drove higher up into the mountains. The pressure in my ears was killing me as we drove up and down mountains. Was night fall by the time we finally reached the hotel, Townhall suites by Marriot.

 Comes with a kitchen

Definitely one of the nicest hotel I had stayed during this trip.

 Dinner that night was at Pho 95. It was so crowded, that we need to queue all the way outside the door. But it was definitely worth it as the pho was SO delicious! Reminded me of the pho I ate when I was in D.C. It was so good that we went back again the next night and I ordered a even bigger bowl. It feels good to eat something hot when the temp outside was so cold.

Hubby ate chicken pho.

Next day, we went to this United Stated Mint tour which we signed up online months ago. Its a free tour that last about 1 hr. Hubby was very happy as he collects US coins. Sadly, no photography was allowed during the tour.

 Lunch at Smashburger. I had to try this and compare it with In and Out and Five Guys.

 Hubby ordered a spicy burger with onion rings.

 I ordered a mushroom swiss with the signature smash fries that is tossed in rosemary and olive oil. It taste v nice! The beef is juicy and soft.The service is excellent even though its fast food, as the staff will come and ask you how's the food when we are eating halfway and we dun even need to clear our trays. Overall, I like Smashburger very much and its definitely ranked top of In and Out and Five Guys.

 Saw this interesting scene while walking around, looks funny to me.

I guess the bear must have a chocolate overdose and collapsed outside the shop.

Din really get to see much of Denver as the weather was too cold for me.Mostly, I just rested in the hotel as my cough got worsened. I was glad to be back in Orlando for some warmer weather.

US trip -Orlando, Colorado and Utah- Part 3

The next day, we checked out of Best Western and left Alamosa for Moab, our next hotel destination which is 7 hrs drive away.

There was no elevator in the hotel and we had to carry 4 luggages plus a gallon of water and some food up the second floor. *_*

 A quick stop at Mesa Verde National Park.

Din managed to go for any trails as I was feeling too sick.

The visitor center at Mesa Verde NP, where we watched a video, bought some souvenirs and hubby stamped his NP passport.

Overlook from the visitor center

 Spotted a coyote on the road...

 Managed to get  close up pic on it.

 Crossing over from Colorado to Utah

Finally reached the hotel. Unfortunately, we happened to be staying on the 2nd floor and there was no elevator again...

 Entrance to Canyonlands National Park

Reminds me of Grand Canyon somehow...

Looks like a claw print to me...

 A natural bridge at the edge of a cliff

View through the bridge...

View of the salt dome.

Basically, Canyonlands National Park is divided into 3 sections, Island in the sky, The Needles and Maze. We only went to Island in the sky, coz the remaining 2 sections required a 4W drive vehicle as its a rugged terrain. Also, there are no direct roads to link the 3 sections. 

Check in holiday inn express at Green River. Luckily, there was an elevator.

We spent 2 days in Arches National Park. It was an amazing place, alien yet beautiful, like something out of this world. Hubby gets to spend his 34th birthday at Arches, its his birthday gift to himself.

Posing at the visitor center.

Me at the entrance of the park.

Posing together with the balanced rock

The double arch.

Fiery furnace from far

Close up view of fury furnace

Our ranger briefing us before starting the hike at the entrance of fury furnace. We actually signed up for this ranger led hike months ago online and its supposed to be a challenging 3 hr hike which required scaling, jumping over ledge, climbing..etc. I was very reluctant to go coz im still feeling very sick with running nose and cough but Im glad I managed to go through it in the end. Fury furnace is off limits to the public unless with a permit or guided with a ranger. There were a total of 25 people in this hike, some old folks, small kids and some carrying baby on their backs. So, if they can do it, so can I.

Its quite tough as there were no paved road or even a marked trail.

Concentrating hard not to lose my footing or else its a fractured ankle or leg for sure.

Wonder how fat people get through this...

 

 The lady in front of me in white was my motivation to move forward. We briefly bonded during this hike coz we had something in common, our husbands both loved National Parks and we can both understand that....I cant remember her name already but she told me both she and her husband were both architects and she is here doing this becoz of her husband. I am amazed by them and they inspired me to move on when I am on the verge of giving up. When I told her that I wished my parents can be as fit as you, she asked for my parents' age and then she said," I can be your grandparent already" She is a very nice lady and I wished I could get to know her more. I wondered if I can still do this hike when I am her age??

Luckily, the ranger stopped every now and then to point out and explained something to us.

This is called "the skull" It does look like one if you look at it upside down.

Walking back to the entrance. Yes! I completed this 3 hr hike and survived! The feeling afterwards is indescribable :) The saying " there's something magic about this place", feels totally true.