La Sal Traverse: Road to Moab

October 12, 2015

Day 6

Castle Valley as seen from Kokopelli Trail.

After a full night's rest I still wasn't up for walking much, and so dropping into a canyon was out of the question. The La Sal Loop road wasn't far away and so we would hitch back to Moab from there. Freebird carried my pack while I used a stick to walk down the path. We were back in the desert at 8500' elevation and the sun and warmth felt wonderful. About 50+ mountain bikers raced past us that morning. Often we had to frantically jump out of the way with little warning of their approach. At the road Alan and Eileen stopped for us. Eileen left to bike with friends while Alan drove us down Kokopelli Trail, a 4WD road, to Sand Flats Road. He lent me a trekking pole to replace my walking stick, and then his three dogs - Rex, Keko, and Marlee - joyously played with the stick. What started as possibly a short hitch turned into an adventure with them for several hours. Alan stopped multiple times to hike while I relaxed in the sun or shade. We drove down Sand Flats Rd with incredible views of Burkholder Draw, Rill Canyon, Negro Bill Canyon, hoodoos, slot canyons, and other formations. KZMU was playing quite the eclectic selection as usual, and Alan seemed to know every artist. 

Rex.

The northern La Sals.

An old car along the Kokopelli Trail.

Marlee.

Along Sand Flats Road.

Ponderosa pine.

Keko.

Porcupine Rim and Castle Valley.

Soon the road was winding down into Moab while offering views back to the mountains from where we had come far the past 6 days. Inside the city limits, Alan swept us away to his house to show us around. He and Eileen live in Salt Lake City but return to Moab every few months for vacation and hope to retire here soon. The house is adorned with all sorts of random knick-knacks and lawn ornaments, including an abstract juniper Kokopelli sculpture in the front yard. Alan and Eileen no doubt fit in with the crazy Moabites! As we explored the yard, a woman drove a dirt bike up and down their road with a baby on her lap. They sure teach them young here! Eileen returned with friends as we were about to leave and Alan yelled sarcastically, "Thanks for bringing my wife back!" Alan drove us back to Pete's and got to meet some more of the weird locals. He invited Freebird, Pete, and I to dinner sometime, an invitation which we would accept 2 days later.

There were a few surprises awaiting me in my room. Pete had decorated my windowsill with balloons and even gave me a rainbow-colored bowl! Freebird treated me to dinner and of course, our favorite, Tillamook ice cream. Connie, Dan, and Pete stayed up late that night with us, filling the house with love, stories, and laughter. We took much-needed, much-appreciated hot showers and slept in a warm house that night.