MONDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2025

(Moab, UT)

It was sort of a leisurely start, except I awoke at 6am. Andrew was awake not long after 7am, so we opened the curtains, watched the sunrise, made coffee, and thought about going to breakfast. Obviously, at some point, thinking translated into action, and we actually went to breakfast.

Our next activity was a leisurely stroll up and down Main Street, browsing the shops. We didn’t purchase anything, although I did check out the ‘Crocheting the National Parks’ book in the bookstore. The crystal shop that has been closed since we first came here twenty years ago is still there, and still closed. We wandered around the block and admired the cottonwood trees alongside Mill Creek.

Next stop was Gearheads, where Andrew found a new hat (or two) and his annual new pair of sunglasses, then on to City Market.

After that it was time for lunch at Gloria’s. We sat outside on the patio, me in a sleeveless top. What’s the date again? Oh yes. Mid-November… (mind you, apparently a change in the weather is coming). I noticed that the Christmas decorations have started appearing on Main Street, ready for the Christmas light parade.

Suitably restored, at about 1pm (which was right on my imaginary schedule) we set off for Canyonlands. Again. No, we’re not bored of it yet!

After a brief pit stop at the visitor centre we drove on to the trailhead for the Murphy Overlook Trail. (It is also the trailhead for the Murphy Hogback Trail, which we have done twice when younger and/or crazier, but which descends 1500 feet from the canyon rim and unsurprisingly requires you to also ascend back up, so…not today). 

The trail crosses the sandy plateau as it extends westward and gently downwards towards the canyon rim. The trail is bounded near the start by sand banks, out of which suddenly ran a mouse. It took less than two seconds to run out of a hole, along the trail, and disappear into a different hole, so I didn’t get its photo. I had wondered if the holes were homes for mice (there were similar holes along the sandy meadow of Lathrop Trail), and it seems this is now confirmed. There are nine species of rodent in Canyonlands, but apart from telling you it was pale grey, I don’t (yet) know which it was. Suggestions welcome!

We soon passed a couple coming the other way, but after that we didn’t see anyone. We followed the trail through pinyon and juniper, until the canyon views started appearing. 

The trail sign said it was 1.4 miles to the end, and so it was that, at 1.75 miles, we reached the viewpoint (I’m getting very suspicious of any quoted distance!). There was a raven sat on the tree at the very end. He called to us, although I’m not sure sure what he was saying. Eventually he decided to soar above the canyon and leave the view to us. And it is a magnificent view. The sun was getting lower, and so part of the canyon looked hazier, but the cliffs were turning a more orange colour in the light. We could see so many features: Abajo mountains, Grand View trail end, Junction Butte, the White Rim and its road  Murphy Hogback, the Henry mountains, Cleopatra’s Chair, the Green River… and just around the corner was Turk’s Head, the Candlestick, and views to the Orange cliffs. 

After a while we had to return, although it was hard to leave. We had another look at the Green River, before heading back across the meadow. It was there that we spotted three mule deer, grazing and eating tree leaves. We stopped for a while watching them, although they occasionally stopped to watch us, too. 

As we completed the walk we passed one other person heading the other way. It is a beautiful trail, and we were so lucky to have it to ourselves for several hours. The setting sun turned the sand, the bushes and trees a golden colour as we returned to the car.

We started our return to Moab, but I asked Andrew to stop briefly at the Monitor and Merrimack viewpoint at the light was an amazing couple. 

Then it was back to the hotel, quick showers and out for dinner. Just as we were about to leave the room, I got a notification that the space station was passing overhead in a few minutes. We headed outside, stared in the right direction and, sure enough, there it was, sailing across the night sky. I’ve waved at the astronauts, we watched until it disappeared, and then we went for dinner.

Tonight we went to Spoke, which previously had the best coleslaw I’d ever eaten. I had a side order tonight and can confirm it is still just as good.

And that’s it for Moab. We both feel the holiday is whizzing past and we seem to have only just arrived. 

Today’s video is here: https://vimeo.com/1135621091