May 9, "Butts" and Dead Horse Point

Rain in the morning, sun by late morning.

Headed to Dead Horse Point Park after a very good breakfast at our B&B in Moab (Cali Cochitta), which we enjoyed in the company of Asa & Robyn (Kathi's nephew & his wife) who dropped in on their way from Colorado to points west. A discussion came up over the breakfast table re butts or buttes. “Butts” gets a lot of laughs, but it’s really “buttes” –“an isolated hill or mountain rising abruptly above the surrounding landscape.” There are lots of those in the 4 Corners area. Butts too, but it’s not a polite topic.

Dead Horse PP is a Utah State Park which is very close to Canyonlands National Park and shares the same spectacular 180 degree view of the (now snow covered) La Sal mountains in the East, over the winding Colorado River some 2,000 feet below, an endless stretch of canyons to the South, the far off Henry Mountains to the SW, and possibly the crags of Capital Reef to the West. Wow!

We took a pleasant 4 mi. rim hike, constantly stopped by the truly awesome nature of the views, or maybe a beautiful wild flower or a particularly interesting rock formation (not tired of those rocks yet). We found a place for lunch under the shade of a juniper tree. And, at the end of the hike - paradise: an iced mocha and 3 day old cherry pie!

this may be wild alyssum

We have relaxed tonight at the B&B, enjoying more leftovers and a glass of wine outdoors, under the “ramada” (a roofed shelter without sides), enjoying the late afternoon bird sounds and the cooling evening. I’m taking a liking to this life style!