TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2020 - ARCHES NATIONAL PARK AND SLICK ROCK RIDING

                                        Today we went to Arches National Park.  Oh my!!!!  This place entertained us until we could no longer walk because of shear exhaustion.  Due to Covid, all national parks have free entrance.  We have a free pass because Pepper is a 4th grader. I won't ever feel bad for paying a fee to get into the national parks because they are so amazing. Our first stop was at the gift shop to get our souvenirs.  Then we drove into  the park.  We arrived there at about 9am. I had pre-picked our stops so that we had a loose agenda.  The Balance Rock was our first hiking stop.  The hike was easy and short.  My kids climbed all over the place.  I heard other parents tell their kids to NOT do what my kids were doing. Believe me, I have heard that for 16 years :)    I just smiled and kept a close eye on Taj.  He is the one that I worry about.                                          

After balance rock, we found this amazing valley full of arches that no one was at. We parked and hiked in.  This was our favorite part of the day.  We found a really cool shaded arch that we sat under and ate lunch.  It was so entertaining to yell and hear the echo of our voices in the arch.  

Taj fell down like 50 times.  This is the extent of his injuries.

After lunch we went to the Window arches.  They were both stunning and astonishing.  All of us were so interested in how these arches were formed.  Apparently there are over 2,000 arches like these in this area alone.  Sheesh.  This place truly is one of God's coolest creations

Our last hike of the day was up to the Delicate Arch.  This hike was 2.7 miles one way.  Straight up hill the first way and straight down hill the second way. Taj did really well. When he got tired Graham put him on his shoulders and carried him up.  The arch was so worth the crazy hike.  We all agreed that we would do the hike again just to see the arch.

                After a long day of hiking, Scotty, Graham and Asher went on a bike ride.  They rode slick rock.  It took them about 3 1/2 hours and apparently it was super hard.  They all seemed to enjoy the ride. We all came home super tired from the day.  I think I got like 35,000 steps in today. Crazy!!!!!                                                        

Our backyard for this week!!!