2014_05_11

annual rain moab  It normally doesn't rain much in Moab in May, or snow at all. camp snow  Day breaks at the campsite. Snow? Sure, why not. It was pretty amazing that the EZ UP survived the night. day rain moab  So, yeah, almost three times the normal monthly rainfall dumped on us in one night. folderimage folderthumb IMG 3744  Day breaks at the campsite. Snow? Sure, why not.
IMG 3745  It was pretty amazing that the EZ UP survived the night. IMG 3746  Dawn. IMG 3747  Cold weather gear. Most of us didn't bring enough of it. IMG 3748  Winners, worst tent sites. IMG 3750  This man did not get flooded out of his tent. IMG 3752  More than enough rain to overflow this bowl.
IMG 3753  We move to a new campsite. Things need to dry out some more before we can ride, you think? IMG 3754  Knobbies shed mud better than trials tires in our little test here. IMG 3755  The parking lot. IMG 3756  The old neighborhood. IMG 3757  The new neighborhood, across the road. IMG 3759  We'll have a view when the clouds clear out.
IMG 3760  "Adventure is just discomfort recounted at leisure." This was the refrain. IMG 3761  Everyone picks high ground now. The new hazard to avoid is the snorers. IMG 3763 IMG 3766 IMG 3767 IMG 3768  Note the rocks under the sidestands. Those help keep the soft ground from making your bike tip over, which would then allow all the gas in the tank to run out of the overflow line. Ask the guy who wondered why his bike wouldn't start when he was certain the 4.5 gallon tank had just been filled for the trip.
IMG 3769  Showing up with a non-starter. That's a party foul. IMG 3770 IMG 3771  Just to reinforce the idea about the mud. IMG 3772  Snowing again? Good times. IMG 3773  Can't ride. Let's drive into town. IMG 3774  Probably not a sight many people get to see.
IMG 3775  Hot food. Many calories. Things we are thankful for. Not to be all hippy dippy and stuff. IMG 3776  After lunch we head to Arches. IMG 3777 IMG 3778  There were four photographers in the car. IMG 3779 IMG 3780
IMG 3781 IMG 3782 IMG 3785 IMG 3788 IMG 3789 IMG 3790
IMG 3791 IMG 3792 IMG 3793  Muddy trails calls for a tourist day at Arches. IMG 3794 IMG 3795 IMG 3796
IMG 3797 IMG 3798 IMG 3801 IMG 3802 IMG 3803 IMG 3804  See the face in the freestanding tower of rock left of the tree?
IMG 3806 IMG 3807 IMG 3808 IMG 3810  Wildflowers would be a main them of this trip with the rain. IMG 3812 IMG 3814
IMG 3815 IMG 3816 IMG 3817  Keith checks Facebook in the middle of one of the natural wonders of the world. Nick doesn't mind because he's happy with his new fleece. IMG 3819  It that thing were near our campsite it wouldn't last a day. IMG 3820 IMG 3821
IMG 3823  Things are starting to dry out. IMG 3824 IMG 3825  It was cold the first few nights in camp. A big fire was nice. IMG 3826 lifeboat