Weekend Highlights

We headed down to the San Rafael Swell this weekend and Goblin Valley state park. I had been here before a few times and have always wanted my kids to get to see it. I saw something this weekend I'd never seen before - a stream running down the middle of Goblin Valley. This is a place you almost have to see to believe. A valley a mile wide and two miles long full of little mushroom shaped rocks. Normally it's really hot and dry here. There is a shade tree or a drop of water for miles. It rained pretty much most of the weekend. We stayed at camp until almost 1:00 in the afternoon Sat and finally figured if the kids were going to see it, it would have to be in the rain. It ended up being so much fun. Lots of mud, but so much fun.
The next morning, the skies were blue for as far as we could see. We decided to chance it and head up a slot canyon. They are dangerous in rain due to flash floods, but it really didn't look like anything menacing on the horizon. We hiked for two hours, had lunch, hiked out and made it to camp about half an hour before a storm with lightening and thunder rolled in. I'm so glad we got to do it. I really wanted the kids to experience it and we timed it perfectly!
The thunderstorms made for some awesome lighting conditions. The Butte far off in the distance is about where the entrance to the park is.

The clouds also created awesome sunsets and rainbows.

I think the flowers were enjoying the rain.

The neatest thing is that there is nothing for miles. We did meet one other family with kids down the dirt road we camped along and one other set of campers farther than them, but other than that, nothing. The dog got to be off leash and run free and we were able to let the kids roam the countryside literally with reckless abandon and just be kids. Their favorite pastime was sliding down the dirt hills.