Mr B and I have done some wonderful, exciting activities in our 26 years together. We had a great bikers trip up to Scotland when Ben was 14 or so, and we stayed at an estate where we did archery, shotgun shooting, quad-biking and more. We enjoy doing this kind of thing, and so for today I had booked an off-road 4×4 self-driving trip, with a guide, doing a trail called “Hells Revenge”.
Satan himself could not have devised a more challenging and fun activity. The tour company provided a lovely guide – Jesse Rainbow – and a fleet of off-road vehicles. These were Kawasaki Teryx S4s (in case you wanted to know), and each party got to drive their own. Aside from Jesse in his lead vehicle, there were 3 other couples driving their own 4×4. Ben does not have a license, so I drove ours for the full tour.
We started with a minimal safety brief, then hopped into our vehicles, and drove through town, and up to the trail head – about 10 minutes. The vehicles are automatic, and have a high, ow, reverse and 2wd or 4wd options. These things are incredible. We drove up, down, around and across rock so steep I would hesitate to walk them – but somehow these machines just drove the route with ease.
We were on the trail about 3 hours. The trail consisted of some sandy, rocky road – but mostly of large sheer rock formations that we drove on. We were never quite vertical – though it often felt like that – but we drove in places that mountains goats would think twice about
We stopped a few times to look at the scenery, or to learn something interesting about the trail from our guide. There were one or two features/obstacles that we did not attempt, but did stop to check out. The escalator, the devils hot-tub, the washing machine were a few of these – it is hard to imagine that a vehicle of any sort could negotiate these. But they do.
We got back in to town around 11am. We walked back to the hotel, saddled up the bike and road south for a few miles to a restaurant called Hidden Cuisine. Run by a wonderful South African lady from Cape Town, we had visited last year when my parents were with us, and Zinzi – the owner – had generously given us some of her time. We talked about lots of things with her, including my biltong recipe.
Anyway, after we ordered out lunch, I asked if Zinzi had a couple of minute to come say hi. She turned up as we were finishing our meal. She fully remember meeting us, which is amazing. If you think of any restaurant, and how many patrons come through daily, then remember we were only ever there once, you would not expect a host to remember you. But she totally did, pointing to the table where we had sat with mom and dad.
I had brought Zinzi a piece of my biltong, and she was very thrilled. I don;t imagine Moab is filled with many South Africans, or biltong – hopefully she enjoyed it.
After lunch, it was time to go to Arches National Park. My 3rd or 4th visit, it was just as exciting as the first time. Sharing the experience with B was lovely – he really appreciates the experience and beauty of nature. A major park dotted with incredible rock formations, including a number of arches that have formed over the millennia from the weathering effect. We drive through the park, stopping here and there to marvel at he scenery, or to hike to a viewpoint or particular arch or other formation.
