Daydreaming a Roadtrip to Moab, the Slickrock Trail, Porcupine Rim, Arches, Canyonlands & Mexican Hat

This morning I found myself with no one to talk to, so, I asked myself, of the places I have enjoyed Roadtripping to, where would I go right now, if I could teleport myself to a destination.

Moab was my answer.

In the picture that is me on the left, Big Ed on the right, in the area of the Slickrock Trail.

Moab appeals to me for several reasons. One being the setting. Redrock canyon walls hover over Moab.

I don't know what it is about redrock, but just seeing it makes me very happy.

Moab at night is fun. There are a lot of shops to explore. And very good restaurants. And a brew pub, or two.

Unlike some tourist attractions, casinos in Reno and Las Vegas come to mind, Moab attracts a very healthy bunch of tourists. From all over the world people come to Moab to ride the world famous bike trails, like the Slickrock Trail and Porcupine Rim Trail.

I have mountain biked both the Slickrock Trail and Porcupine Rim Trail. Porcupine Rim Trail is the hardest I have ever biked. Exhausting. Incredible. But exhausting.

I am not alone in appreciating the charms of Moab. I read a book called Ghostrider by Neal Peart of the Canadian rock band, Rush. He waxed poetic about Moab being one of those rare tourist towns that you can't help but love.

The entry to Arches National Park is just a short distance north of Moab, Canyonlands National Park's Islands in the Sky district is a short distance further. A little further, to the south, is my favorite place to stay in Utah, the San Juan Inn in Mexican Hat. From Mexican Hat it is a short distance further south, to Arizona and Monument Valley. The treacherous Moki Dugway is just a short distance north and west of Mexican Hat.

In other words, Moab is close to a lot of my favorite places on the planet.

The San Juan Inn in Mexican Hat

The first time I saw the San Juan Inn I had driven across Arizona's Painted Desert to Monument Valley. At one point, while in the Monument Valley zone, I saw a view that seemed instantly familiar. I stopped my van and got out the van's manual. The picture on the cover of the manual was the scene I was looking at live.

That same scene is the Durango Roadtripping image that I've now made into the logo of this blog.

After driving through Monument Valley the destination was Moab. It was New Year's Eve. Christmas had been spent at Disneyland. A few days after that it was Las Vegas, then Grand Canyon, with snow on the ground.

Leaving Monument Valley, heading north towards Moab, on Highway 163, soon after you leave the Navajo Nation there is a curve in the road, then the bridge and river you see in the picture come into view. And across the bridge on the other side of the San Juan River sits the San Juan Inn, nestled up against a redrock cliff. In that middle of winter, New Year's Eve light, the San Juan Inn looked very cool. I've always had a thing for redrock. It just makes me feel good. I've no idea why.

Even though it looked inviting, I drove on, later wondering why it did not occur to me to stay there for the night. It would be years before I finally got that chance. Both times that I've houseboated on Lake Powell, the day we get off the houseboat we head towards Mexican Hat and the San Juan Inn. Maybe it has something to do with having a nice bed after days on a houseboat makes me remember it so fondly.

The San Juan Inn has a restaurant called The Olde Bridge Grille. When I've been there it's run by a Navajo mom and daughter. And ran very well. They are very friendly. The daughter taught me some Navajo words that I've forgotten. I had several Navajo tacos during my stay. Among other things. The San Juan Inn also has a well-stocked Trading Post. Our first night there we sat on the balcony watching a lightning storm in the distance. A lightning storm in the high desert is an awesome thing to see.

An interesting little tidbit from the San Juan Inn's website...

We have the only Utah State restaurant liquor license within 100 miles in every direction. If you are dining you may choose from our wine, liquor or beer list to compliment your meal.

That should give you an idea of what an isolated location this is, which is part of the attraction, to me.