We hadn't planned to go to Goblin Valley this year but we came up with the idea last minute since it would work with the school schedule, my work ending and Marshall being able to miss a few days of work. We planned it the week of my birthday which made celebrating my birthday so much better. Birthdays aren't very exciting as an adult and when you are at home and doing the same mundane routine it just feels like another day. When you are camping you don't even have to do anything extra special because it is already good enough just not be home.
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| Lynnlee wrote me a birthday message in the sand. |
We left the night before my birthday and stopped in Spanish Fork for dinner. Marshall and I ordered Zupas. They only had a drive through open and it wasn't big enough for the car and trailer. So I had to stand in line while everyone else was in the car. I laugh thinking that I've watched YouTubers in the past do this for fun and to be crazy. Now it's the norm and no one even blinks an eye. The embarrassing part was that I was dressed in black capris and a gray shirt which is the exact uniform color for the Zupas workers. I was a little worried cars would think I was standing their to take their order but thankfully that didn't happen. Now I know, never wear that to Zupas, kind of like not wearing a red shirt to Target or a green shirt to Dollar Tree, blue shirt to Walmart....now I will add Zupas to that list.
We got to "our"campsite right as it was getting dark. We were sad to see that the spot was taken. The camping spot is the best kept secret of Goblin Valley area. It's one of the only places with shade from a large tree, and a river. It can't be reserved because it's on BLM land. We just always keep our fingers crossed that it will be open when we go. It wasn't so we parked at the camp site next to it. Kaden was so excited to find frogs that we had to find some before bed.
In the morning the spot was open so we were so happy and moved over to it. The large tree had the perfect branch to hang a rope for a swing. Marshall made a pretty good swing with two strands of para-cord and two sticks.
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| View of our camping spot in the background |
We went to Goblin Valley around ten that morning. There is no cell service except in the parking lot of Goblin Valley. It was fun to get some birthday texts and emails when we pulled into the parking lot. We hiked around together until lunch time. We found some fun caves in the Goblin's Lair. Lynnlee and Sienna had fun finding little nooks to play pretend restaurant.
We spent lunch time and the hottest part of the day at the trailer. I got to take a nap which is pretty much the best birthday present.
After the kids were so hot that they decided to play in the water. The river or ditch next to the campsite opened up and made a nice little swimming hole. The only downside was the water temperature. It was so cold that no one wanted to get in past their knees. First Marshall offered $5 to the first to go in and swim to the other side and back. Then I said I would buy a Texas donut for anyone who went in all the way. They were all excited about that deal. The funny part was that I didn't pack swimsuits because I didn't remember this the river/ditch being anything deep enough to swim in. Kaden was the first to go all the way under. Lynnlee went in her clothes and swam across to the other side first. Then she went all the way under. Taggart was the next to go in all the way. Then James finally did it. Sienna went in to her ears but wouldn't go any farther. So funny how close she came to earning the reward but couldn't fully do it. Lynnlee even went back in with her and coached her to go in as much as she could. She's a good sister! I watched comfortably from the side. Marshall went in last but he had a swimsuit so it wasn't as bad.
After dinner we went back to Goblin Valley and played tag, explored the south end of the Lair and then finished with a few rounds of Sardines. It was so fun!
We had birthday cake when we got back.
The frogs came out each night. So that night Marshall and Kaden caught five frogs and put them in the cake container that we no longer needed. I was thinking, what are we doing with all of these frogs? It's fun that they can find them but do we really need to keep catching them? Then Marshall had a great idea to have a race. Each kid picked a frog. We put them at the starting line and then watched to see who could make it to the cake container first. Lynnlee named her frog Jumper. Sienna named her frog Slower. James named his Elmo. Taggart named his frog Toadie. They went in all directions and mass chaos broke out. Only Marshall and Kaden would touch them so each kid was shrieking and calling for help to get their frog back to the arena. It was dark at this point too so we had a bunch of flashlights lighting the race. It was very entertaining and fun. In the end Sienna's frog won. All of the frogs were taken back to the water after and no frogs were hurt during the event.
Friday I woke up not feeling well. I think it was self inflicted though. The night before I put a flavor packet in my water which in the past usually gives me a headache. I was sick of plain water though and so I gave in and had some. I regretted it because I was sick during the morning. Thankfully I slept it off by lunch time. I was so grateful to feel better.
That morning Marshall took Kaden fishing.
Kaden caught a snake that was about four feet long. All of the kids we screaming and jumping. Kaden was in his element. He was entertained dragging it around, watching it swim and then he let it go. James caught a lizard but it was a big one and when he grabbed it's sides he got bit. He had two teeth marks in his finger and it drew some blood. He was happy to find the little lizards after that.
Around 3:00 that afternoon we went hiking to Little Wild Horse Canyon. It was hot and not a cloud in the sky but the sun had dropped enough that we had shade in the canyon. We hiked farther up the canyon than last time when we went a few years ago but didn't do the complete loop. Hopefully next time everyone will be old enough to hike the whole loop. The slot canyons were beautiful. There was a lot of sand at the stopping point and the kids had fun playing pretend stores and they each sold different things made out of sand.
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| Where's Marshall? part 1 |
On the way back Lynnlee and Sienna had to go to the bathroom. We found a place where the canyon opened up. I hiked with them up and away from the trail so no one could see them. Just when they were about to go a drone came up flying in that same area. Some hiker had stopped on the trail below and decided to fly his drone at the exact time.
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| Where's Marshall? part 2 |
That night we made a camp fire and made s'mores. It was a little chilly so the fire felt so good. The tumble weeds crackled like fireworks so the kids had fun finding tumble weeds to burn.
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| Our camp is in the back ground by the only large tree in site. |
Saturday we got up at 8:00 and packed everything up. Then we drove to Green River to fuel up and James had a team meeting with his soccer team and new coach. After not having cell service for a few days it was nice to have it again and catch up on messages.
Then we went to Moab. The plan was to mountain bike and play on the huge sand hill. We got to the mountain bike trail and got everyone ready. Then we all went to the map to make a plan. We decided a would do a green level trail with Lynnlee, Taggart and Sienna. Marshall would take Kaden and James on a blue level. We split and only five minutes had passed when Marshall called to say Kaden was scraped up and bruised pretty good. He flew off his bike and he had scrapes on his right arm and leg as well as down his right side of his chest. So he came back and we hung out in the trailer while Marshall and James did a quick ride. We were so grateful Kaden wasn't hurt worse!
We went to the sand hill after. It was so hot! The sand literally burned your feet. We each ran up a few times but ended up not staying long. We headed back home and got back home by 7:00. We had time to get all clean up before bedtime.
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| James somersaulted down the whole hill. |
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| View from the top |
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| Entry to Arches National Park is across the street. Too bad it was closed. |
