Moab 2017!

This year was the 5th year I've been part of the Moab for Memorial friends trip.  I decided to invite Uncle John to join me this year since I had my cabin to myself and he had no plans.  This year we had 54 people coming.

Tiffany and Philip

John  met me and we headed down to Moab.  I have a routine where we stop for lunch at Big Dons Pizza in Price.  I'm lucky in that John really enjoyed it.  We listened to Pandora stations I made based on John's preference.  Before we knew it, we were pulling into Moab at 3:00.  Several people were there before us and unpacked the car lickity split and we got settled in.  John got busy meeting everyone and finding his way through so many new people.  We sat out front of our cabin and visited and waited for Philip and Tiffany to get there.  They both ended up working so they couldn't come with us.  I don't like to drink until they are there just in case they have road trouble.  Wasn't too long before they pulled in too.  Now the weekend could begin.  John and I decided to have our left over pizza and salad for dinner since there was so much.

Our home for the holiday weekend

Saturday, we got up for a great group breakfast. A bunch of the guys go golfing.  John decided to join the non-golfers at the Moab arts festival.  I was planning to stay around camp and read but after talking to Philip and Tiffany about how nice it is to drive up the Colorado river, I decided to do that as well. So we made sandwiches and hit the road.  It was such a beautiful and day I really enjoyed being out in such beauty.  Before I knew it, I was at the Moab winery.  I decided to go in and do a tasting (it is $1 for 3 tastes) and take some photos.  I found a scenic place to stop and enjoy my picnic before heading back to camp.  I wasn't there long before John called and said he was having a great time and not to worry about him.  We had a delicious group dinner of sloppy joes and jerk chicken.  That night, everyone seemed in the mood to party.  But I wanted to drink closer to our cabin so we set up on our picnic table.  Philip and Tiffany came over to hang out with us.  John and I were enjoying tequila and shooting the breeze.  People would come by and have a shot with us.  Kimberlee, Ella, and Bridger came over with some popcorn and joined us and before you knew it, we ran out of tequila in our bottle.  But never fear, John and I came prepared so out came my chilled Hornitos.  We laughed so hard my sides hurt.  We killed our tequila and  were ready to stumbled to bed.  We decided to  leave our party remnants out so people could see what they missed.  I did share my classic hang over cure.  It is a large glass of water, bread (plain) and 2 Motrin.  So I broke out our sandwich buns and we all sat around eating buns and laughing before we parted.  It really was hilarious.

Ready for my drive

Tasting at the winery

Don't forget the reason for the Memorial weekend

Check out this cool truck along the Colorado.

Nighttime hi jinx

I think I was first one up out of the group on Sunday. Surprisingly feeling way better than I should have.  Everyone teased us about our left over drunken display.  I snickered to myself.  I cleaned it up about the time John was up.  Most the group went 4 wheeling for the day but those left behind decided to do a pot luck breakfast.  So I had cantaloupe and strawberries to cut up.  Philip and Tiffany came to help.  And we headed over for a delicious breakfast.  I did make some pretty good Bloody Mary's that we all swore we couldn't begin to drink but sure enough we did.  Talk about "hair of the dog".  John decided to hang around camp and go for a swim and nap.  I was highly motivated to go into Arches for just a bit.  Philip and Tiffany planned to swim too.

Breakfast with Stacy, Ella, and Bridger

Kimberlee and I.  we've been friends for over 20 years.

Cousin Ryan and Heather (Dad's side of the family) ready for a day of 4 wheeling

They gave Stacy the left over orange juice bottle.
She misunderstood and thought they wanted the left over
cantaloupe in it so she patiently put it in one piece at a time.
Everyone teased her and she blamed it on being blond.
She is so cute.  At least it was easy to store!

I drover to Arches.  While it wasn't as crowded as I've seen, it was 45 minutes wait to get in the park.  Once inside, it was crowded too.  All the popular stops were full of cars and there was limited places to stop.  On the sides of the roads, they had dug deep ditches so you couldn't just pull over for a photo.  It was crazy.  I even got in a "discussion" with a park ranger in the Windows parking lot.  But I got what I came for and that was a nice drive, sunshine, and gorgeous scenery.  But after Windows, I decided that was enough and headed back to camp.  We had decided to head to Pasta Jays for a late lunch.  Pasta Jays is a great Italian restaurant in Moab.  They have THE BEST marinara and different items.  And the servings are huge.  I was in a food coma so John and I headed back to camp to relax (nap) before it was my group's turn to make group dinner.

Is it just me?  This looks like circus elephants to me.

We were invited to join the gang for watermelon and cantaloupe cocktails before dinner.  We planned a pretty easy dinner so we got to relax.  We set up in about 20 minutes and called everyone to dinner.  Everyone wanted to party again but I wasn't sure I was into it again for a 3rd night in a row.  John decided to go for a walk up the Colorado river.  I did go visit with everyone.  Many were 3 sheets to the wind.  I don't think they even noticed I wasn't drinking much.  It was fun to talk to everyone though.

Some of the Sunday night gang.

My sweetie

Ella and me.  We've become close over the years.  She
is Kimberlee's daughter.  We love laughing together.

The Fidelity ladies.  It was our working at Fidelity that brought
 this whole thing together.  These are my very best friends.
Me, Stacy, Julie, Kimberlee, and Lesley.  We've had babies together,
marriages, divorces, and kids moving out.  That is 20 years of friendship that
I cherish very much.

Monday we woke up and it was time to pack up and leave.  Several people stay until Tuesday but alas, we were scheduled to leave.  Sweet Philip came and packed my entire car for me.  We pulled out about 10:30.  We agreed to meet Philip and Tiffany in Price at Grogg's.  It is a funny bar/restaurant that has THE BEST burgers.  We did run into some pretty intense traffic on the way home coming through the canyon.  But we made it home about 4:00.  I unpacked the car on the patio and John headed home.

We had so much fun.  I really do love this tradition with these people.  It has become like family.  It really is 60 of my closest friends. Can't wait to go again next year.  Everyone really enjoyed Uncle John.  They begged me to bring him back next year.  We seem to travel together very well.

I did have some problems with getting around.  I notice a big difference in my mobility between this year and last.  It is frustrating.  But I used my cane loud and proud on the gravel and was able to get where I wanted to go and do what I wanted to do.  It is a little embarrassing but I am trying to stay focused on what I still CAN do.  And I can kick the ass out of Moab from the car!  It is nice to get away and recharge.

I am home for most the summer.  Next trip comes in September.  I have a busy Fall planned.