What a wonderful adventure! The excitement keeps on coming at every turn. SLPS had a terrific weekend attending the 4th Annual Moab Pride Festival Saturday and Sunday September 26-27, 2015. The group drove down Friday evening, staying at the Days Inn motel. After a mix up with only one king sized bed for three people, the readers finally got some rest for the big day in the morning. No time for the the Pre-Pride Party at the Rio bar that the pride crowds were attending.
Saturday morning September 26, breakfast was at the local Moab Diner, but due to the tourists, had to be taken to go. The festival started at 10:30 at Swanny City Park. The vendor booths were placed in a semi-circle around the stage in the park. Various vendors included Equality Utah, Human Rights Campaign, The National Forest Service, The Grand County Library, and the Trevor Project.
A visibility march took place at 11:30 am, marching a few blocks east, south, then west before circling back around to the park. Groups such as Utah Naturalists, Mormons Building Bridges, the Moab Valley Multicultural Center and the local fire department participated with their fire engine bringing up the rear.
The day was very hot, upwards of 95 degrees F. Various bands performed through the day, with drag shows scattered throughout the programming. SLPS’ booths was busy, bringing in many customers who had never had a reading. The Native American Club from Grand County School District sold Navajo tacos. The Moab Valley Multicultural Center sold tostadas, and the mobile vendor Quesadilla Mobilla sold various quesadillas.
Dinner was at the local restaurant La Hacienda. Enchiladas were in order, with shrimp and chicken. The guacamole had to be spiced up somewhat with pepper sauce, but the food was pretty good overall. The staff continued to check on us throughout the dinning experience and even gave us tips about the parks in the area.
The Pride after party was held at the Rio, same place as the Pre-Pride party next door to the park. Door fee was $15, which went to help fund the local youth center. Filled with Pride attendees, people drank, partied, and danced the warm night away.
Since SLPS was so successful, we decided to stay another night. Because of the trouble the night before, Days Inn gave us a discounted room, with two beds this time! Sunday morning, September 27 brought a chance to do some shopping and eat breakfast at Love Muffin Cafe, reinvesting the money from the community back into the local economy. The Love Muffin Cafe turned out to be the spot where all the hung over Post-Pride Parties came to get their fill of breakfast burritos, coffee, and muffins.
SLPS headed over to the mighty Colorado river to performing a morning ritual. After meditating and collecting some special water, a trip to Arches National Park was in order. The $10 fee was a good price to spend a day hiking and viewing sacred nature!
With many pictures, selfies, and group shots, SLPS did the whole circuit. Balanced rock, Double Arch, Skyline Arch, and Window Arch before heading off to hike to the famous Delicate Arch which is on the Utah license plates. The hike was arduous, in the heat of the day, with a difficult trail up a 45 degree slickrock face and uneven terrain, little shade was in sight, but the members of SLPS completed the trail in 2 1/2 hours with the help of a Venezuelan family after running out of water. We spent some time at the arch and headed back down the mainly descending trail. A drive back to Moab for water, food, and gas came as a relief.
Sucking down a gallon of water and eating pulled pork from Wendy’s, SLPS got back on the road for the return trip to Salt Lake City. The sun set over the western desert, illuminating the red rock, and we watched the supermoon eclipse on highway 6 outside of Price, UT. We pulled over to perform some quick eclipse full moon magic and take in the stunning view of the Milky Way Galaxy that can be seen in the wild desert away from the city lights.
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib arrived in Moab at 2am, Days Inn, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, l to r- Shy Fox, Piggy, and Muad’Dib having to share a king bed, Days Inn, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, breatkfast at Moab Diner, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, view from Moab Diner of a Mesa looking south west, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Moab Valley Cultural Center in visibility march, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, visibility march at main street and 100 N, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, visibility march heading west, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib and Mormons Building Bridges in visibility march, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, visibility march with Utah Naturalists in purple roabs, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, rainbow flag in visibility march, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, pride banner, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, SLPS booth with Shy Fox, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, National Forest Service, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, vendor booths looking north west, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, vendor booths looking west, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, vendor booths looking south west, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, vendor booths looking south east, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, vendor booths in a half circle looking north, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, stage, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Quesadilla Mobila food vendor, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Native American Club of Grand County School District, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, L to r- Piggy, Shy Fox, and Muad’Dib, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Kali Ma, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, view of the festival looking west, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, stage from wine and beer area, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, attendees listening to music, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Swanny City Park, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, after pride dinner- shrimp enchiladas at La Hacienda, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, after price dinner-restaurant menu, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, moonbeam flowers outside of La Hacienda, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Pride after party- electric car charging station at Best Western, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Pride after party at the Rio, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, dancers at the Pride after party, Saturday, September 26, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, the long motel corridor at Days Inn, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, view from Days Inn- Mesa looking south west, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, the Days Inn, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Love Muffin Cafe, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, La Poutine breakfeast the Love Muffin Cafe (potatoes, sausage gravy, two eggs, bacon, blue cheese, pico), Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, the mighty Colorado River, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib at the Colorado River, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, l to r-Muad’Dib, Shy Fox, and Piggy at the Colorado River, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Sunrise Ritual at the Colorado River, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, entrance to Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Arches National Park hoodoos, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Arches National Park view of entrance and road to Moab, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Arches National Park road down to entrance, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Arches National Park- La Sal moutain range in back, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Arches National Park-view of cliffs, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Petrified Sand Dunes sign, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Petrified Dunes with Le Sal Mountain Range in back, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Arches National Park outcropping, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib with cigar at the Ancient Sand Dunes, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Balanced Rock info, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib at Balanced rock, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Balanced Rock, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib balancing Balanced rock, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, mini balanced rocks at Balanced rock, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Piggy, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Skyline Arch info, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, sign, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, sign for trail, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib at Skyline Arch, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Double Arch trail passes, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, formation along Double Arch trail, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Double Arch trail, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib on Double Arch trail, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Queen Nefertiti Rock, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Courthouse, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Wolfe Ranch Info, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch info, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Wolfe Ranch, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Wolfe Ranch house, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch trail river, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch trail dried river bed, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Petroglyphs trail, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Petroglyphs, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch trail with Piggy and Shy Fox, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch trail slick rock face, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch trail slick rock at 45 degree angle, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch trail slick rock climb with view of park, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch trail mesas and peaks of La Sal Mountains, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch trail rock strata, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch trail rock layers,, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, bird perched at Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib at Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
Moab Pride 2015, Muad’Dib (l) and Piggy at Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Sunday, September 27, 2015, Moab, Utah
