A Different Lighting

Alright. 
Last adventure in Red Rock Country I'm going to tell. 
....For now. ^^;; lol. 

So on the last day of our trip, before we headed home, we drove into Arches National Park to go hike Delicate Arch.

It's usually a tradition with the family to go on this hike at Sunset and watch the colors of the arch change as the sun sets for the day. We then like to hike back to the car in the dark, after all the other people have gone away. 

But this time around...I kinda wanted to see the Arch under a different lighting. When the sun was in a different part of the sky, when the shadows were different.

-A factor into wanting to go at a different time was that the park actually closes early right now, just before sunset hits. -This is due to the park's roads being under construction this entire year and they close the park at night so construction crews could work without dealing with tourists. 

In any case.
I decided that it would be fun to hike Delicate Arch in the morning. Before we headed home.

And surprisingly....it was a lot busier than I expected it to be for a weekday morning. I thought the crowds would be less present...you know because it was a) morning, b) a week day and c) the prettier pictures are at sunset...so....I thought more people would be there at sunset rather than almost lunch time. *shakes head*

Who knows lol
What I do know is that it was a constant stream of people two and from Delicate Arch that morning. Like a never ending line of ants really. 

In any case.
The crowds weren't totally crazy at the Arch itself. We were still able to sit in our favorite spots and not have anyone sitting around us. 

And it was so...well....different to see the Arch.
Because I'm used to the sun shining on Delicate Arch when you face it.
But going up in the morning...the front of the arch was actually in shadow.
Very weird. lol. 
Still pretty.
But weird.

However! That meant that the back of the arch actually had the sun shining on it!
So I was able to take pictures of the back of the arch with it in sunshine instead of shadow like I've only been able to see it from before. 
And that was really pretty!!! :D 

BUT!!
The craziest thing about going up to Delicate Arch in the morning?

There. Was. No. Wind.

Like literally, Delicate Arch is synonymous with Windy. You wear a jacket up there no matter the weather, you expect to be blown away up there. Because Delicate Arch stands on the edge of a bowl. And that particular portion of the park seems to draw the wind to it.
It's a rare thing to experience no wind up at Delicate Arch.

And this was one of those days.
We would get a little bit of a breeze, but nothing drastic. It was barely noticeable.
It was just....not windy.
And it felt so nice!
To be able to sit and enjoy the arch, feel the heat of the sun, and not be fighting against the chill breeze trying to blow you away. 

It was great!

I didn't want to leave lol.
But leave we did...because we had to head back home.

It was a great way to end the trip. ^^ Loved it.
Can't wait to go back.

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi