To Moab, and Goose Island campground

Sunday, 9/16

We heard from some fellow Windwhistler campers that we wouldn't be able to camp at Devil's Garden campsite without having reserved way in advance.  So Nils researched other possibilities and found many, just north of Moab.  We ended up at a perfect place, called Goose Island Recreation Area....it's right on the Colorado River with soaring red cliffs on the other side (i.e. that's our view).  The camp host--Bill--is a very crunchy Buddhist retired MD from Santa Rosa and his lovely girlfriend is an ex-Mormon.  Well, of course I was full of questions and had to invite them for dinner, along with his adorable dachshund named Oscar.  (full name: Oscar Meyer).  We had a very interesting conversation for a couple of hours.  Oscar made himself right at home (he loved crawling through the gap between the chair and the wall----I remember our Julie used to love little tunnel=y places too) even though we had no bacon to offer him.   We asked them for suggestions of good hikes in the area, and then we talked about kayaking on the river.  Bill is picking us up tomorrow morning at 9am to drop off first our truck (at the "take out" spot) and then us about 9 miles more up river so that we can kayak down a good stretch.   Should be fun!