We woke up to a view out of our window with horses and a barn on a lovely morning having slept very well. Breakfast was good apart from little cartons as the orange drink and no fruit.
We called in at the General Store in Torrey to collect stores for evening meal and breakfast as food at the next hotel is not well spoken of with regard to service and quality and there is nowhere else to eat.
We headed out to Route 12 which is considered a scenic route and very well spoken of in travelogues expecting the red rock and cliffs of yesterday at Capitol Reef but instead headed across pastures in green valleys with cattle grazing. We encountered 2 cows loose on the road where there was wire both side so it was clearly not open grazing. A quarter of a mile down the road we saw 2 cowboys by the gates of a cattle ranch on the left. The guy inside was sorting out the horses whilst an old guy in full checkered shirt and stetson even with spurs on his boots leant against the gate one leg up on a spar. We pulled over and circled the car right up to him whilst he dedicatedly ignored us. I opened the window and shouted over whereupon he deigned to glance around. I told him of the cows on the road to which he simple responded with a single thumb up and returned to watching the other guy. Communicative chap.
Continuing on we climbed and scraggy scrub land took over before turning into rolling forest of Ponderosa pines followed by Aspen with tall thin white trunks and green valleys appeared hear and there. Over the forests and the scenery opened into wide views of Capitol Reef and Waterpocket fold tinged orange and then massive white features began to take over the whole scene.
In every direction the landscape filled with white rock in domes and escarpments, towers and gullies. As far as the eye could see white and orange monuments spread away to blue hills in the distance.
At one point, the road travels across a ridge, the Hogs Back, dropping down to either side. We turned and passed a second time to take it in and at the end notice a motorbike with UK plates. Stopping and chatting to the retired couple they had been throughout Canada, toured all sort of part of the USA including Alaska and were carrying on 'till their visa ran out when they planned to head down to Mexico. True adventurers.
The odd features continued at one point seeing our first true canyon.
All along this are there are remains of the Pioneer days when the Mormon settlers moved in these areas. The stories of road built are amazing with tens of wagons heading out with families on board and journeys expected to last 6 weeks taking 6 months. The men would go ahead blasting and shovelling before the train moved forward and the final stop point would be the latest that the land could be irrigated in time to plant crops for the season. Lynne loves these histories so a lot of information boards got read.
Approaching lunchtime, in the distance more dramatic orange features and the coloured horizontal layers in the rock became clearer as we arrived at the town of Escalente.
We had read of a burger shack called Nemo's which was loved by and had our minds set on eating there and having their ice cream. We found it quickly and read the notice on the door, closed for 4 days! Somewhat disillusioned we passed through the town and took a chance on Circle D bar and grill which turned out an excellent choice. A fine burger and fries in a nice atmosphere with very friendly service.
Nearing the Bryce area we pulled into a store at the town of Tropic and were tempted by ice cream. Stood next to a family from Bristol UK, we had choices including Cake Mix and Cookie Dough. The Cake Mix did taste like scraping the bowl after my Mum had backed when I was a kid but the size of a single scoop actually defeated Me! and I had to bin the last of it. The girl serving was very chatty and when hearing of someone in difficultiues at Zion said, "Oh, my dad will have been involved then, he's the local cop.", somehow, it felt a small world out here.
Continuing on, towers of red sand features announced our arrival in Bryce area and we drew into Ruby's Inn city, a conglomerations of hotel, restaurant, shops etc. The hotel sprawls with many annexes and lodges attached but we are in the main part and our room is fine.
After booking in, we headed to Bryce Canyon Park entrance which is literally 5 mins from the hotel and called in the visitor centre to collect info' and maps to plan our visit.
Returned to the hotel and microwaved our meal bought this morning before heading out to Bryce Point about 20 mins into the park. Here we had our first sight of the 'canyon' which actually isn't a canyon but 3 amphitheatres. Description is impossible of this weird beautiful sight. 'Hoodoo's and fins of rock from white and coral pink to deep orange extend all around below a rim that when approaching is just a rolling thin forest. We stayed until about 8:30 watching a cloudy sunset as the hoodoos faded into the gloom.
This are is famed for it's dark star filled skies but we have a full dazzling moon & cloud so can only see a few.
Back at the room, tired after a long day we down a beer and here in southern Utah 7000 miles from home watch English TV: Yes Minister & As Time Goes By.
10:00-16:40
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