October 31, 2010

We headed north this morning towards Escalante----we had been told it was a place not to miss in this area. The drive there was spectacular! We turned a corner on the road to Escalante and found ourselves in Red Canyon which is part of the Dixie National Forest. The walls beside the road rose up as massive displays of rugged red rocks and were breathtaking. This went on for a few miles and then suddenly we were in a valley with herds of cattle grazing and irrigated fields dotted the landscape green. A few more miles and we  were in the midst of massive rock walls--no longer red, now white. Some more turns the the road opened up to vast expanses of rock formations, snow covered mountains in the distance and extreme drop offs all around!

We made it to Excalante, which was a sleepy little town on a Sunday afternoon, and found one restaurant open and had a good lunch. We had been studying surrounding areas and decided to go on to Boulder, Utah and take the Chriss Lake trail. The Aspen leaves had all dropped, but the hike was still pretty---we saw what we think was Chriss Lake off in the distance and even saw some snow still on the ground.

Still deciding what our plans are for tomorrow .... and FYI the washing machine now works!


Resting in  Glendale, Utah..Debbie and John

Saturday, October 30, 2010

We drove to Page, Arizona today to see Antelope Canyon----a 'slot canyon' that has been formed by water and sand  moving through massive rocks. The canyon is on a Navajo Reservation so you are required to go through the canyon with a guide. It is about a 3 mile ride on benches in the back of a pick-up truck through a dry, sandy river bed to get to the opening of the canyon, which was sort of an a adventure in itself! Apparently flash floods can occur down this river bed and through the canyon whenever they get a lot of rain north of the canyon!---while we were at the far end of the canyon our guide told us the story of a flash flood in 2009 that killed 9 guests in the lower portion of the canyon! We were in the upper portion, but still a bit unnerving!

The sights were amazing--below is my attempt at capture some of them---still alot to learn about essentially 'cave' photos!

Saw a sign on the road stating 'Deer migration'--have never seen one of those before and not too many miles later we actually had about 5 deer in the road ahead!

Tonight was trick or treat night in Glendale--on my walk I saw Pipi Longstocking, a clown, an alien and two fully outfitted cowboys! (I think it was their own clothes!)--brought back lots of good memories!

Resting in Glendale, Utah...Debbie and John

October 29, 2010

We headed south this morning towards the Pipe Spring National Monument. There is a natural spring located on this otherwise arid section of northern Arizona that has attracted various groups of people through the years ---the two most notable being the Paiute Indians and Mormons. The Indians were able to cultivate crops using the water and moved about seasonally to hunt. In the late 1850's leaders of the Mormon church discovered the spring and soon moved ranchers, sheep and cattle  into the area. There were Indian raids regularly on the livestock and the Mormon's built a fort of sorts (called Winsor Castle) to protect the families they had living there tending the livestock and dairy cattle operations. Many plural wives and their children stayed so their husbands would be safe from prosecution after congress passed laws against polygamy. They produced butter and  cheese at the fort and every two weeks would make a delivery to the workers in St. George, Utah who were building a Mormon Temple. The Spring is still producing fresh water and the Castle is standing as well.

Along the road to the Spring we saw an actual cattle drive in progress! I felt like I was right in the middle of "City Slickers"! When we came over a crest in the road some of the cows were actually crossing the road as the cowboys ( and cowgirls!) herded them along. There were some very young children on their own horses and some even younger ones riding with their parents. The woman at our campground said they drive the cattle south every fall to pasture in northern Arizona---they used to actually herd them down the main road through all the small towns around, but now keep them more on the back roads. Some tourists go along for all or part of the 10 day drive. Maybe next year!! I knew there was a reason I bought those cowboy boots.

We also passed Pink Coral Sand Dunes State Park----looked like a giant pink beach!---beautiful!

I also discovered today that I am addicted to my IPhone....there is not much service around these parts, and I cannot tell you how many times I checked! Thank goodness there in internet.

Unique fence posts

Winsor Castle

Inside the castle

Resting in Glendale, Utah...Debbie and John

October 28, 2010

Today we made the drive from Winslow, Arizona to Glendale, Utah and it was breathtaking! A snow topped mountain loomed ahead as we approached Flagstaff, and as we turned north towards Utah the landscape changed and red rock hills and mountains started appearing. As we got further north the heights and the intricacies of rock formations increased and were striated with a variety of colors. Unbelievably beautiful. My personal rock collection, of which I have always been proud, pales in comparison!

We saw several roadside stands where Native Americans were selling jewelry and pottery and noted what was apparently their sad living situations dotting the hillsides.

We arrived at our campground in Glendale, Utah and were relieved that the sites were level and it was still light out! Planning on visiting Bryce Canyon , the town of Escalante, Zion National Park and a variety of other places of note in the area over the next few days. There is no  ATT phone service in the campground (or anywhere else close by), but we do have internet access!

Resting in Glendale, Utah.....Debbie and John