Last hurrah

We didn't have any luck meeting anyone yet. I did pass fairly close to Kidvermicious but I wasn't about to wake him up. I was a night shift worker for the last 5 years and I know how important sleep is.

First thing this morning was crossing into Utah 15 minutes after I left the motel.


The the trip odometer hit 5,000 miles since I left on the 7th, just as I was hitting north Salt Lake City. I had one minor 20 minute delay there due to construction, but I actually had to speed up to the speed limit going through because everybody else was doing it. This is the first major city I have been through where 99.999% of the drivers actually do the speed limit. I'm used to it being similar to a NASCAR race with everybody jockeying for position and running 10 over the limit.

Then I got out Kidvermicious' directions from this morning and made my way east and south to the San Raphael Swell. This is a HUGE recreational area in the east central part of the state. Well laid out and well maintained dirt roads, and surprisingly every one I drove today was on my GPS. Makes me wonder what to expect when I get to Moab. I overshot the first turn in because it was marked differently, but a friendly guy in Castle Dale directed me back to where I thought it was. Then you go in about 6 miles and top out on this ridge overlooking a lot of territory.



Then you wind down the ridge to the plain below and drive another 6 miles to a crossroads. Right goes to a place called the Wedge. I apparently didn't go far enough because I missed the overlook that was up there, but my odometer said I had driven by it. This is me having come back to the fork for the Wedge. A left turn and 6 miles back to the crossroad so I could head down Buckhorn Draw road.
 
Buckhorn Draw road

Buckhorn Draw road starts innocuously enough, but after a few miles things started to close in until you're driving down a canyon.


 
And then just around this corner you run into your first sign.





Somewhere up in those rocks.......



Did I mention it was UP in those rocks? I was already at about 5,500', and I had to climb up to see the purdy pictographs. Yes, that's Da Whale down there.




Another mile or so down the canyon was some more art of a different style.


Then several miles later the canyon opened up somewhat, and the road became a little less winding. And I came to the San Raphael River bridge, built in 1937 and since replaced by a more modern structure. It says it is the last suspension bridge in Utah.


 
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This was on the other side of the river and is called Bottletop Mountain.


And here is the aforementioned sinkhole in the directions. After this I headed for I-70 and tried to make up some time and my mind.....




I did stop at one of several scenic overlooks once I hit I-70. This was a breathtaking place, but I was getting behind so I didn't get to stop at most of the others.


And this is the nicest little motel I'm staying in tonight.


If you don't hear from me in the next day or so it's because I'm burning the candle at both ends trying to get things done, and am too worn out to upload pics. That and Photobucket just told me I'm out of storage in spite of my buying more last night. I wonder how long that upgrade is gonna take? I may need to start uploading directly to the forum and reducing the number of pictures I post.....
 
Bummer that you missed the Wedge. They don't call it the Little Grand Canyon for nothing.

Yeah. I was just worried that I might have taken a wrong turn at a fork. BUT GEEZ!! THE ENTIRE SOUTHERN HALF OF THIS STATE IS A PHOTO OP!!! All you have to do is turn around!
 
I'm jealous today. You'll travel much of same route I did a little over a year ago, and others I have driven several times. For some reason this is favorite area of any I have ever been through - besides the scenery, I think it is because of low population, all 2 lane highways, and absence of national chain businesses - local flavor. And, the sunrises and sunsets - don't miss those CJ.

An FYI - Lake Powell at Page, AZ has more shoreline than the west coast of the US.
 
Yeah. I was just worried that I might have taken a wrong turn at a fork. BUT GEEZ!! THE ENTIRE SOUTHERN HALF OF THIS STATE IS A PHOTO OP!!! All you have to do is turn around!

This is why most of my travels are in the western states. The eastern states do not have near as great of scenery.
 
Just gassed up in Kanab Utah. Headed up to Moab. And I did get in about 50 miles of Arizona today.

There's a great burger and shake shack there in Kanab. Bummer you aren't making it further into AZ for a trail ride this weekend, but understandable. You're awfully close to the north rim of the Grand Canyon there in Kanab too, only about 75 miles I think. But out of your way now that you're headed over to Moab.
 
Mmm, nice little warmup there!

Be sure to get a trail map in Moab. One that shows the trail ratings.

Lot's of great stuff on easy trails but also easy to randomly take one that gets out of hand quickly :D

Arches is mostly paved and crowded BUT should be seen at least once I think :) Can easily spend all day there.
 
In MT it's "...visit, but don't stay." Tourism has big impact on MT economy. MT just broke 1mil. residents about 1 1/2 years ago and is 4th largest state.
 
I'm about 50 miles south of Moab for the night (Monticello). I got in Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP, and drove through Monument Valley on the way over here. Tomorrow will be Arches NP, then I am meeting some people tomorrow evening so we can go 4 wheeling at Moab on Saturday. My Photobucket acct is full up, so if I post any pics tonight I'll have to attach them directly. Gotta get em on the laptop first.
 
I'm about 50 miles south of Moab for the night (Monticello). I got in Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP, and drove through Monument Valley on the way over here. Tomorrow will be Arches NP, then I am meeting some people tomorrow evening so we can go 4 wheeling at Moab on Saturday. My Photobucket acct is full up, so if I post any pics tonight I'll have to attach them directly. Gotta get em on the laptop first.

If you are going back through that area next week, Cruise Moab is going on second half of the week.
 

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