June 9, 2004 - Capital Reef National Park, UT - Day 1
What a GREAT ride! If we were to establish a "Roads To Remember" page we'd have to include Hwy 12 between Hwy 63 (near Bryce Canyon) to Hwy 24 near Torrey & the Capital Reef National Park, Utah. Never have we had so much excitement on just a 125-mile, three-hour drive. The scenery was spectacular--again--as you'll soon see, and there were so many tight corners I could see the Jeep in our rearview mirrors! For part of the way we followed a big tour bus (Prevost H-3 41) and more than once, saw the front of the bus on the switchbacks. The elevation changed from our start at about 8,000 feet down to about 6,000 feet, then up to 9,400 feet, and, finally, here at Capitol Reef, about 5,500 feet. There were lots of 8% grades, one 10% grade, and a very short (way too short) 12% grade. Barb was feeling both elated with the view and petrified by sheer-drop, over-the-edge cliffs from our high altitude. There were lots of places where we were only about 4' from the edge of nowhere. She kept mentioning our good friend Carol (of Bill and Carol Nelson whom we're anxious to see at the Life On Wheels Conference in Moscow, ID, this July) because heights and twisty roads aren't Carol's thing. I was just grinning from ear to ear, busy with the little toggle switch that retards the transmission, and swinging the Road Abode from right to left. What a great road!! And, by the way, this Hwy. 12 is a one of America's National Scenic Byways and well worth the trip.
When we got parked and realized we had internet connection again, we got excited. Then the temperature went from a pleasant 83 to 77 and the wind came up so strong that I brought in the little awnings. And then, for the first time since the last of March in Peoria, AZ, we heard rain on our roof. About 20 or 30 drops. And then the temp went back up to 81. Shortest shower we've ever had! This area is considered desert and only gets about 8" of rain a year, so I guess we are privileged to be sprinkled on.
We were really enjoying the view, and you can tell by the angle of those trees that we were enjoying some wind too. With rare exception, the wind doesn't bother the Road Abode much. We can feel it, and sometimes the driver is busier than normal, but for the most part we're unaffected by it.
This is about the funniest thing that has ever happened to us. Remember I said I was following this tour bus? Well, when it pulled off into this scenic overlook, Barb asked me to follow it in--she wanted to see that "forever" view too. I was pretty comfortable because if the bus could make the turns, so could we. After it stopped, I tried to pull ahead just enough so the tourists who didn't want to leave the bus could still see the view, they could leave before us if they wanted to, and any subsequent cars could get by the two of us.
The tourists got off the bus about the same time as we got out of our coach and, instead of heading for the view as we did, they came over to our coach and started taking pictures of the coach, the hitch with its underskirt, the Alaska license plates, and all that. To say that it surprised us would be an understatement--we were the center of attention rather than that fabulous view!
In the first picture, I'm talking to the bus driver trying to apologize for messing up his schedule, but he assures me that this group from Italy is enjoying themselves, and we needn't worry. Then some of them who spoke English (sort of) started asking questions like does it have a bedroom and shower, and stuff like that. About then, Barb heads for the coach and there was one lady left who was kind of peeking in the open door (most of the others had already boarded the bus), so Barb invited her in to see the inside. That did it! Just about the whole busload of people got off the bus and headed for our coach, and Barb invited them all in. They were so excited to be invited in and see everything--they were just beside themselves. When Barb showed them her washer/dryer with the words "made in Italy" on it, they all were very proud. Barb stayed inside and enjoyed all their happy grins and happy talk and heard "bellisimo" (sp?) a dozen times. I was outside with the interpreter as they came out and congratulated us on our fine taste in products. We must have spent a good 15-20 minutes being inspected and admired. Is this a great lifestyle or what? Fun for everybody. We couldn't have planned a better surprise for them or us.
Just a few shots on our way from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef. Barb was too busy hanging on during the narrow steep places to take shots down the canyons we drove over.
All this in just125 miles. Unbelievable. And there's me having most the fun. Nice sign, eh? Made of native stone it looks like.
That small motorhome we're following made the same trip, pretty much, that we did. We started to follow it shortly after leaving Bryce Canyon, and then it stopped at a view overlook and we passed it. Then shortly after pulling out from enjoying the Italians, we found it again. Followed it right into the park and hoped that it didn't take the last RV space in this first-come first-served park (which we like for the most part). But it turned off before getting to the RV park which, we discovered, had plenty of open spaces anyway.
Barb's been to the visitor center and come home again with her hands full of places to go and things to see while we're here. Might take the 58-mile dirt road to Cathedral Valley tomorrow. The paper says it has nice rocks we can take pictures of. Gee, that sounds like fun, doesn't it.