We have not ventured out to sight see since last weekend for a couple of reasons: it has rained every day for the last 7, and, Dave had to have dental work done. Thank goodness for the campground owner's recommendation - not only did Dave get into the dentist Tuesday, but was able to get all the work done and not wait. Yesterday he wanted to get out and do something, not allowed to do any physical activity so off we went driving south Scenic Route 12 again and up over the mountains, heading towards the town of Escalante, 65 miles south of where we are camping.
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| No sniveling allowed - just do it! |
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| Hogbacks - very narrow, steep! |
This little town is nestled deep in the canyons of Escalante Staircase National Monument. Talk about vivid landscape! The road took us through an area called the Hogbacks - seems the road was put on top of one of the canyon walls and on either side of the road was a steep, steep drop off. Heaven forbid if you had to stop - no such luck. And - a couple of 14% steep grades to drive! At one pulloff/scenic view there were over a dozen Quebec bikers. French rapidly spoken of those folks - I think they were just as amazed as us with the view. This is a major road for bikers - sometimes we have seen 15 in a group traveling down 12.
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| Ouis? Eh? Quebec bikers |
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| Wonder where the road will go? |
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| Beautiful! |
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| Near where the Escalante River crosses |
On our way back north on 12 we stopped at the "Hole-In-The-Rock' welcome center. Had no clue what this was about. Back in the 1870's the Mormon leaders asked people to volunteer to blaze a short cut trail to eastern Utah, over the Escalante landscape. The Hole in the rock refers to when they got to the Colorado River, the only way to get across it was to literally slide down from above the plateau at a 90 degree angle. Ox carts, horses, people, wagons, cattle. How did they do it? Crazy.
The woman we talked to at the center explained that her great-great-great grandfather was one of those pioneers. Small world.
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| Drawing of Hole-In-The-Wall journey |
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| How did they do it? My goodness! |
On our way back north we stopped at the Escalante River Canyon and decided to walk a tidge. Very pretty and had towering cliffs to our left. Looked up and saw ruins of Ancient Pueblon people - a photo we saw during the orientation movie. How lucky were we? Had a quick lunch, headed back to car and again drove over the Hogbacks, past the Anasazi State Park in Boulder, and back over the mountains. With the steep grades and the Hogbacks, the overhanging cliffs through the Escalante River area, certainly glad we did not bring the RV this way when we came to Capitol Reel National Park.
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| Happened to look up at the right spot! |
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| Our lunch setting - Escalante River |
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| Magnificent views along the trail |
After we got back from our trip and settled down, we looked out our front window and saw this. Yep, we are in a small, very rural, town! Entertainment.
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| Owner, wife, and son - needed extra horse power! |
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