Scenic Route 12...Cannonville to Torrey, Utah....27th April 2017..

We say a fond farewell to Bryce Canyon and this RV Park....we have had a great stay here but now must move along Scenic Byway 12 to Torrey....we have driven some of the road (previous blog entry) but once past Escalante and The Head of the Rocks Overlook we will be on pastures new and this time we are towing our home on wheels behind us.....

It doesn't show in this photo very well but this rock reminds us of Arundel Castle...

I wasn't quick enough off the draw to take a photo of this vehicle as it passed us but YAY it's a mobile library or as they call them here a Book Bus.....

Head of The Rocks Overlook.....
We leaped frogged with these guys along the route today with all of us stopping at scenic viewpoints along the way....there are another 4 out of shot.....they are RV rents headed by a lead guy and what a great way to try out camping....
It reminded us very much of the "flotilla" sailing boat holidays in Greece.... 

This and next couple of pics going down through the "Million Dollar Road" slick rock area....

Thank goodness for the exhaust brake !!!

Ummm road works !!!
We had to laugh Yorkieman had pulled into a slow vehicle spot to let this truck pass,  then we read what is written on the back !!!

The HogBack....a "narrow" spit of road on Scenic Route 12 !!!!!

And here we are again going up a mountain and it's snowing !!!  but very pretty.....

Only 9,600.....

Starting the downward slope and much stepper than the up...but hey ho we get to do it in reverse in a weeks time !! Just kidding it is a very scenic route and one not to be missed....

Lunch sandwich stop at this incredible scenic overlook.....coming down into the fertile valley but still the majesty of the Escalante Staircase in the back ground...

We had thought we were down to 6,387ft and Torrey but not quite !!

Arrived safely at Wonderland RV Park, Torrey and our home for the next week....Yorkieman has earned his beer.....it is very cold (no complaints it is what it is) but what amazing blossom on the tree at our site....
Until the next post...
The Cool Campers....

Scenic Drive to Cedar City....25th April....

We have an impromptu drive today....200 mile round trip to buy a BBQ  in Cedar City !! 
A vital part of our Weber Grill broke yesterday evening....The small local stores sell produce and basic grocery items understandably as we are in a fairly remote area and will be for the next 2 to 3 weeks....But it's  a very scenic drive through part of the Dixie National Forest and over the summit near Cedar Breaks National Monument....(Cedar Breaks is still closed for winter)
This and next pic is Navajo Lake near Duck Creek Recreation area....

The upper part of Navajo Lake...
The barrier visible in the above pic is manmade to hold back the water as the lower end of Navajo Lake is series of sink holes and the water would just disappear....
There was 125% increase in snowfall this winter....

Barely visible is a Bald Eagle skimming across the lake...I should have cropped the photo and I guess one of those times you needed to be there !!

Mission accomplished and heading back up the mountain with new BBQ....we did have a moment when arriving at Home Depot (B and Q) to discover that although it stated online they had 34 of the model we wanted they in fact didn't have any !!! But their policy is to sell the next price bracket model at the same price so a win win for us....

This and previous photo driving back up through the gorge on scenic SR14....it had been very cold in Cedar City with sleet/snow flurries.....

Still plenty of snow up here....

And more falling !!!....

The plateau near the turn off to Cedar Breaks and 11,000 feet elevation...

Back down to Red Rock Canyon on Scenic Route 12....no snow but only 48F....we are getting the edge of a late spring snow storm to the north of us...
It might seem a bit extreme to drive 200 miles for a BBQ but it was also a very interesting and scenic day out....
The joke about today is that is was so cold Yorkieman cooked the chicken inside !!!
Until the next post....
The Chilly but Happy Campers....

Kodachrome State Park....Monday 24th April 2017...

It's an overcast cloudy day today but good temperature for a couple of hikes at Kodachrome Basin State Park named in 1949 by National Geographic when they explored and photographed the area using a relatively new brand of Kodak film...
The park is renowned for the monolithic structures or "chimneys" jutting up from the sandstone....this one is aptly named Chimney Rock !!

We are still amazed at the ability of these plants to survive in this extreme clay environment....

This is Shakespeare Arch and no we have no idea why....

This is our pre lunch hiking trail accessed via our favourite route of (ha ha) dirt road this one  in fact very heavy rutted clay....but worth it for the views of the Escalante Staircase Valley and the stunning scenery...

Part of the Shakespeare/Sentinel Trail...some flat areas but also lot of steep parts to the trail.....

Ummm this is the trail !!!

This is my favourite photo...the rock formations in this area seem to have faces to us but these to me are priceless.... 

Incredible colours in the rock formations....overlooking the valley... 

This guy was not phased by us at all.... 

This plant had the most beautiful sweet scent... 

Our afternoon hike was The Angels Palace Trail, a steep climb to an elevated area with stunning views...

Looking down on this rock formation...is it a haystack or a thatched cottage or ???

One of the many "stovepipe" / "chimney" formations...

Great views from up here and worth the climb up....my Fitbit is happy as today the equivalent of 89 flights of stairs and 18,000 steps !!! And at 5,000 ft elevation....
We met the most delightful American/Taiwanese couple here.....they are from Pennsylvania and had to be in their 80's and although they had climbed up she was finding the going back down a challenge....enter Yorkieman to the rescue.....we had a fantastic half hour climbing back down and chatting with them...meeting folks is one of the many fabulous things about travel....
We have had another great day in this incredible area of the world...
Until the next post...
The Very Contented Hikers....

Scenic Route 12 Utah to Escalante...Sunday 23rd April 2017...

After 2 days of hiking today we head out for a drive along part of Scenic Route 12 the first "All American  Road"
Photo taken from The Head of the Rocks Overlook....views across the Escalante slick rock canyons and the meandering Route 12....

Today we are just in the truck but Yorkieman will be towing along this route in a few days time...

This section was built over 5 years from 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps using tons of dynamite and "blood sweat and tears".....it was nicknamed the "Million Dollar Road" but opened up an "all season road" between two communities.... 

One of the historic viewpoints is The Granaries.....

The Ancient Pueblo Indians built grain stores high in the cliff face..... 

Grain stores tucked under the overhang....

The whole area is beautiful coloured cliffs and hoodoos....

A good day seeing more of this stunning area...
More soon.....
The Happy Campers....