Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park

We drove to Bryce and found out that there was some BLM land that was open for free camping if we drove down a long dirt road that paralleled the National Park.  Turns out that this was the best camping find of the trip.  We drove along a creek that emptied into a reservoir, and the water created a fertile green valley amidst the dry rock and sand that dominated the landscape.  We camped on a grassy field punctuated only by a few fisherman coming to try their hand in the crystal clear waters of the meandering creek.

Utah appears to be prime hummingbird country.  This was the only picture of one that I could capture but they were buzzing all over the place at Zion.  They would fly right up to us, attracted by the colors of our clothing.

The next morning we packed up and headed over to explore Bryce Canyon.  The spires are called "hoo-doo's" and were pretty spectacular.  We spent the morning hiking down into the canyon and then hit the road that afternoon for Zion.

Barry

Barry

Along the way we discovered that the route took us right through Capitol Reef National Park.  Apparently there is a large "reef" called the Waterpocket Fold that stretches 100 miles from North to South.  See a cool picture of it here.  We didn't take time to explore it much but we did stop to see ancient pictographs etched into the rocks.  We also ate lunch in one of the public orchards that are located in a narrow valley that the road goes through.  Visitors are allowed to go in and pick fruit at their leisure in these very old orchards.  Nothing seemed to be ripe so we just picnicked under the trees :)

Barry

Barry

Moab, Utah: Arches National Park and Negro Bill Canyon

After traversing the desolate sand dunes in Colorado, we traveled to Moab, Utah, which is right between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

Traveling in the Colorado Mountains:

We were going to try and get a backcountry permit in Canyonlands but because of a delay regarding the shipment of our stuff from Massachusetts to California, we weren't able to get there in time to get a permit.  Instead, we found the local Library where we posted a blog, sent a fax at the local grocery store, and went to the Moab Visitor's center where we learned about some primitive campsites along the Colorado River in a nearby canyon.  So we headed there and set up camp, determining to visit Arches National Park in the morning.

 Sunrise from our campsite

Our little Coracle

Arches National Park in the morning. (Note: From here on, I will put Barry's name under the picture if he was the one who took the photograph.  If there is no name, then I took it.  Barry started taking more pictures and I want to give him due credit :)

Barry

Barry

Barry

That afternoon, we hiked a canyon called Negro Bill's Canyon that was near our campsite.  It was a really cool hike in a narrow canyon with a perennial stream, which is quite rare in this part of the country.  At the end of the hike is the world's 5th longest arch: the Morning Glory Natural Bridge.

Barry was playing around with his filter settings and took this one.  I think it's cool :)

Barry

Arches National Park in the evening after a storm:

Barry

The next morning we were going to go to Canyonlands National Park but we had another delay at the library and we ran out of time.  We decided to head to Bryce Canyon National Park that afternoon and then head on to Zion National Park the next day.  We had heard that Zion was pretty amazing and we wanted to spend a maximum amount of time there.

Next up: Bryce Canyon National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park

 Sunrise on the dunes

There is still life in desolate places

Next stop: Arches National Park in Moab, Utah

Travel - Day 12

July 18, 2010

Left at 5:45 am, 77° F

Average Miles per gallon: 35.34

Miles traveled today: 635 miles

Total miles traveled: 2,788 miles

We left campmeeting early Sunday morning after taking cool showers to refresh us from the hot, humid dawn.  Barry was especially excited to see that the speed limit on back roads was 65 mph!

We crossed the panhandle of Texas traveling on back roads and enjoying the scenery.

That's when we saw this sign... Needless to say, Barry was even more excited :)

Not only did we like the Colorado Welcome sign the best, but they also have the fastest speed limit for back roads!  Don't worry Moms, we're only going between 60 mph and 65 mph because we're taking good care of our little Coracle :)

We drove through a cool lightning storm in the plains of Colorado.  For most of it, we were able to drive in a clear patch that lay between two very dark storms.  The lightening was fantastic!

Approaching the Great Sand Dunes, where we spent the night. :)