Sorry it's taken so long. I had to rebuild my race bike engine this weekend. Final race of the season coming up this next weekend and my team is in the lead for the overall championship. If it happens, it will be the first time an F7 bike has won overall.
We had planned to hike a couple of extreme slot canyons which require one to either turn sideways to get through or to crawl (the bottom of some slots are wider than 3 to 4 feet up), but it rained and there was a threat of more rain. Since the fear of drowning was stronger than the expected thrill of hiking an extreme slot, we motored on to Natural Bridges National Monument. Our route took us through Escalante and Capitol Reef National Parks, but since our plans in those places included dirt roads, we decided to come back to them at a later date. Most of the dirt roads we had picked were labeled, “impassable when wet.” Our route was 12, 24 and 95.
The scenery was great, just driving through on the main roads. I have found that the further I get from the main highways, the better the scenery. It’s not always true but I believe it is true in Escalante and Capitol Reef. Not everything in Utah is red.
In some areas the aspen were totally yellow.
I had to holler at these deer to get them to look up at me. They were totally ignoring me. Not in a national park either.
Butler maps should rate this road as an S1 road, very scenic.
Everything turns back to red as we approach Lake Powell. That motor home coming around the bend is a rental. We have been trading the lead with him for miles. On any down hill road, he rides the brakes constantly. We can smell the brakes sometimes before we see the truck. The only reason he hasn’t crashed is because he stops so often to take pictures. That time allows the brakes to cool.
Lake Powell.
Classic picture of lake Powell with the bridge in the background. There wasn’t a shoulder to park on so we had to walk back up the hill to get this shot.
Moki Dugway and Muley point
We ride to Muley Point, overlooking Gooseneck State Park. This is a short ride that can be done on any bike, except for the last ½ mile which gets a little rough. Probably a class 3.
My klutz of a wife. It is amazing that she hasn’t fallen off a cliff yet.
The road below goes to Gooseneck State Park.
It’s amazing what water and time can do.
Juniper tree that has seen a hard life.
This strip of bark, about 3” wide is all that sustains the tree.
The world famous MOKI DUGWAY. What a let down!!!! I was expecting something challenging after reading what other bikers had written.
The highway below that goes to Mexican Hat, the town and the formation.
The famous Dugway. I looked down in one of the slowest turns and I was going 15 MPH.
We ate lunch in a café right next to the bridge. I don’t remember the name, but it was very interesting. Many movies have been made near Mexican hat. Monument Valley is the name of the area. Anyway, the owner of the café acts as taxi driver for the stars.
Recognize this one?
Café décor. This saw had wicked teeth.
This is a corn planter. The metal hopper on the left holds the corn seeds. By pushing the handles together a seed is deposited in one of the metal cross members and then dropped down the tube between the 2 wooden uprights. Poke the point in the ground, bring the handles together and then back apart. Viola, a corn seed is planted.
Old revolver that has seen better days.
The reason they named the town Mexican Hat. Will they change the town name when it falls? It’s much larger than the picture shows it. This was taken about a half mile away with a telephoto lens.
Next up, Natural Bridges National Monument