May 17th started out with sunshine and clear blue skies. The decision was made to take a drive in the car to see the Canyonlands National Park approximately 35 minutes southwest from our campground in Moab.
This was our view of the dark, ominous skies of the storm behind us as we reached Monticello.
Our detour did prove to be a safe decision but we couldn't get out of the storm fast enough without getting caught in some of its fury. A mass of a melting souvenir still laid near our front windshield. What freaky weather!
The NOA weather app showed the storm headed towards the Canyonlands so we changed plans for the day and followed the sunshine back towards our campground. On the way we happened upon the great "Hole N The Rock" located on US Highway 191 just south of Moab.
This quirky attraction was created by Albert Christensen, a man with a dream back in 1940. After blasting and drilling for 12 years, Albert and his wife Gladys moved into a 5,000 square foot, 14 room home in 1952 that Albert had built/carved inside this huge rock face. The couple operated a diner out of the first suite of rooms until Albert had his first heart attack in 1955. Albert died in 1957 but Gladys carried on for 17 more years operating a cafe and gift shop. There are tours inside of the home for $6.50 per person (adult), which Rick and I did take. Since no photos were allowed, I couldn't share the experience with you, but it was definitely unique.
The couple paid homage to the 32nd President Franklin Roosevelt who was in office at the time (until 1945) with a Mount Rushmore-like bust carved into an alcove above the entrance.
The area surrounding the "Rock" was beautiful in it's own right.
The "Rock" was purchased in 2000 from Gladys's son, Hub Davis and since then the new owners have added quite an eclectic mix of "stuff" ranging from old gas pumps and a twirly bird to antique arcade games and odd statuary (which are for sale), such as an iron bull and a jeep made with license plates. They also have a trading post.
Albert and Gladys Christensen were both buried in this lovely alcove a short walk from the entrance.
The next day (May 18th) we packed up camp and were on the road by 9:30 a.m. with surrounding blue skies and gorgeous temperatures in the mid 60'sF (18.3C). Our next destination was Glendale, Utah. We passed mountainsides of copper sulfate which gave off a green glow.
After passing through a town called Hanksville, the landscape changed again. The soil turned from red to a pasty yellow and spicy mustard brown while the mountains began to look like hard sand and limestone instead of red clay. Then we began our drive through the Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway. Let me tell you...this was an AMAZING, STUNNING drive not to be missed!
The rusty brown waters of the Fremont River snaked in and out of the canyon.
The backdrop once again changed to terra cotta colors with pale green grasses and dots of black pumas stone.
Our motor home climbed to an elevation of 8,385 on UT-62. There everything changed from dry and dusty to deep green and fertile. Along the way, we saw something new (to us) advertised at gas stations called Dyed Diesel. Utah gas and diesel fuel tax rate was 29.4 cents per gallon. Dyed diesel fuel was tax exempt and actually dyed red by the supplier. It was designed for non-highway use only, such as farm or roadway construction equipment. The dyed fuel enforcement program began in 1994 and is run by the Internal Revenue Service. Federal and state inspectors are authorized to run fuel checks, or dips, on licensed highway vehicles, which are not supposed to be using dyed fuel. Violators can be issued tickets or assessed penalties and taxes.
We arrived at our next campground called Bryce/Zion Campground, a former KOA. This was supposed to be our home base from which we were going to visit Bryce/Zion National Park from. However, plans changed. First, "not all campgrounds are created equal". This one was a bit disappointing. We couldn't level the coach meaning we couldn't get the jacks to balance out the motor home because the dirt ground/site was too uneven. Next, the sewer hookup on the ground at the site next to ours was overflowing and spilling raw sewage onto the dirt road around us and forming a puddle of "yuck" near our own sewer hookup, preventing us from connecting our own coach. Lastly, the electric box was not working and had a blown breaker. By then, it was late in the day and there were no vacancies at any campgrounds nearby. So, we stayed the one night and management (wisely) refunded our monies for the entire reservation. Next, we checked the weather near Bryce/Zion and guess what? Ice warnings in Bryce Canyon and nearby roads! So, we made the decision to head to Vegas two days earlier than planned and unfortunately bypass our visit to Bryce/Zion.
The one nice part of the Bryce/Zion Campground where we spent the one night was the horses nearby who loved attention.
We set off for Vegas the morning of May 19th on a sunny day with blue skies and temperatures around 33F (.5C). Our drive took us through Cedar Canyon/Dixie National Forest to a top elevation of 9,931 feet and SNOW!!!! I had to get out of the coach and play for just a bit wearing mittens and my colorful galoshes.
How weird this portion of the trip had been. From heat and red baked earth to cold and icy white both in the same day, over several days.
As we left the Dixie National Forest, the rock walls climbed up on both sides of us. These windy roads took us in and out of three states - Utah, Arizona and Nevada.
Before we got onto interstate I-15, we passed through a town called Cedar City, Utah. At the south edge of town just to the west of I-15 we saw this landlocked lighthouse. It was built (tongue in cheek) to honor landlocked Utah's nonexistent maritime tradition. Clever.
We left the majestic mountain scenery of Utah behind us and made our way south on I-15 towards Nevada. The temperature climbed back up to around 82F (27C) and the scenery changed, once again, to desert with rich hues of green and red.
Continue the journey to Sin City: Nevada - Las Vegas and Hoover Dam
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