Moonscapes to Green River

Another day of extraordinary landscapes, as we drove first to Capitol Reef National Park near Torrey, Utah. The route via Tropic and Escalante along UT 12 is very picturesque. The Capitol Reef park is another national gem. It takes its name from an enormous grey dome-like rock which resembles the shape of the capitol dome in Washington. The huge rocky "reef" is "a giant sinuous wrinkle in the earth's crust", known as the Waterpocket Fold. It has strange formations that look man made in places. Running beside and between these rocky formations is the river Fremont, which waters a charming valley where early Mormons built a community and planted fruit trees at a place they called Fruita. You can see some preserved old buildings, and the fruit trees. We had a picnic lunch sitting beside the river, admiring the fruit trees and the aspens. There are a number of walking trails, but we didn't have time today to try any of them out as we still had quite a big drive ahead of us. We did stop to view some petroglyphs which were charming but you couldn't really get close enough to them to see them well: we have been thoroughly spoiled by Brantley and Vaughn.

As we drove out along the UT 24, between Torrey and Hanksville, we encountered a grey cement coloured landscape - alternating between rough squarish formations that look as though they have been turned out with giant buckets and spades, and roundish heaps. It is an earth-based moonscape, no question, and half way along we saw the only sign of life: a gift shop and cafe called the Lunar Mesa. From Hanksville to Green River is a smooth, straight ride, quite a relief after a whole day of driving "scenic byways" with switchbacks , ascents and descents making progress slow, though the scenery was wonderful.

Here Green River is a sort of way stop on the I 70. However the river itself is really charming and we are staying beside it. I had a swim in the pool, and then read in the hot tub for 30 minutes (where you exchange travel stories with your fellow guests!!), before going off with the lads to find something to eat. We have had a nice evening in our Family Room, planning an early start for the 350 odd miles to Denver. In Denver we plan to do urban things, like an art gallery or a movie. We are all scenery-ed out for the time being: our senses are reeling at the sights we have seen and we can't appreciate any more. This means we are not going to try to squeeze in the Arches or Canyonlands parks. I know I shall regret missing them, but you just cannot do everything, and that's a fact!

PS. We saw two real cowboys on horseback, complete with hats and lariats, rounding up their cattle on the road on our travels today.