Day 31 Tuesday April 20Judy went to a bead class today for two hours and was very happy with what she learned. While she was beading, I did some minor things to the motor home and updated the blog. After lunch we went out to find the clam fossil site again. Did not find it but found a few pretty rocks. We talked to the man who told us where to go and he gave us better direction and we will try that later. After dinner we went to see if we could go to a place where there was suppose to be some petrified wood. It appeared that to get there we would need to cross private property.
Day 31 Wednesday April 21
Big day today. We went down the Hole-in-the-Wall road to Devils garden.
"Bunny"
Windy and rainy so we did not spend a lot of time there. Really crazy rock formations. We decided to hike into the Peek-a-Boo slot canyon which was about 25 miles further down the road. We had to hike about a half mile down to the dry river bed (300 feet). Once in the river bed we walked into the slot canyon.
Beautiful. We had a great time even though it was still windy with rain squalls. We went down one trail and came up another. 
Judy did great and was very happy to have made the trip even though the hike up was difficult for her.
Judy’s word
Wow! What a day and what an experience. I must say… I was determined to make that hike, and with Richards encouragement I did it. I must say, I am a pretty tired lady tonight. The weather gave us another desert experience… rain and hail squalls, wind and some pretty dark clouds. Another part of this beautiful country. J
Day 32 Thursday April 22
Did laundry in the morning. Cold and windy. After lunch we went out to find the fossils. Searched high and low in the supposed area and we did not find any. Rats. Went to the rock shop again to give them some of the agates we got where they had told us to look. Also asked about coprolites from dinosaurs. After talking a while I told him about some of the things I was doing with rocks and we agreed that he would be interested in selling some of them. He sells lots of petrified wood at very high prices.
Judy’s word
I think we have been on a snipe hunt…We have been on this goose chase three times now! I think it may be a conspiracy to make sure Judy gets her daily exercise. Whatever it is a beautiful place to “hike”. J
Day 33 Friday April 23
Today was our day to drive the Cottonwood Canyon Road in Escalante Monument. We drove past Kodachrome State Park and Grosvenor Arch where we were earlier. The road was very rutted and rough and damp from there for a few miles until we got to a place which was recently bladed. It was great to see the multiple colored rocks,
wild flowers
, the Cockscomb rocks,
and in general great scenery. Since the road was so nice we decided to drive all the way through the 46 miles instead of just going part way and turning around part way. That meant taking US 89 north back to Hwy 12 past Bryce National Park again. We put several hundred miles on Goldie. The drive was well worth doing the Cottonwood road. Judy was surprised how nice it was. Tired from driving and Judy made a great dinner. Yummm.
Judy’s word
WoW! What an unexpected day. We saw a huge cave from the road, and took the time to walk the trail and see it. There were several caves.
All colored in pink, gold, white and red. No kidding. Walked back to the car and had our lunch. No one in sight for hours. Something I have forgotten to add… the day we drove into the Escalante Grand Staircase, we were so lucky to see a bright blue mountain blue bird. We have seen them almost every day. J
Day 34 Saturday April 24
Today was another rock hounding day. We went north on Hwy 12 to Hell’s Backbone road. Following the rock book instructions we went 3.3 miles (N 37’ 54.603, W 111’ 32.135) where we found some nice jasper. Then to the 5.5 miles mark (N 37’ 55.630, W 111’ 31.458) where we found some more jasper and some agate. We decided to drive the whole Hell’s backbone road of 45 miles but at 10 miles there was snow on the road. We drove back down and stopped for lunch. After lunch we decided to go into the woods because it looked like a view point. It was a burn area with tons of jasper lying all over the place. This site was 6.9 miles up the Hells Backbone road (N 37’ 56.626, W 111’ 32.009). Needless to say Goldie had a lot of rocks which were resorted and washed at the RV park and over a third were discarded. While close to Boulder, we went to Anasazi State Park where there were digs of a pueblo from about 900 years ago.
Came back to the motor home and got some things ready to take off tomorrow to Torrey, UT.
Judy’s word
Find myself rather reticent to leave this darling town of Escalante. We have had so many great times here. The traveling man says… we must be on the way. So… big time packing to move on to yet another adventure! J
Day 35 Sunday April 25
Left Escalante and headed north on hwy 12 to Torrey. The 60 miles was steep up and down with some 12% grades and sharp curves. Whew. A strain driving but I sure am learning how to drive the motor home. Judy survived the trip too. When we set up at Thousand Lakes RV Park, space 34, I started to put the slider out and it seemed sticky. Well, for some reason the awning which covers the slider did not work properly and ripped the fabric almost all the way off. The roller was also bent beyond straightening. Only thing to do was to take it off and throw it away which I did. Nice neighbor helped me to take it down. Drats!! The fabric was very frail and needed replacement anyway.. Now we need the whole mechanism.
Judy’s word
Here we are… Safe and sound after a very eventful day. I just got in the kitchen and drummed up a nice old fashioned beef stew. And some biscuits. We rest for the rest of the day. J
Day 36 Monday April 26
After breakfast we headed off to the Capital Reef National Park visitor center. We got current information about roads and trails. Part of the park is the old Mormon town of Fruita. Stopped by the old school house which had at most 26 students in one room. The desks looked like the ones we had in grade school. There are some petroglyphs right along the road.
We also stopped by the Behunin Cabin were a man and woman and 13 children lived. After traveling along hwy 24 for a ways we turned around and went to the old blacksmith shop and the Gifford house. We took the scenic drive and stopped at Grand Wash which was spectacular and then on to Capital Gorge which was just as spectacular. Wow. Great scenery.
Judy’s word
We could not pass up a real old fashioned treat that was offered at on old Mormon farm. That was strawberry and rhubarb pie. It will be our evening treat. J
Beautiful. We had a great time even though it was still windy with rain squalls. We went down one trail and came up another. Judy did great and was very happy to have made the trip even though the hike up was difficult for her.Judy’s word
Wow! What a day and what an experience. I must say… I was determined to make that hike, and with Richards encouragement I did it. I must say, I am a pretty tired lady tonight. The weather gave us another desert experience… rain and hail squalls, wind and some pretty dark clouds. Another part of this beautiful country. J
Day 32 Thursday April 22
Did laundry in the morning. Cold and windy. After lunch we went out to find the fossils. Searched high and low in the supposed area and we did not find any. Rats. Went to the rock shop again to give them some of the agates we got where they had told us to look. Also asked about coprolites from dinosaurs. After talking a while I told him about some of the things I was doing with rocks and we agreed that he would be interested in selling some of them. He sells lots of petrified wood at very high prices.
Judy’s word
I think we have been on a snipe hunt…We have been on this goose chase three times now! I think it may be a conspiracy to make sure Judy gets her daily exercise. Whatever it is a beautiful place to “hike”. J
Day 33 Friday April 23
Today was our day to drive the Cottonwood Canyon Road in Escalante Monument. We drove past Kodachrome State Park and Grosvenor Arch where we were earlier. The road was very rutted and rough and damp from there for a few miles until we got to a place which was recently bladed. It was great to see the multiple colored rocks,
wild flowers, the Cockscomb rocks, and in general great scenery. Since the road was so nice we decided to drive all the way through the 46 miles instead of just going part way and turning around part way. That meant taking US 89 north back to Hwy 12 past Bryce National Park again. We put several hundred miles on Goldie. The drive was well worth doing the Cottonwood road. Judy was surprised how nice it was. Tired from driving and Judy made a great dinner. Yummm.Judy’s word
WoW! What an unexpected day. We saw a huge cave from the road, and took the time to walk the trail and see it. There were several caves.
All colored in pink, gold, white and red. No kidding. Walked back to the car and had our lunch. No one in sight for hours. Something I have forgotten to add… the day we drove into the Escalante Grand Staircase, we were so lucky to see a bright blue mountain blue bird. We have seen them almost every day. JDay 34 Saturday April 24
Today was another rock hounding day. We went north on Hwy 12 to Hell’s Backbone road. Following the rock book instructions we went 3.3 miles (N 37’ 54.603, W 111’ 32.135) where we found some nice jasper. Then to the 5.5 miles mark (N 37’ 55.630, W 111’ 31.458) where we found some more jasper and some agate. We decided to drive the whole Hell’s backbone road of 45 miles but at 10 miles there was snow on the road. We drove back down and stopped for lunch. After lunch we decided to go into the woods because it looked like a view point. It was a burn area with tons of jasper lying all over the place. This site was 6.9 miles up the Hells Backbone road (N 37’ 56.626, W 111’ 32.009). Needless to say Goldie had a lot of rocks which were resorted and washed at the RV park and over a third were discarded. While close to Boulder, we went to Anasazi State Park where there were digs of a pueblo from about 900 years ago.
Came back to the motor home and got some things ready to take off tomorrow to Torrey, UT.Judy’s word
Find myself rather reticent to leave this darling town of Escalante. We have had so many great times here. The traveling man says… we must be on the way. So… big time packing to move on to yet another adventure! J
Day 35 Sunday April 25
Left Escalante and headed north on hwy 12 to Torrey. The 60 miles was steep up and down with some 12% grades and sharp curves. Whew. A strain driving but I sure am learning how to drive the motor home. Judy survived the trip too. When we set up at Thousand Lakes RV Park, space 34, I started to put the slider out and it seemed sticky. Well, for some reason the awning which covers the slider did not work properly and ripped the fabric almost all the way off. The roller was also bent beyond straightening. Only thing to do was to take it off and throw it away which I did. Nice neighbor helped me to take it down. Drats!! The fabric was very frail and needed replacement anyway.. Now we need the whole mechanism.
Judy’s word
Here we are… Safe and sound after a very eventful day. I just got in the kitchen and drummed up a nice old fashioned beef stew. And some biscuits. We rest for the rest of the day. J
Day 36 Monday April 26
After breakfast we headed off to the Capital Reef National Park visitor center. We got current information about roads and trails. Part of the park is the old Mormon town of Fruita. Stopped by the old school house which had at most 26 students in one room. The desks looked like the ones we had in grade school. There are some petroglyphs right along the road.
We also stopped by the Behunin Cabin were a man and woman and 13 children lived. After traveling along hwy 24 for a ways we turned around and went to the old blacksmith shop and the Gifford house. We took the scenic drive and stopped at Grand Wash which was spectacular and then on to Capital Gorge which was just as spectacular. Wow. Great scenery.Judy’s word
We could not pass up a real old fashioned treat that was offered at on old Mormon farm. That was strawberry and rhubarb pie. It will be our evening treat. J
Day 25 Monday April 12 85972 
In fact we had snow snifters most of the morning. The temperature was in the low 30’s most of the day. We did get some sun in the late afternoon. We even ate lunch at a picnic table with snow coming down. The park was beautiful as ever with the snow falling making it even more interesting. Great day of scenery.
We did find some nice pieces. Motor home will not be happy with all the rocks. In the afternoon, we went to the local clinic for Judy to have some work done on her big toe. All is well with that. We spent the rest of the afternoon just enjoying.
One was normal looking, the other was formed a tunnel in the shape of a “C”.
Never seen anything like it.
ate lunch and headed out. Drove further down the canyon road to Grosvenor Arch, which is a double arch.
Hiked around and took some pictures. Rock book said there were some fossils around and we found them but not in the place the book mentioned (N37‘ 27.323, W 111‘ 49.716). Drove back the 25 miles of rutted, bumpy and wash board road back to Canyonville and home. Ate pizza for dinner.
The falls were good because of the snow melt. On the way back from the falls I wanted to take closer picture of the pictographs across the creek so I waded the creek and climbed up .
As I was investigating the best view, I came across a small cave with water and ferns. An strange event occurred, I heard a flute playing and it was echoing off the walls. I did not see anyone around.
On the way we saw a flock of seven wild turkeys. Well after driving around we finally found the trail and hiked up a few hundred yards The trail starts 1.5 miles (N 37’ 45.881, W 42.658) off Hwy 12 up Main Canyon road.. Very interesting picture.
