Wed, April 28, 2010

We awoke to a beautiful sunrise and a clear blue sky with only a slight breeze… not what we were expecting but we were glad that the bad weather had eluded us for at least one more day.  After a very nice continental breakfast in the restaurant with a beautiful view of Lake Powell, Charles went to check out and I took the pups on a short walk.  Overnight there appeared an abundant crop of evening primroses in full bloom right outside our room.  Wildflowers are always a treat but there is something extra special about blooms in the desert. 

Since the weather had cooperated it was still a go to take the long dirt road from Lake Powell to Boulder, UT called the Burr Trail.  We’ve taken this route many times but we see something new every time and today was no exception.  We stopped numerous times to take pictures and do a little walking… trying to soak up the last of the perfect weather for what might be several days. The forecast is for extremely high winds followed by several inches of snow in the higher elevations.  But for at least the morning we had near perfect weather.

The Burr Trail is a very old dirt road (originally a cattle trail established in 1876 by John Burr) and not often traveled except by area cowboys and a few hardy tourists until the establishment of the Escalante National Monument which brought many more tourists to the area around Capital Reef National Park and the Burr Trail.  A short portion of the old road was paved (about 18 miles of the 68 mile trail) and a few washes (which were often impassable to everything but a high clearance 4wd) were partially paved to allow the road to return to usability more quickly after a rain.  Still it is very remote and the number of vehicles on it is minimal.  We found another loop road about 25 miles long and took it as a way to explore a new area of Capital Reef.  About halfway around the loop we found a small canyon out of the wind (yes the wind was picking up) and had a picnic lunch amidst the towering red rock walls.  After our picnic we finished the loop and returned to the Burr Trail to encounter stronger winds.  In Boulder, UT we stopped to get a coke and decided on Bryce Canyon and Ruby’s Inn as our destination for the evening.  With each mile the wind grew stronger and the crystal clear views gave way to a dust filled sky.  We made only one short stop at an overlook due to the deteriorating weather. 

At Ruby’s Inn we got a room and then made a short trip into the park to take just a few pictures in the late afternoon light.  Due to the very brisk temperatures and the gusty winds we did not tarry long but I was lucky enough to get pictures of prairie dogs, deer and antelope on the short drive out of the park. 

After a hearty dinner in the Ruby’s Inn restaurant we retired to the room to relax and discuss the day.  A snow of three to four inches is predicted for tonight and tomorrow, weather permitting, we’ll head for Nevada and points north and west.

It was another great day in the desert despite the rather brisk ending and we are reminded once again how quickly the weather can change in the west… shirt sleeves, mild breezes and crystal clear blue skies gave way to a heavy coat, gloves, wind gusts somewhere around 50 mph, and dust filled skies! But it was still awesome! Inside our warm, calm, comfortable motel room sipping on a cup of hot coffee… we are definitely well tonight and hope you all are too.

Peace,

Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger