15 May 2013: We set off from SLC for the great Utah outdoors with the destination of Blanding for the Huff to Bluff Marathon on the 18th. Our first stop was Capitol Reef National Park, where we camped in the orchards of Fruita after driving through this spectacular area of Utah.
Capitol Reef National Park
A small community was settled by Mormon pioneers, who planted fruit trees.
The village eventually became known as Fruita.
Visitors still reap the benefits today!
16 May 2013: We take a spectacular drive from Capitol Reef NP through the rugged area of Glen Canyon, Natural Bridges, and Valley of the Gods.
Indian cliff dwellings at Natural Bridges National Park
We walked to three of the main natural bridges in the park.
There was a time horses and wagons were allowed to drive over the natural bridges
We leave Natural Bridges NP and see the road we need to take, but how do we get down there?
It's called the Moki Dugway, and as soon as I saw it I recognized it from Lee's photographs.
It is a three mile unpaved road of switchbacks.
Thom at Glen Canyon, Utah
Sheila at Glen Canyon, Utah
Once down the mountain, we took a detour into the Valley of the Gods.
Navajo Twins formation at Bluff, Utah
17 May 2013: We arrived at Hovenweep National Park last night, and spent the morning walking to the Indian dwellings.
Hovenweep National Park, on the border of Utah and Colorado.
Thom at Hovenweep NP, Utah
Sheila at Hovenweep NP, Utah
18 May 2013: We arrived in Blanding the night before and Thom was up early to start the Huff to Bluff Marathon, Blanding to Bluff, Utah.
Thom at the 23 mile point.
Thom takes first place in his age bracket; time was 3:46:38 and qualifies him for Boston.
We head back to SLC through mixed weather - this is hailstone!
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