Bryce and Boulder Adventure

Friday September 3. Today was absolutely amazing. I keep thinking things can't get better, but somehow they do. Here we go:

I rode into Bryce Canyon National Park and because it's a deadend park, I rode all the way to the end and then on the way back I stopped at all the vistas. They are on the top rim of the park and you look out or down at the hoodoos and other formations. The colours are absolutely spectacular, and the sky couldn't be any bluer.

Part of the park had a fire last year, that was interesting to see as well. After stopping at every overlook (about 15) they were starting to look the same, and despite people telling me that Bryce was their favourite, I was more impressed with Zion. I had decided that I wasn't going to hike today, because my legs were tired from yesterday's climb. However, when I got to Sunset overlook, I saw a trail called Navajo that led down switchbacks between the hoodoos to the canyon floor. I couldn't resist.

So, I hiked for two hours climbing down and then looping back up on the trail. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The colours, the quiet, the rocks, the light and the trees that somehow grow there... it was amazing. After climbing back up, I finished the last couple of overlooks and headed back to the entrance to get gas and ride on.

Highway 12 east from Bryce is marked as a scenic drive, but it should be a park! Gorgeous views, great road and little traffic. Perfect recipe for a fun ride. I took my time and finally arrived in Escalante, where I thought I'd stay. But since there was still light, I decided to head further towards Moab. I met an English couple at an overlook and they told me that were hotels in the next town, Boulder, Utah. So, I headed on. On the way I stopped at another overlook that was the crest of a rounded mountain. The road traveled across the top and the road was exactly as wide as the mountain was! I met four bikers there and we had a good yack and took pictures.

When I arrived in Boulder, I discovered it was a hamlet at best, tiny. There was a lodge, but they were fully booked. The lady tried to phone another motel just up the road, but no answer. So, she told me about another place, about two hundred yards further along, where the owner left keys on the door of his house for rooms at a three room motel. She told me, if there was a key take it and pay in the morning. She also told me that, the next part of the road was up and over Boulder Mountain. I didn't want to do that in the dark. So, I went to the house. I really old farm type house, and sure enough there was one key left on the door. I took it, it said room 1 for $79. I went and had a look. It was circa 1950! I had a suite, two queens, a sitting room and a full kitchen, but all old and tired, but thankfully clean. Having no real option I moved in.

Shortly afterwards, the people who had reserved the room beside mine, showed up. The front of their car was banged up and they told me that they had just hit a deer while crossing Boulder Mountain! The man told me that the collison broke two of the deers legs and it was flailing on the road. So, he got out, cut the deer's throat and let it bleed to death!

Thankful that I had a room, and hadn't decided to tackle the mountain, I decided to go back to the lodge and treat myself to a meal at their gourmet restaurant (remember, this is in the middle of nowhere!). Apparently, it's an award winning restaurant. My waitress asked where I was from. When I said Toronto, she asked me, which part? Turns out she lived in the beaches area who four years. She lived on Kennilworth St., right by Licks on Queen East. This is the same street that Mark and Christine used to live on before they moved to Coe Hill!

I had a yummy dinner, house salad and a spicy meatloaf and homegrown organic vegetables, and two home brewed organic beers too. The British couple were in the restaurant too, so after we ate, I chatted them up for awhile, before heading back to the Circle Cliffs Motel for the night.