The drive yesterday was the continuation of Hwy 50 to Nevada Rt 487 to the Utah border, through the towns of Baker, NV and then Garrison, UT on Utah Rt 21, many miles through lonely land, much of the same as the day before.
More lonely roads to drive down on...
Through Midford to Minersville where I turned onto 130 all the way to Cedar City. It's quarter past eight, I'm tired and the car need gas, here I fill-up at a truck-stop for 1.889 per gallon, whoa, what a bargain, I also check the oil and need to add 2 quarts already, boy I might pay more for the oil than for the gas on this trip, I pay and head to town in search for a cheap stay, it's way to cold to camp out. Super 7 charges me 35.61, that's a dollar more than the KOA down the street, done deal. I eat some of my food in the room and busy myself with writing and sorting out pictures.
A night in a motel, almost as expansive as the local campground...
Next thing it's one in the morning, I check the thermometer and it shows 24°F, boy am I glad to stay inside a warm motel-room, with shower and towels and bed-sheets and all that luxury. That night it snowed some more and that made the drive over the Midway Summit, elevation 9896 ft, on Utah Rt 14 more interesting, I'm glad that I have new tires, slush and snow challenge a few drivers here. One young lady crashed into the snowbank on the way down, nothing major happen she just does not know how to drive in the snow. I pulled over and walked over to her to see if everything is fine, she ask me if she should be driving in 4 wheel drive... well hello, anybody home???
Leaving Cedar City for the mountains...
( movie of driving)
The 14 ends at Long Valley Junction on Hwy 89. I go and get some hot water for tea and then I have to make a decision, Bryce Canyon or straight to the place I had on my mind... Bryce wins. The only time I was in Bryce Canyon was with Andreas Schlegel, way back in October of 2000, it was already night with a fat full moon, a magic place. Today will be a different magic. At one thirty I get to the Bryce Canyon Visiter Center, it's 36, windy and some snow flurry, I'm at around 7850 ft elevation, I paid 25 bucks to get in and now where is a good place for a hike. All the way out at the end of the road.
I stop at the Fairview Point, a short hike out to the Piracy Point tells me that it os fucking cold and I don't have the right stuff with me. Still onwards to my destination, Rainbow Point, 9100 ft high, windy like hell at the look-out and colder that shit, but after all it is 3 o'clock just as I roll onto the parking lot. Lets get serious about a hike...
Driving to Bryce Canyon, through Red Canyon, National Park entrance to Swamp Canyon???... What are we in Louisiana already...
3 o'clock just arrived at Rainbow Point... It does not feel like hawaii at all...
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