Hello folks,
The things that I had planned to do here in Utah has not worked out too well. Today I headed south and got off the interstate in Payson to take the Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway. This scenic mountain road will break up the boring interstate driving. I drive down this skinny little road, speed limit 20-30mph, for about ten miles when I come to this...
You would think that they would post a sign saying road closed ahead, but no. Why did my navigation system plot a course through there. My navigation tells me every time the traffic slows ahead but for this I get nothing. So I turn around and return to the interstate the same way I came.
Now it is a 200 mile drive to my next stop, Cedar Breaks National Monument. It goes very fast. I was able to drive 85mph the whole way. No construction at all for 200 miles, AMAZING! Very few people on I-15 early on Sunday morning. I get off the interstate and head to Cedar Breaks. I have been there before but I didn't realize how high up the place is. It didn't take long before there was snow everywhere. It was 70 degrees five minutes ago. I get to the first scenic overlook and it is buried in snow. You can't get near it. So I pass it by. There are two more overlooks ahead. About a half mile more the road is closed.
So again I have to turn around and go back to the Interstate. I later learned that they usually always get open by Memorial Day Weekend, but they had 20 inches of snow this Memorial Day Weekend. Now they are trying to get the snow cleared to open up sometime later this week.
At this point I am getting a bit frustrated. It's June for Pete's sake! I get to Cedar City at Noon, about four hours ahead of schedule. This is where I am spending the night. I go to Golden Corral and have Sunday dinner. I haven't been to one of these places for years. After I eat I head 20 miles south to Kolob Canyons. I get to the entrance and I see a barricade blocking the road ahead. I thought it was going to be closed too. But it was just directing people into the visitor center to pay an entrance fee.
Kolob Canyons was beautiful. But it's a pretty small area and didn't take long to see.
It's a part of Zion National Park. I've been to Zion many times but I've never been to Kolob Canyons.
This place was beautiful but it didn't quite fill my day. I could have gone down to the main part of Zion, but I've been there so many times I didn't feel the need.
Next I drive back to Cedar City. I plan to visit a lot of lighthouses when I get to the coast of California and Oregon. But I got to see my first one today.
I do not know why land locked Cedar City has a lighthouse. I got to my hotel, no it's really a motel. Since I'm not getting it free tonight I picked the place offering the best rate. It was the Clarion. It appears to be the oldest place in town. The room is comfortable enough but the smell of cleaning products are so strong my eyes are watering.
More later,
Tim
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