With an early start, we were able to appreciate the effect
of the sun’s low angle on the landscape, and the contrast of deep shadows and
brightly-lit rock faces as it rose in the sky.
We also saw ice at the edges of streams and snow in the bush as the
highway rose to higher altitudes. A couple
of times, we passed farmers’ fields crusted in white ice where the irrigation
systems had been running before the sun got warm enough to melt it. We smiled as we passed a lone horse, standing
next to the crusty field, wondering how he was supposed to get a drink in these
conditions.
Highway 12 meandered up and down through high plains, deep
valleys and mountain passes, switching back in serpentine patterns as it
climbed and descended. Every time we
came to a blind curve or hilltop, it was like waiting for a surprise to reveal
itself. Gradually, as we turned around
the bend, a whole new array of rock formations came into view, or, at the top
of the hill, a vast landscape of peaceful valleys, rolling hills, rocky
monuments and purple mountains far in the distance, dazzled us once again.
We pulled over multiple times to drink in the beauty all around.
Each spot was unique, and I began to think I was going to end up taking a photo
of every rock in Utah at the rate I was going!
But they were all so amazing!
The variety of the ter-rain we cov-ered today was
incre-dible. High plains farm-lands.
Pine-forested mountains. Rock-bor-dered gor-ges. Flat, red-sanded desert.
Desolate, grey moonscapes. It was as if
we were turning the pages of a life-sized picture book every few miles, where
nothing resembled what had come before.
On the plain, Val spotted a jackrabbit on the shoulder of the
highway. I didn’t manage to see it, but seconds later, there were three of
them, and then five more, all caught unawares by our arrival, and bouncing
madly into the tall grass.
Then, in the pine-forested mountain section, I saw a
deer. Then we saw six or eight of them
by the road. We’d never seen so many together, and Val was able to pull over so
I could snap a picture. The deer eyed me
apprehensively but stayed put for a time before deciding they’d best move on –
long enough for a couple of good shots. (We’d seen a herd of eight or ten elk
between Bryce Canyon and our RV park a couple of days ago, too, which I forgot
to mention. Quite a sight.)
It was at the crossroads of Highway 12 and Highway 24 that
we saw a roadside eatery and stopped for lunch.
By this time it was warm enough for us to eat at the outdoor table in
the sun. What a treat.
Not long afterward, we saw the sign for Capitol Reef State
Park, another protected territory full of rocky castles and turrets, striped
mesas and slot canyons, all served up right along the highway, free of charge.
Amazing.
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