Back on May 10, FabGrandpa and I and one of our co-workers, went to St. George, Utah to buy some boots, which we are all required to wear on the job. The drive over there is amazing, if only because it looks so different from Georgia, my home state. You go through views of Vermillion Cliffs, huge geological formations such as I had never seen before. I took a gazillion pictures, and it was really hard to choose just a few to show you here.
After driving for about 80 miles or so through views like that, you come to Hurricane, Utah. A little green valley in the midst of the desert. Here is a view of Hurricane from the mountain road:
This little shop is on the side of the road in “downtown” Hurricane. I know I will be stopping there someday soon:
After we did our shopping in St. George, we decided to take the road through Zion National Park on the way home. Or, Sally, our co-worker, badgered Jim into going that way. I stayed out of the discussion, because 1. I wanted to go, and 2. I knew from Jim’s remarks that he did not want to go that way, but Sally doesn’t know him well enough to have recognized it. Anyway, we went that way, and in the end, Jim told Sally, “Thanks for making me take this road.”
On the way to Zion, we passed this river. There was no sign or anything telling us the name of it, but it was nice to look at:
This the town that is right outside of Zion National Park, to th west of it. I think it was called Springdale. I like that the shops are all lined up, and unless you look really hard, you can’t tell where the roofs end and the rocks begin.
It i so hard to imagine these rocks being eroded by water and wind. They look so chisled, so clean cut in places, that it looks like sculptors did this. These pictures don’t really convey the true beauty of the area.
I just can’t come up with the right words to describe this area. This cliff, with its huge boulder like rocks, made our truck look tiny.
Look closely near the center of this picture, near the bottom, right above the trees. You will see an opening in the rock. We thought at first it was a cave, but it is actually a window in the tunnel that goes through this mountain.
On the other side of the tunnel, we saw some mountain sheep. We got out and walked down a short trail to get pictures of them. The pictures did not come out that good, so I can’t share them with you, so you’ll just have to believe me that I saw them.
After driving through this fabulous national park, we stopped in Kanab, Utah to buy groceries. I felt like it was rather odd to see all this wonderful scenery, then just hop into the grocery store to buy milk, eggs, and butter. But, I guess that is how it is for people who have lived here all their lives, who drive to work down that road.
Froggi Donna says
Like you, one reason I love the West so much is that it’s so different from the East where I grew up and lived most of my life.
cateepoo says
These pictures are wonderful! Wow! I am glad Sally talked Fabgrandpa into taking the alternate route. You must always be thinking, “How did we get so lucky?”
Lynn Barry says
Your pics are gorgeous! HUGS
tomanan says
Karen, your pictures are awesome and your blog is very enjoyable. We are jealous! You two really picked a fabulous spot to “work”. Nancy
Emiline says
Nice pictures, and beautiful looking land!
I’m skeptical about the sheep you saw, though. I need proof!
Just kidding. I believe you.
Anonymous says
Hey! I used to live there! St. George is beautiful in its own right…but in the summer heat its like being an ant under God’s own magnifying glass. I went out to the dinosaur tracks…not the ones under the tent on the family farm, but the ones way out the way out. That area right up to Zion is beautiful, Springdale particularly, but there was no way in hell I was going to pay $20 to drive through Zion.
Your blog made me a little homesick.
c.