Well we got up a little after 8:00 AM, but it seemed that we moved slow. We did our usual morning routines and loaded the pickup with the camera and ice chest. We headed to Capitol Reef National Park. I drove because I needed the practice and Steve needed to relax his neck.
Our first stop was the gas station and I found what I want Santa to bring me for Christmas.
Yep a UTV!
So off we went. We took the scenic route, back to Sigurd, then Burrville, next LOA, Bicknell, Teasdale, then Torrey. Torrey is where the National Park visitor center is located. We saw beautiful rock formations all around us. On the drive we drove as high as 8,000 feet and that altitude is not good for Steve.
As we entered Capitol Reef though we dropped back down in elevation to around 5500 feet and I started making sure Steve was getting plenty of fluid. He started feeling a little better after that.
From the park brochure:
Capitol Reef lies in the heart of Utah's canyon country. Here you see geologic formations of the Waterpocket Fold and Cathedral Valley, archeological evidence of the ancient Fremont Culture, vestiges of a historic Mormon settlement and a range of habitats for diverse plants and animals. A giant buckle in the Earth's crust stretches across south-central Utah. This vast warping of rock, created 65 million years ago by the same great forces later uplifting the Colorado Plateau, is called the Waterpocket Fold. Capitol Reef National Park preserves the Fold and its eroded jumble of colorful cliffs, massive domes, soaring spires, stark monoliths, twisting canyons, and graceful arches.
Highway 24 runs all the way through the park and so no entrance fee is required to drive this highway. There was another scenic drive that was 25 miles one way--we didn't take it because we had already driven 89 miles one way. The drive we took was very interesting. We stopped at the Goosenecks Overlook and walked around and took pictures.
Next we toured the Fruita Historic District, a very popular area, with picnic grounds, campgrounds and orchards. You can pick fruit from the orchards if you want. Fruita was a historic Mormon settlement and has a Nature Center, Blacksmith Shop,Gifford House and the Fremont River runs through it. We took the scenic route back to the RV and enjoyed it all the way!
We went downtown to Mom's Cafe which was featured in the book Eat Your Way Across The USA as one of the best places to eat in America. It has more recently been featured in National Geographic Explorer Magazine. I guess celebrities have eaten here, because we saw pictures of them on the walls (Willie Nelson, Ashlee Judd, Buddy Hackett). I ordered their famous Chicken Fried Steak- very bland, cream gravy -- too thick, Salad - good, Scone (fried bread) - Excellent with the Honey Butter Sauce. I would not return.
This one blog said: "Historically, Salinas is known as the place where Butch Cassidy was born and raised before he became a gunslinger and outlaw" (utahstories.com).
At least now I know why our campground is named Butch Cassidy Campground. Another source stated the Butch Cassidy was born at Beaver UT (south and west of here). So I don't really know where he was born!
We walked and found a nice turquoise colored rock that I took a picture of and then Steve found a smaller one and gave it to me.!!
A rock for my finger-LOL.
We will leave here tomorrow and hopefully have a bigger site. This is our crowded site along with the half picnic table!
One of the reasons I picked this spot was because the altitude was not so high as other areas near Capitol Reef and also because it was named Butch Cassidy Campground. Just goes to show you can't always go by a name.
Oh, and another huge barn!
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