Roaming with Beau - Day 6, March 29th, 2023

Virgin, UT and Bryce Canyon NP

Entryway at Red Canyon, Dixie NF, Utah.

I got up in the middle of the night and it was pitch black. I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to look at the stars. Wrong. I opened the door and the sky was filled with clouds. Bummer. I'm hoping there will be many more opportunities for star gazing. My alarm went off at 0630 and I was up shortly after that. After I had a quick breakfast and coffee, Beau and I did our usual morning stroll so he could take care of business. On returning to the rig I got everything secured and ready to move in the afternoon. The rain was supposed to come later in the day and my plan was to move out of the area I was in. My spot was right next to the creek and the red clay like soil would turn into a muddy mess as was evident from the ruts of recent days past.

Red Canyon, Utah

Running lite (without trailer) back out to Interstate 15 North, we ran at the 80 MPH speed limit to Highway 20 and retraced our steps back to Panguitch, through Red Canyon, and finally into Bryce Canyon National Park. By the way, yes, Panguitch does have a bakery but somehow I missed it. Twice. We entered the National Park with the temperature at 45 degrees (not minus 9 like the other day) and the sun shining. It was a short, easy drive to the lookout points I was most interested in seeing. I put Beau on a short leash as required and we walked out to the Rim Trail. The canyons were absolutely spectacular! It was nearing noon so I took in both Sunset Point and Sunrise Point. Regardless, I have to say the view was awesome. Breathtaking! I just stood there taking it in. Many thoughts went through my mind in that time: the imagination and greatness of our Creator, the long past years of my youth and watching the Road Runner cartoons, shadows and the plays of color and light, grateful that I finally actually came here, and how excited Beau was to be able to roll, skootch, snarf, and frolic in the snow. Children and adults were stopping to watch him play and rub his offered belly. It was an enjoyable morning.

From Sunset View Point, Bryce Canyon NP, Utah

From Sunrise View Point, Bryce Canyon NP, Utah.

While Zion was beautiful and amazing in the huge variety of terrain, colors, and marvels nature had worked on it, the beauty of Bryce was more condensed, similar in the way erosion had worked on it, and the brightness of the snow on the deep reds and oranges made a spectacular contrast. I would say both Parks deserved much longer visits, perhaps with stays within the parks themselves so you could enjoy the variations of both morning and evening light, and without freezing body parts or dealing with the crowds. Perhaps these days you can't have it both ways.

View out the dirty back window of the trailer. BMX bike park, Virgin, UT.

After topping off with fuel (pulling a trailer OR going 80 MPH both do a number on the fuel) we got back at the North Creek Dispersed camping area and easily hooked up the trailer and moved out of there by mid-afternoon. It had not started raining yet but the wind was blowing pretty good. The freeway alert signs said they were at 45 MPH. We weren't going very far up the road but the area I had scouted out was on higher ground, mostly packed gravel, fairly level so I was able to leave the rig hooked up, and has a nice view of the painted hillside out the big back window of the trailer.

The plan for tomorrow is to get underway by mid-morning and head to the Valley of Fire State Park east of Las Vegas where the sun is shining and the temperatures are in the upper 60s.