Still tired from the day before, we rolled out of Ely around 7:45am. We had forgotten how beautiful this part of Nevada is especially in the cool morning sunlight.
We were soon in Utah and chose a new route through the Great Basin. It was really windy and we were ready to start climbing the surrounding mountains to get out of the buffeting. 
We started to climb into the mountains to the east and began to see the iconic rock formations that one identifies with Utah.
We stopped for lunch outside of Red Rock Canyon on Highway 20 and then continued through the stunning red rock formations which don’t even look real. It seemed like a set at Disneyland.
It was our first time visiting Bryce Canyon National Park. We rode the entire 18 mile length of the park to Rainbow Point which provides a look north up the Canyon. We can’t describe the awe-inspiring views. We have seen photos but until you witness these formations firsthand, you don’t appreciate the beauty. Here are our pictures that attempt to capture this stunning scenery.
These towering formations are called hoodoos. They are formed by weathering, erosion and freeze thaw cycles over many thousands of years. 
We left Bryce reluctantly because the sky was looking ominous. We entered Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument which a series of plateaus of sedimentary rocks.
We arrived at our end point in Escalante, UT at around 4:30 Mountain time. We had low expectations for this place but we’re very pleased with the adorable cabin.
We were also expecting to have few dining choices. We walked up the hill to a little restaurant called the Devil’s Garden. It was the best meal we’ve had in a very long time. Bacon-filled jalapeño poppers, bison meatloaf and the most enormous chili rellenos either of us has ever seen. With full bellies, we made our way back toward the cabin and were rewarded with this beautiful sunset. 
Southern Utah is not big on barns. Shelters and small outbuildings, but not barns. This is the best we could do.
Tomorrow we head to Meeker, Colorado. Much of the ride will be freeway which we try to avoid at all costs, but this can’t be helped. Here’s what Tom thinks of freeways…
We will visit Capitol Reef National Park as part of our nearly 400 mile day. Early start tomorrow so we better sign off and get some sleep.
Monkeybutt Chronicles 