Utah trip - day 3 - May 6, 2022 (F)
The sky was bright with stars when it got dark. It was nice to not have the fly and being able to see the big dipper. We woke up to a cool morning a bit before 6. As usual, Norm was able to break camp faster than I could. By close to 6:30, we were on the road again.
Campsite alternative to Muddy Creek
We were thankful that the roads were in better shape, though we still had hills (up and down). After a bit we got to the Muddy Creek area which we had as a destination the night before. For most of the afternoon the day before and this morning, we kept following the fresh tracks of two bikers. While we didn't know how far ahead of us they were, we were both going the same direction. There was a lot of beautiful scenery in this region, particularly in the Red's Canyon area.
View from the road
This was a decent road to ride on with nice scenery.
Horse Valley Wilderness Area is part of the San Rafael Swell.
More road scenery.
Another view with a reddening of the rock
More red rock in the background
We stopped about 8 a.m. to change out of long pants and jackets. See link above for Red's canyon, which is where we went next. We did not go to Hondoo Arch.
We found some shade to take a break for a bite and drink and appreciate the beauty.
Here is where I was sitting when I took the last shot (but this done by Norm)
There were many large rocks like this with signs of erosion acting on them.
We started moving away from the Red's Canyon area and heading back east.
Here we are looking back west from where we were.
As it got closer to noon and we needed to decide if we should head back or take the last part of the planned loop, I mentioned that we were running low on water and we decided to head back. When we were within 2 to 4 miles of our campground, a camper truck slowed down as we approached. After we passed, we saw that they actually stopped, rather than turning as we had thought they were planning. We backed up and began talking with them and learned that they were aiming to where we had just come from and we offered some thoughts. In return, they offered us some cold water, which we readily accepted.
This is shortly before 1:00 as we headed back, thirsty, hungry, hot, and tired.
A few minutes later, looking in another direction.
We then made it back to our campground and rested some and got organized. On this Friday afternoon, we saw more and more people coming in and looking for a camping site. One family, I noticed, first set up a tent and then after some of the typical strong gusts of wind hit the campground, they began taking things down. Since we were low on water and did not even have enough to do what we wanted in the area the next day, I decided to go over and ask them about their situation and hoping to ask if they had any water that we could buy. The mother said that two of their tent poles broke in the wind and the kids didn't want to make do, so they decided to go home. When asking about water, she offered us as much as we wanted of a 5 gallon container they had, even offering us the container itself (though not accepted). We filled up all of our water containers (each of us also had collapsible 2 liter containers in addition to bottles) and I expressed my appreciation for their gift of life. That family soon pulled out to be replaced by others. Norm and I had been using two of the three tables under the shelter and another couple took up the third table. After the couple returned to their site, we moved all of our things to that one table and others started using the other tables. One, in fact, set up his hammock adjacent to one table, using the posts as places to attach his hammock.
As we prepared and ate supper at the far table, others came to the middle table and were talking about a group of 40 coming. Eventually, they moved to another location. We set up our tents after packing up everything else and eventually headed in before dark. I think Norm said he got to sleep quickly, but I was closer to the tables and there was vehicular and foot traffic and many conversations there until after 10. One group of 6 girls got out and started talking noisily at the table when it was after dark. I poked my head up and called "Gals!". They looked and quieted down, eventually leaving with their group to another location. It was nice to again look up and see the big dipper.
Published 2022-05-20