10/30/2026
Our final day on the road started with a STUNNING sunrise! And continued with more stunning scenery along a wild ride!
We continued along Utah Highway 12, a top scenic byway, stopping at the Escalante Interangency Visitor center to learn more about the "Grand Staircase" of geology we have been traveling thru this trip (and to ride a lizard😜).
When we got up the Hogback we had to stop for pictures as thewidth of the ridge we were on is the only thing separating two box canyons! The highlight of a fun lunch in Torrey was some of the best ice cream we've had 🍦...including a local flavor: Juniper Berry.
Then it was over to the Capitol Reef National Park visitor center...a small, but really interesting space introducing us to both the geologic and human history of this remote area found in a waterpocket fold of the earth.
We concluded our explorations in Fruita, where the settler's history in the area was centered...at one time they had planted 2700 fruit trees in this lush stretch along the Fremont River. In one of the old homes was a small museum...and bake shop! Personal pies, many made with fruit grown there in the park still today, were a final treat for many.
Our marvelous driver Ken powered on through to our hotel, so we got a nice break before gathering for our final dinner together. Great times, great memories, great people...what a trip!
