Driving Home

 Day 1 of 4 (hopefully):

Thankful that the van, and us, survived another I70 Rockies crossing. Some snow up high and the usual traffic, trucks, tunnels, crazy drivers. We went from Goblin SP Utah to Cedar Bluffs SP Kansas.

Taken by Holly when she wasn't holding on in fear:

Early AM

Cedar Bluffs SP

Day 2 of 4

Quiet night at Walmart Marshall IL. Also a nice pilot right near Walmart. Good place to stop. Good sunset from parking lot.

Day 3 of 4

Lots of traffic, trucks, cities. Indianapolis gets worst driving city award again. I70 a mess near this city. Broken windshield from rocks falling off truck later in day.

A two hour stop at Cuyahoga National Park. Hiked the Ledges Trail which was pretty nice. Very green, humid, interesting ledge rocks that had a Western feel to them. Back East so forget the sun screen and bring a rain coat!

Erie PA:

Dinner at Porky's Pizza. New to us: Pepperoni balls. Amazing church nearby.

Day 4 of 4: Erie PA to home

A day of little hassle driving. Some traffic around Buffalo then good the rest of the way. Went through the Adirondacks which made it a little nicer. Great to be home!

Crown Point:

Capital Reef NP

 The day started cold and wet. Actual rain last night and then light rain in the morning as we started a hike in Grand Wash at Capital Reef. This is a canyon hike that gets more narrow with Rock walls on both sides further on. The river was running high and red. Cold and wet on the way out and then the sun started to come out in the way back. Lots of stream crossings due to the high river going right up to one side or the other. We were dry by the time we reached the car.

The day got mostly sunny after that and much warmer. We had pie for lunch in Fruita which used to be a small town and is now part of the park. Pie is a big deal here. There are fruit trees in the area and you have to get there before they sell out. Good lunch!

Next was Fremont River Trail. Nice hike up to views down into a canyon and surrounding mountains. It starts along the river with lots of trees and green in general. Another good day at Capital Reef. This park is pretty laid back for a National Park.

Pictograph near Goblin in the AM:

Capital Reef, Grand Wash:

Fruita, Fremont River hike: