Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah: Okay, we are back in cell-service range! Bryce Canyon National Park was our destination for Friday, but too long for a one-day drive for us slow pokes. (I feel free to use cowboy references in Utah.) So, we left Park City late morning and mozzied on down Highway 89, stopping in Heber City for provisions.
There was a beautiful huge new Smith’s (Kroger grocer), next to a big old Smith’s in Heber City. There were no cars in the new parking lot, but many in the old. We figured a move was in the future. It was an odd shopping experience, as the shelves were a bit bare. They had all the fruits and veg we needed, but when I asked the clerk at the Murray Cheese counter for fresh mozzarella, she said it had all been moved to the new store, set to open Saturday.
We continued south, driving through many small agricultural towns. Lots of perfectly tended homes and properties and lots of LDS temples. Again, we had trouble finding fuel, but struck gold #2 diesel at the third place we tried. We stopped in Manti. Manti had a temple that looked like a European castle and a promising-looking grocer, that did, indeed, have fresh mozzarella. We had lunch in the RV and continued south, still on Highway 89.
Our campsite for Thursday was in Palisades State Park near Sterling, Utah. I thought we had been here before, but was mistaken. This state park, on a lake reservoir, also has a regulation 18-hole golf course.
On my walk around the shore (DT went on a bike ride), I met two little boys - brothers, I am guessing - from the way they looked. They had long skinny twigs/sticks with fishing line and hooks attached. Snickering to myself, I asked if they had caught anything today, only to learn the little fellow (5 years old?) had caught TWO rainbow twout this morning and his mom was going to cook them for dinner! He told me they were 18" long. Snickering over!
We paid only $45 for a full hookup campsite. The campground is really large, but they have only a small number of full hookup sites. Most of the sites are for tent camping. The lake offers swimming, boating, boat rentals, and fishing. The water temperature was 69°.
While we were in Jackson last week, we bought frozen bison brats at the Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company. Tonight was the night! DT grilled the brats and I made a potato salad. It was a great meal (and we have tons of leftovers for snacking.
But another long day of driving for us today. DT was up early riding his bike and I was up late, getting the RV ready to roll for another day and had dinner semi-prepped for when we landed this evening. We just kept driving south on Highway 89.
We stopped in Salina for brunch at Mom's Cafe. Not sure why we always stop at this famous place. The food is definitely only so-so and though they are famous for their scones (which is really just Indian Fry Bread served with honey butter... and though the honey butter does contain honey and butter, it also contains Corn Syrup, Water Liquid and Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Sugar, Food Starch-modified, Honey, Egg Whites, Butter, Contains Less than 0.5% of the following: Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, Salt, Sodium Benzoate (a Preservative) and Xanthan Gum. Thing is, when we first ate here - more than 20 years ago - they actually had honey and butter for the scones. Later years, they had the Treasure Foods Honey Butter in a squirt bottle. Now they serve it in individual packets.
DT ordered over-easy eggs with hashbrowns and toast.
We forged on, driving past Big Rock Candy Mountain:
The next stop was a bit more interesting and a place we could never stop because we were in a huge honkin' 45-foot bus - the boyhood home of Butch Cassidy. Born Robert Leroy Parker in 1886, he was the eldest child (of 13) to a Utah Mormon family. Read this interesting history of Butch Cassidy.
(with modern covered wagon in background)
The house had an open floor plan. (Would probably list on Zillow for $450,000 today.) No electricity or plumbing. Obviously the State of Utah is taking care of this homestead as it has a new roof and glass windows. There was a stove/oven in the center of the room, serving as heat and cooking for the 15-person family.
As we continued south on Highway 89, the weather grew nasty. There were some wind and thunderstorms ahead. We heard thunder while at the Butch Cassidy house, and it continued until we reached our campsite at Ruby's Inn RV Park & Campground, just outside Bryce Canyon National Park. As we arrived around 4p, we did not go into the park today.
Our campsite is fine, with a clear southern exposure for our television satellite dish (San Francisco Giants on the MLB package!). The site seemed flat enough, but it was very difficult for our jacks to get us level without the front tires being off the ground. DT hates this. We moved the RV three times to find a good spot, but in the end (with very much bickering) we are level - and the passenger-side tire is just a bit off the ground.
Our appetizer tonight was chips with guacamole from the beautiful avocado we found at the Whole Foods in Park City. The earlier-prepared Greek Salad was served for dinner, with garlic toast. And by garlic toast, I mean bread popped in the toaster and spread with garlic butter. I'm only one woman.
Tomorrow we will visit the park. Until my next update, I remain, your caught-up correspondent.
Campground Information: Ruby's Inn RV Park & Campground - Full hook-up in gravel with fire ring and picnic table. Bath house and laundry, store, pool, hot tub, restaurants. We are paying about $65 per night. This company also operate many hotels, a rodeo, tours, and anything else one could want in the area.