Capitol Reef National Park

Moving Day Dilemma

We follow a routine on moving day so we don't forget anything. This time we deviated from the little routine. I took the microwave plate out earlier than usual. Later I thought a cup of cinnamon plum tea would be great. I placed the water in the microwave and it tipped and pouring all over me, the microwave and stove.  I never did get the hot tea after tidying up.

Unhooking the electricity is usually last. This time he unhooked the electric before the slide was all of the way in.  Nothing happened when he push the  button. I saw his shoulders and head drop. We had no 12 volt from the battery. I thought maybe the water I spilled had gotten into the converter below the stove. Luckily that wasn't the problem and traced it to the batteries which he had planned to replace when we got to AZ.

The NAPA store was open at 8 am. Hurray! As he removed the batteries, the wire to the connector was hanging and not attached. Touching the wire to the battery the lights came on and slide worked. He replaced the batteries anyway. We had planned to dry camp at times over the next few weeks. 

I am glad he is a handy dandy troubleshooting guy.

We were thankful to have deviated from the routine and not arrived in Capitol Reef and found our problem. No electricity, internet or NAPA for a very long ways.  

This was our third visit to Capitol Reef and it never disappoints. In Utah's south central desert, it is a long wrinkle in the earth called the Waterpocket Fold with canyons and amazing rock formations.

We had hiked other trails in the Park but not the Cassidy Arch Trail which forks out of the Grand Wash about 1/2 mile from the parking area.

Then we started climbing.

It's a long ways down from here. We were in the shade most of the morning before heading back down in the sunshine.

At 1.1 miles on this trail we saw the arch and that was where we were headed. Many people make it this far and turn around. But most of the hard work is already done. Now it is slight up and down, back and forth. 

We are standing on top of the arch. Two 30 something couples passed us and cheered us on. They said they wanted to be like us when they get older. I think they called us "old". 

Now for a rest while the youngsters trot back and forth along the rocks. One gal said we were wiser not older. A nice way of saying "old".

Heading back down.

For thousands of years people called this valley home. Latter Day Saints later built homes, planting thousands of fruit trees and called it Fruita. The apricots and plums had all been picked but pears and apples were still on the trees. 

        

 The kitchen of the 1880 homestead is now a gift shop.

We shared...

The line waiting for pie and cinnamon rolls at the Gifford house on Saturday morning at 8 am.

It was a warm afternoon for these hills. Heading up there.

That was an uphill where we started.

The campground next to the orchard was peaceful and the stars are so bright and fill the night's sky. 

The deer would wander by at night. But there were far more bucks than does. That may become and issue soon.