2008 West Vacation -- Southern Utah and Colorado, Day 7

Day 7, Kodachrome Basin State Park to Bryce Canyon National Park

We leave Escalante early, still on Rt. 12. Still have amazing views. Changes from farmland to stepping down the staircase once again.

Stopped in at Kodachrome Basin SP. The red sandstone spires against the forever blue sky prompted the National Geographic Society (with Kodak Film's blessing) to name this parks after the slide film in 1949. Very cool natural rock formations. Walked a few trails, then took off for Bryce.

Kodachrome Basin State Park

Back to Top

Stopped in at the Rubys Inn Best Western. Jo's going horseback riding, I'm going into Bryce. Not knowing how it all works, we stop in first at the Old Bryce Town Shops, and darned if there isn't a Trabant there. That's number 2 that I know of in the United States.

We then went across the street, and Jo found her horse rental outfit, I found they didn't have a room ready yet. We had lunch at Cowboy's Buffet & Steak Room. I had the buffet, Jo the grilled chicken salad. Mediocre food, but hardy and lots of it. I go into the National Park, where it proceeds to rain, then hail, then rain, then stop. I wonder if Jo is getting this.

Plan is to go all the way out to Rainbow Point, and make my way back, but that plan is ruined when I get to some proscribed fires at Agua Canyon. After taking a few pictures, I realize I should stick to my original plan and drive out to Rainbow, and then every viewpoint on the way back. The smoke around Agua is terrible, makes Bryce hazy. Busses full of geriatrics, many Europeans and Asians. I may fit into two of those catagories, but I'm not in a bus...

Still, this is better than getting your ass beat up on a horse. :-)

Bryce Canyon National Park

Back to Top

Jo's ass, on the other hand, is getting beat up by a horse.

They go riding through Red Canyon, a place we'll pass by when we leave Bryce...

Jo goes horseback riding

Back to Top

Jo should be getting back to the hotel soon, so I bypass the last 4 major viewpoints, and get back to Rubys Inn to check in. The room's in the back, and have a nice day. I even find a parking space right next to the door I have to use, and the room is only 20 feet from there.

It's a nice room, with jacuzzi and widescreen TV. Rough life. It's in the pool atrium, and you can walk indoor corridors all the way to the lobby and gift/grocery shop. Cell service pretty much sucks here, so trying to find Jo is a hassle, but it allows me to campus both of the souvenir stores and the grocery store.

We finally find each other, and pick up a few cold beverages and a 12-pack of Coke Zero (for Jo) before heading back to the room. Once there, I back-up all the picture data.

We decide to grab a pizza at The Canyon Diner for dinner, and it's...only okay, if that.

Talking to the employees, we find the entire area is owned by the same people, the Syretts. The hotel, the diner, the two gas stations, the stores across the street, the new hotel being built across the street... I'd wouldn't be surprised if the street was owned by the Syretts. But let's be fair, Ruby Syrett had permission to set up a lodge at the rim 5 years before the Feds grabbed it as their own and made Bryce Canyon National Monument. He just had to move to his ranch, where the current Rubys Inn is today. (I do wonder if the Syretts "Ranch" has anything to do with the lack of hotel and restaurant competition outside the park.)

Shower was good, room was excellent. 10/10.

Rubys Inn, UT

Back to Top

End Part 3, Day 7.
Go to previous part | Go to next part