Petrified Goblin Reef??

Our last full day in Utah... we woke up at Bryce and headed east on a wonderful scenic drive. We made several neat stops along the way and I took too many photos as usual.

First up, Petrified Forest State Park, with a ton of petrified wood lying around near the trail:





We were amazed at all of the colors infused in the pieces:


At first I was afraid, I was petrified...


The most spectacular specimen at the end of the trail:


Scenes from our drive along routes 12 and 24 toward Capitol Reef:






We drove down the scenic drive in Capitol Reef National Park:


Not sure how this rock is still hanging on:




Harvey went out on a joyride! He has been a caged monkey for too long.


Interesting jaguar face:


Navajo sandstone dome:


Continuing east (because the campground was full), we found more great scenery along the way. Mancos shale on the way to Hanksville:



And because we couldn't resist heading into Goblin Valley State Park (we were passing so close to it anyway), we stopped at the overlook to eat dinner and watch the evening shadows over the goblins:







Hi John!


Don't squish Howie:


A parting shot - sunset over Howie and the Goblins:


Yep, it's true - Utah Rocks!

Kodachrome / 10th Anniversary

We spent our 10th anniversary remembering our wonderful Vermont wedding and (since we're not much for just sitting and thinking) visiting Kodachrome Basin State Park near Bryce. John suggested a theme of "10" for the day, so you may see it in some of these photos...

For example, a selfie with a spire:


This way to John:


A fun overlook trail:


What it overlooks:


The Kodachrome colors:


Shadow fun:


More overlooks:



Look, it's sandstone again! I like sandstone. Still doesn't mean I can climb it:


This photo was taken from a different (boring) angle in reality, but I liked how it showed up on my computer so I left it like this :)


Smooching rocks:


We may have to change from our slogan from "Home is where the Howie is" to this:


Roadside color:


Starting a run on the west side of the park:


More chimney spires - how come the geology keeps changing completely everywhere we go?


It gets real windy here sometimes, apparently:


Black Bear Geyser:


This one is pretty big:


Scenery on the east side:


I was working on selfie practice and somehow captured a 3rd person in the picture?? Oh, and that's an arch in the background:


We weren't sure what to make of this:


Sandstone rates a "10":



Another stubborn tree:


Love the colors in this park:


Finishing our last hike of the day:



We ate the pizza too quickly to get a photo, but here is our dessert (notice I wasn't letting go of the - 2 - forks in order to hold up 10 fingers!):


Thank you for an incredible ten years, John, I love you! Here's to 10 more good ones :)