Day 1356: Terror on Route 12

I had a hard time deciding on a title for tonight's blog entry.  Should I choose "Peeing by Starlight" or "'Hiking Among Chimneys" or "Escalante's Gourmet Pizza" or how about, "Humping on the Highway"?  Intrigued?  I hope so.

The night sky was so clear and dark that I saw more stars last night than ever.  There was no light pollution from street lights, parking lots or big box stores.  The air was pure silent and crisp.  I felt I could reach out and grab a handful of stars from the expansive night sky.  Going to bed so early meant I was up four times to pee, but oh the stars!  I lingered, gazed and breathed deeply.  And did not sleep.

We decided to leave our little campsite, turn northeast and explore a few out of the way state parks starting with Kodachrome State Park, just nine miles from Cannonville.  A bleak and dismal park, its main features were free standing towering pillars of sand that had been carved by water and wind.  We hiked out 45 minutes to see the panoramic view of the Grand Staircase National Monument and then turned back.  It was breathtaking!  To us, the towers looked like giant angry penises!

Route 12 is billed as the most beautiful scenic highway in the United States!  There is no denying this claim.  We gasped at every turn, not just from the sheer beauty and scale of the natural wonders, but also from sheer terror.  So narrow, so curvy, so dangerous!  No guard rails, no shoulders!   Steve had a death grip on the steering wheel and was soaked in sweat after the leg from Escalante to Boulder.

Signs warned of free range cattle and we saw quite a few wandering alongside the highway.  Then they started appearing in the middle.  And the worst bunch was a group of four young black cattle. One stood in the center of the road, while his pals fooled around on the side. One young male held up traffic when he mounted the female standing in the lane.

We also stopped to view the sights at the Petrified Forest State Park and the Anasazi Ruins State Park and lots more.  It was an amazing day and I am so very grateful we were able to come.    Too tired to write any more tonight.