Day 10-11 ~ Bryce Canyon, Utah

Yesterday was a travel day leaving Cedar City and arriving at Bryce Canyon City, Utah, a rare privately owned city. We are staying at Ruby's Inn RV Park. In 1956 Reuben (Ruby) Synett established a ranch near the rim of the canyon. He later negotiated with the park department to move his ranch so it was bounded by the National Park and US Forests. It is quite an operation including several hotels, a large store, gas station, ATV rentals, RV Park & Campground and several restaurants.

Enroute we drove through Red Canyon where two arches were carved out to allow for highway access to Bryce Canyon.

We then went to Kodachrome Basin State Park. This park features sandstone chimneys and spires. The soil is softer and the surfaces are smoother and different than what we have previously seen.

Today was our first viewing of Bryce Canyon. In the morning we took the park shuttle and we traveled to the rim at Inspiration Point. Bryce is the home of the Bristle Cone Pine which can adapt to difficult growing conditions. Some of the ancient trees are thousand of years old.

This afternoon we took a 3 1/2 hour free park narrated bus tour. Throughout the park we saw many more spires and fins called hoodoos. Most have been named over the years by park employees. They are created after the surrounding limestone errodes. As we traveled into the park we found spectacular views in every direction. At the end of the road is Rainbow Point and the highest elevation in the park at 9,115 ft.

On the tour we stopped at so many view points my head is still spinning. Tonight we attended a western dinner and show. One of the performers, Seth, is a fiddler from Prairie, Idaho. Chig's childhood friend, Frank, is also from Idaho and builds fiddles. After the show Chig talked to the young man who knows Frank well. His dream is to own and play one of Frank's fiddles! What a small world.