May 12, 13 and 14

May 12
Today was our six mile hike up Calf Creek to Calf Creek Falls. It was a gorgeous day to walk up the canyon with the new leaves on the Gamble Oaks and some wild flowers starting to bloom. The canyon walls were stunning. We did a lot of walking through sand and over rocks, sometimes not quite so sure where the trail was. Norm had the binoculars for bird sightings, Christy carried the lunch and read the brochure and I brought up the rear taking pictures. We had picked up a brochure at the beginning of the hike that pointed out the geology (just about heard enough of that), plants, beaver dams and signs of the Fremont Indians living in the canyon until about 1250. We could see three tall human figure petroglyphs on the rock wall across the canyon and beaver dams were in one wide area of the creek. I loved hearing the babbling sound of the creek and the birds calling to one another. The canyon walls became closer as we got to the end of the box canyon. We could hear the roar of the 126 foot falls before we could see it. Just as we got a glimpse of the falls, two mule deer walked into the creek making a great photo op. It was a HOT walk and we welcomed the shade and the spray from the falls as we sat and had a picnic. I think the water falls were the prettiest we have seen on this trip. By the time we got back we were hot and tired. The showers at the campground were fabulous! A little wine sitting in my rocking chair followed by a bar-b-q dinner and all was great with the world.

  　

　
　

Calf Creek Falls



Mule Deer in the Creek with a Peek of the Falls Through the Trees




Calf Creek



Norm, the Leader of the Pack

 May 13
We drove the Scenic Byway Hwy 12 up to Torrey just outside Capital Reef National Park. This road is probably one of the prettiest I have ever driven. It starts out with a drive through amazing red rocks. We were stopped at an overlook looking down into a beautiful white rock valley. Before we knew it, we were taking the curves through the valley trying to catch all the amazing formations, many with a checker board look. One beautiful site followed another and we wound our way up to red rock cliffs and stopped for breakfast at the Kiva Koffee House and Bread and Breakfast. It is the only establishment along the drive and sits on the edge of a cliff looking out toward the beautiful rock formations. Every seat has a window view. After being fortified, we continued on to an early Mormon settlement of Boulder sitting in a green, green valley. It is so isolated that until the 1930’s, they got their mail by mules. In the 1930’s, the CCC built Hwy 12 bringing them a little closer to the outside world. We climbed up over 9,000 feet driving through huge Aspen groves. It must be spectacular in the fall. All this in about 45 miles.
We are staying at the Wonderland RV Park with full hookups before going into Capital Reef NP for three nights. We drove over to the campground in the park to find out how early we need to be there to get in line for a spot. They don’t take reservations and it can be tough to get a camp site. We have a plan: pack up and take down the Manor by 7:00, stop for breakfast and coffee to go, and get there before 8:00.
We had burgers at Slackers, the local burger joint and checked out the local grocery. Chris and I decide to drive up to Loa to a larger market to stock up and stopped along the way at a couple of Heritage Markers. One was an old picturesque wooden building, most are brick, that was a mill. It was used until the 1930’s when the railroad could bring in better flour for making bread. It still has all its parts including the cash register. Back in Torrey we stopped at a small log building from the 1870’s that was used both as the first Mormon Church in the valley and as the school. It is still used as a meeting place in the community. We drove up the street to a larger looking brick building that had been the next school but is now the School House Bed and Breakfast. It looked like a fun place to stay. Sitting in our rocking chairs looking across the green farmlands to red rock cliffs and snow capped mountains was a nice way to end the day.



View from Overlook on Hwy 12. Photo doesn't do it justice.
You can see the road we traveled on making its way through the valley..




View Along Hwy 12

 May 14
After a gorgeous day yesterday, this morning it’s raining. We took a scenic drive someone had recommended up to Fish Lake. We had to take a detour after I sat on my glasses trying to see a bald eagle sitting on her eggs in a nest through my binoculars. We drove up to Richfield remembering that it had a Walmart with a Vision Center. Glasses fixed, we picked up a picnic lunch and headed for Fish Lake. It is loop road but we found that the road was closed, probably due to snow. The lake was still frozen! The area around the lake has the largest living organism in the world! It is a huge grove of Aspen trees! I’m not sure how a grove of Aspen trees are a living organism but they were beautiful even without their spring leaves.
Dinner tonight should be very special. Christy noticed that Café Diablo was listed in the restaurant guide for the area as being the ”Best Restaurant in Southern Utah.” Norm looked it up online and found raving reviews along with it being listed as a place to experience in the “1000 Places to See Before You Die” book. We quickly called for reservations for 7:00 tonight. We took showers and got dressed up for the occasion. Check out the website for the menu. http://www.cafediablo.net/ Our dinner was amazing! The outside is not a head turner but as soon as we drove in we knew we had made the right choice to get a reservation. The place was humming! Every plate coming out of the kitchen was a work of art. We ordered margaritas and appetizers to start including free range rattle snake! We all even ordered dessert. They had to roll us out to our car. They are only open from April to October but manage to keep most of the employees from year to year. The owner chef went to culinary school in NY and made his way out west to be head chef at the Deer Valley Ski Resort, rated as the #1 ski resort in North America. After visiting Capital Reef he decided to buy an empty building in Torrey and start his own restaurant with a southwest cuisine. The rest is history. People come from Salt Lake and Provo on a regular basis. Our waitress was fabulous. It is a winner!!!!



Cafe Diablo