Route 95 to Torrey, Utah

This is why we love Utah! We left the ugliness of northern AZ and NM from Farmington/Bloomfield and headed north up Rt 505 into Durango, CO.....that's much better! Then over 8300' pass to Cortez and on up to Monticello, Utah. Lots of agriculture here. Then down to Blanding, where we picked up Route 95. This is the most awesome road ever! I used to think Rt 12 from Bryce Canyon to Torrey was tops, but this may beat it! At every turn there's a different formation. About 120 miles of spectacularness! We stopped at the Natural Bridge Nat'l Monument for some short hikes and magnificent views down into the canyon. We crossed the Colorado River and the upper end of Lake Powell (no water, of course) in what was really the start of the Grand Canyon. Nearing Torrey the road actually passes through part of Capital Reef Nat'l Park.

At the Natural Bridge park we met a young couple from Switzerland who were literally driving around the world in their 1990 VW Microbus camper. The map on the door shows where they'd been so far (he adds white tape each day). Next it will be down to Mexico and South America! Those are mountain bikes strapped on the back. They'd had the car shipped from Antwerp to Baltimore ($2500 and 3 weeks).We wished them well....we'll read their blog!

After about 350 miles today we finally arrived at Torrey at the Broken Spur Motel and Steakhouse. It was very good!! Not sure where we'll end up tomorrow, somewhere around Salt Lake City. Then home on Tuesday.

Boat Launch at Lake Powell

Colorado River