We were up early and looked out our window at threatening clouds over the local mountains (photos 1 & 2). After being rained on yesterday, we wanted to get headed south and away from the trouble if we could. We jumped on I-15 south into the morning traffic. God I hate heavy traffic.

After thirty or so minutes, we were out of the congested areas and into the opening mountains south of Provo and Orem. The mountain followed us closely on our left hand until we turned onto SR 89 South. We have traveled on Hwy 89 in three different states and it has always been an enjoyable ride, both in scenery and riding conditions. This time we were soon taken into a broad valley with distance and not so distant mountains on all sides. The colors varied from the green grasslands, to the red or gray mountains, topped with white puffy clouds, sitting under an azure blue sky (photo 3 & 4). An old utility cabin waited for use at the edge of a small corral that sat in front of a newly harvested hay field (photo 5). It seems this land is used to meet a variety of needs, which is as it should be.

We soon reached SR 12 East that would take us to Bryce Canyon, where Linda's sister and brother-in-law are camp hosts in the park for the summer. Hwy 12 wound its way down through a colorful valley that changes shapes and colors seemingly by the mile. What a great ride. We first came to a small creek running alongside the road on our right, cutting a path through rugged rock formations (photos 6 & 7).

To break up the monotony of all the great scenery, we finally passed through a small town that appeared to be the county seat of this county. Even though small, there was a new county building to provide services to its citizens and as we headed out of town, we saw the building it has replaced, a nice old brick structure that provided a look of prosperity to the town. Unfortunately, as with so many small towns in America, there were other buildings closed and shuttered, with no sign that they would soon be used again.

This is something we've seen in many of the small towns of America, all across this country. Many of the children who grew up in these small communities are leaving, for a variety of valid reasons, I'm sure. But without people coming in to replace them, the commercial buildings soon close having died for lack of customers. I have been told that the Wal-Marts and Super Wal-Marts haven't helped either but this could just be a need to blame someone.

A short time later the big Goldwing curved gracefully into a mocha brown canyon with the river now running on our left (photos 8, 9 & 10). Linda waited patiently while I took pictures and then took the last one in this series from the bike. We continued on and soon came to an old miners cabin sitting abandoned by a small creek that was not even visible from the road (photo 13). You could hear it but you couldn't see it without going over and climbing a small berm where it trickled quietly on the other side. Looking back from the cabin, one could see the great view he had until the road came in (photo 14). Actually it's a nice view, even with the road there.

As we continued southeast, a series of storm clouds would play hide and seek with us. On one route we would be heading for blue skies and white cotton clouds, then the road would turn and dark foreboding skies would appear to block our entrance south (photo 15). Should we stop and get into rain gear or take our chances. Then the road would turn again and lead us away from the threat.

We finally reached the turnoff for Bryce Canyon and after several miles of typical Utah scenery; we could see the first hints of the changes that we were to experience in Bryce Canyon (photo 16). As we rounded one more curve to the left, a sign informed us we were now in the Red Canyon. Suddenly, the more subdued colors of the Utah pallet were overshadowed by the brilliant red hues of this canyon (photos 17,18,19, & 20). I assumed we were at Bryce but I was soon to realize we were still several miles away. We passed through this fantasyland not sure if we wanted to stay or go ahead.

Just before reaching the ranger station that guards the entrance to Bryce Canyon we reached Ruby's Inn Motel, restaurant, general store, and gas station. Ruby has it covered. We pulled in, dismounted, and got a room for the night. It was then that I discovered that after 55 days, I finally left my credit card somewhere behind. I quickly remembered it was at a restaurant we had dinner at last night. I called my nephew, Dave, and he went to retrieve it for me.

It was now just about half past twelve noon so we called Sandy and Rod, and let them know we were in. They joined us while we ate lunch, and we agreed to meet them later at their trailer. We stopped at the Visitor's Center for a film explanation of Bryce's creation and then went to visit family. What a nice visit it was, reliving old memories and looking forward to new ones.

Sandy and Rod are both retired and now act as Camp Hosts in various National Parks during the summer. It's a nice way to spend the summer but before you all rush out and apply for this job, you should be aware that they are considered volunteers and receive no pay. In affect, their pay is their camping fees.

We sat inside their new Jayco fifth-wheel while Rod performed host duties and the rain, that had been threatening us all morning, finally began to fall. This turned out to be a real gully washer with lightening and thunder strikes, some obviously close at hand. In fact, several nights before, a lightening strike occurred right in the campground, hitting a tree and splitting part of the trunk and leaving its telltale strike ring around the trunk all the way to the bottom. Made us glad we weren't here. Wait a minute, we are here. We later found out that we got about 1 &1/2" inches in about four hours.

We listened with interest to rangers as they talked over their radios about storm related problems. These included reports of lightening strikes, a disgruntled camper who wanted his money back because of all of the rain (snicker, snicker), and requests for rangers to clear clogged drainage ditches. And you thought you wanted this job, eh?

Rod and Sandy had been kind enough to throw a tarp over our Goldwing in an attempt to try and keep it dry, but when we finally headed home at 11:00 p.m, it was still raining, so we put on the gear and headed for Ruby's. Tomorrow, if it's not raining, we will walk part of the rim of the canyon with Rod and Sandy. We went to bed with high hopes having made plans to meet for breakfast at the Lodge.

All in all, it had been a very good day.