On to Jacob Lake, Arizona

This was one of the rare first mornings where I didn't have to have a long jacket or hat on to exit the RV, first thing in the morning. It was probably in the low sixties and pretty comfortable, as I strolled around with Jo Jo. My miniature "Bryce Canyon" space was one of the top overnights that I have had the pleasure to enjoy.

So another 5 to 6 hour drive today, as I headed through more of rural central Utah. I have been on Route 89 the whole way, and have also been fighting cravings (for days), to visit a coffee shop/bakery the whole time. I passed through many more hay farms, cattle farms, and grasslands in this area. And suddenly, there it was, in the town of Mount Pleasant: The Coffee Depot. So naturally I had to stop to check it out. I've been running low on fruit, so what a better way than to supplement my fruit deprivation, than with a fruit smoothie topped with real whipped cream? Heaven? Yes! Add to that a bagel with cream cheese, and a cheese danish, and no I didn't eat them all at once, but I'm going to parcel them out over the next day or two. It was enough to satisfy my sweet tooth as well as my mid morning snack. The building was utterly charming. A well-maintained, reminiscent turn of the century 1900's train depot, along with wainscoting and tongue and groove. A truly unexpected find in the middle of such a rural place. Some of the railroad cars were converted into living space.

It definitely got hot in Central Utah  hovering around 95 to 100 degrees. I passed by Bryce and was oh so tempted to stop there, again, but I'm on a mission to head home. It's familiar territory as this is the most direct route. I did a quick stop at a rock shop and enjoyed browsing the specimens and resisted temptation for the homemade donuts that were available as well. One stop at being bad per day is really quite enough. I also stopped at the boyhood home of Butch Cassidy, a new historic site. Finally, I reached my destination near Jacob Lake, Arizona which is about 40 miles north of the North Rim Grand Canyon in the Kanab National Forest.

I recalled the burned forest, but somehow, this time, I really noticed the extensive damage in this whole area. My camping app led me to a part of this forest, that seemed to have already been occupied, but there were other options, and I selected one that was more than adequate. However, I'm still in a good portion of a former burnt area, along with vital vegetation and trees. There is a very slight smell of the charred forest in the air. For hours now, it's been raining, so a bit of afternoon monsoons have arrived to change the pace. So far there's only been about three cars that have passed by me in the last 5 hours. It is utterly silent, extremely peaceful, and it's just plain perfect.





























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