In Nevada we took a new road (376) that goes through the beautiful and wild Big Smoky Valley and connects The Loneliest Road in America (50) to the Extraterrestrial Highway (375). From there we started across southern Utah. We visited Bryce Canyon then took an amazing road that starts down in the hoodooed desert lowlands and rises up into lush forests to almost 10,000 ft. Very beautiful!
We ate at a fantastic restaurant called Hell's Backbone Grill. If you are ever in the area, check it out. It started raining and as we drove away a huge double rainbow appeared. We found a wonderful little campground on a small gurgling creek and slept well.
The next day drove through Capitol Reef National Parks (one of our favorites) and the bizarre Goblin Valley State Park, then onto Canyonlands National Park, one of the least visited parks. We saw spectacular views down to the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in beautiful evening light.
The next day we followed the Colorado River and drove into the state of Colorado. We went through Grand Junction and Aspen. We went over Independence Pass and spent the night in Colorado Springs.
From there we started to hurry home through Kansas (found a nice book store in Wichita) and Southern Missouri. In Kentucky we took a little detour and went down the Trace the runs through the Land Between the Lakes and down to visit Fort Donaldson in Tennessee where General Grant had his first big success and earned the nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
Finally we went back up into Kentucky stopping in Russellville and visiting the Cumberland Gap before hightailing to DC through Virginia. Another summer in the books.
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