Ups and Downs

Sometimes on your travels you just fall into something.  Although in this case "fall into" is the opposite of the truth.  Somehow we missed that the road between Capitol Reef National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park went through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  And when we did notice it on the map, we had no idea of what was there.

First, the road climbs.  Up and up you go.  Then it runs along the top of a narrow ridge, with a steep drop off on both sides.  Incredible vistas.

  

Then you drop down into the river canyon.

Then up once again.

The Escalante (#15) would hardly be called a river by PNW standard, except for the landscape it has wrought.

My attempt to get a picture for identification.  These purple-flowering bushes were common in the area.  Anyone?

Tom: we live here, ok?

Cannonville is a town right outside of Bryce Canyon.

Arial view from Wiki

There were several unusually large houses in the area . . .  but I have no prejudices against people-with-large-houses.

 What a beautiful area. . .