This is my second trip to Capitol Reef, having visited with Brad a number of years ago. It's Ed's first. The setting is spectacular! A craggily red rock ridge envelopes a green valley of historic farm buildings and old orchards. It is captivating. It's a blended drama of rock cliffs and apple pie.
Apple trees in bloom; horses grazing nearby; and idyllic old buildings make for nostalgic moments. The old Gifford farm house is now a museum and small eatery serving fresh fruit pies, as well as fresh baked bread and cinnamon rolls daily.
When fruit trees die, the park replants with heritage varieties, keeping the orchards going for fruit harvest as well as historic preservation and educational opportunities. This Mormon Settlement, named Fruita, is now a historic district.
Old school house, closed it's doors in 1941.
Small cabin.
The Waterpocket Fold is the geologic feature forming the backbone of the reef. Creation, some 65 million years ago, was caused by the buckling of the earth's crust, in combination with the action of water. In 1937 Capitol Reef was established as a national monument; a national park several years later.
The past couple of days we cast aside hiking for biking. There's the issue of too much hiking on my bum ankle and then both of us have sore knees from all the steep hiking trails of late. So, we decided to "rest" by riding steep roads instead. I did the Tiger Balm slather before bed last night.
---
"Rocks are records of events that took place at the time they formed. They are books. They have a different vocabulary, a different alphabet, but you learn how to read them."
- John McPhee
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment
garden@whidbey.com