Day 9 - Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park to Hatch, UT

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Bryce, Zion & North Rim

Day 9 - Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park to Hatch, UT

Sand Dunes Road

Ken, Bob and I left the campground around 9 a.m. The rest of our group left 1/2 hour later. We began with a long down hill and a brief climb to US 89. Then, I plunged down a 3-mile descent to Mount Carmel Junction.

By this time I was getting hungry. I bought a newspaper and got second breakfast. Food is becoming a major preoccupation lately.

As I was leaving, Jean, Dave and Duane caught up to me. We began the long hot climb up the Long Valley on US 89. Fortunately, the Cycling Gods blessed us with a strong tailwind today.

Lady making a quilt
The lady in the Visitor's Center

We stopped at a stone church in Orderville turned into a sort of museum/tourist information center. They had lots of photos. Most of them were of the Mormons who settled this valley. We met this delightful old lady who was making this beautiful quilt. She talked our ears off. She told us of her two sisters who died during the big flu epidemic during World War One. I don't think this woman was that old. But, she was definitely over 70.

Although we had a tailwind, it was a long hot climb up to Long Valley Junction. We encountered some road construction along the way. We finally reached Long Valley Junction, the top of our climb around 3:30 p.m. I took a short break, and then began my descent to Hatch.

I met up with Bob and Ken at Hatch around 5 p.m. Dave, Duane and Jean were looking at deer. As a result, they showed up 45 minutes later.

We got gouged for our campsites tonight ($ 10/per tent). I wanted to wild camp just on the principle of the thing. But, the group had other ideas. So Ken and Duane are staying in a motel. Jean, Bob, Dave and I are camping in the campground.