Our next destination after Zion and Bryce Canyons was Moab, Utah. Potentially we could have taken some smaller scenic routes that were more direct, but as those tend to leave us (and the twenty cars behind us if it's one lane) a bit frazzled we decided to head north a bit to take the major east/west highway across the state.
Along the way we meant to stop at Cove Fort for a quick gas fill, but ended up being approached by a very nice guide that offered a quick tour of the fort. It didn't look like much from the outside, but the history and ingenuity of the fort were really interesting. One thing that you can't help but notice in Utah is the vast influence and industry of Mormon settlements of the area. Like most tales in history there were some interesting and positive aspects, such as their resilience and clever thriftiness, and disturbing events, such as the Mountain Meadow Massacre.
The homemade battery to run the telegraph was particularly fascinating.
The fort was beautifully constructed, with a lovely courtyard.
Thinking that Highway 70 wouldn't be scenic, we were so surprised at how beautiful it was.
We even saw a bighorn sheep at a rest area.
With all of the stops and passes, we ended up pulling into Moab around 9pm, instead of 5pm like we planned. Sometimes, though, it's good to slow down the journey, as it's just as important as the destination.
I'm glad you enjoyed Cove Fort. I found your blog through "Top Family Blogs"' newsletter as we are thinking about traveling ourselves. I've seen a lot of far-away exotic places, so it was fun to see a place that feels a little closer to home, as I grew up 30 minutes from Cove Fort and as a Mormon, we did a lot of youth trips there. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Utah! Beautiful photos. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tamsyn! The fort was a great stop, and if I ever start making rugs from leftover t-shirts it will be because of this visit. Very inspiring. =) Best of luck with your travel plans,
ReplyDeleteJudy