Sorry, I just had to share . . . again.

[Old Henry]

I had no intention of taking any pictures or video on this trip. It was to just be a relaxing trip with AnnaRae and Pepe for my birthday and it started out that way.

We didn't even have much of a plan of where we'd go or how long or how far we'd go. We did decide to go to Milford for the first (and maybe only) night so we did. It was the same as the 7° Road Trip last December (here: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137) except it was 30° warmer, I had 10W-30 oil instead of the S.A.E. 40 I had last year, had a new battery, and stayed in the new motel. Pretty relaxing and uneventful.

The next day we decided to head east to Beaver, then over the mountain to Panguitch and up toward Bryce Canyon National Park. Everything was going fine until we started up Red Canyon going to Bryce Canyon. It was there that the red rock formations were so gorgeous that I had to break out the video camera to share it with you. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmxDEuNk8s8

(Note re videos: I've let YouTube stabilize some videos. That's what makes the car look "fluid" in some of them. All videos are high definition so be sure to select that if your computer doesn't select it automatically. All music is songs I wrote and performed for my wife, kids, and dog.)

We didn't even stop at Bryce Canyon because we were just there in February (here: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822) We decided we'd go to Kodachrome Basin State Park east of Bryce Canyon. So we did. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It-y-Q0eTlI

Then we continued east on what Road and Track magazine once designated one of the 7 most scenic drives in the country. It was also designated an "All American Road" (a super scenic highway) in 2002. (http://www.utah.com/byways/highway_12.htm) This stretch is within Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.



Here's the video starting where this picture was taken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyz-I8rfCLk

When we got to Boulder we left the highway and headed east into more of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The pavement eventually ended and we were on dirt road for 40 miles eventually going into the south end of Capitol Reef National Park. The sun was just going down.





Strike Valley Overlook.



Eventually we got to the edge of the plateau and had to drop 600 feet in one mile (11% grade) down what I call the Capitol Reef Dugway. It was a "white knuckle" ride.



Heading into one of the hairpin turns on the switchbacks holding the monopod with the video camera on it out the window.



Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyNjKy3jznU

Then the fun really began.
This dirt/sandy road that we were on had my very favorite surface - washboard (NOT). I'm thinking there are some of you that have never experienced that. It is the maximum test of the suspension, shock absorbers, tightness of the car, and steering ability. Yes, at times on the washboard the tires seem to be only touching the ground half the time and in the air the other half making steering control very challenging if not down right scary at times.

It was just about dark so we had the headlights on. I was just remarking how tight the car was and how it had no rattles for such a washboardy road when all of sudden the headlights went out. I knew some connection somewhere had shaken loose but knew if I stopped to fix it that it would just shake loose again. Fortunately I have fog lights that are as bright as my headlights so I switched them on along with my spot light and we carried on for 30 more miles until we got back onto pavement when I stopped and wiggled a wire right where I knew to wiggle and the headlights came back on. (It was those old bullet connectors halfway along the side of the engine compartment. I still have all original wiring.)

We drove through Capitol Reef National Park in the dark without leaving the highway and then through Torrey to Bicknell where we stayed the night.

Next day drove to Fish Lake that was over 9,000 feet where it was snowing with ice and snow on the road. I was glad to get into something other than sunny weather that we'd had so far.

Then headed home. Total miles: 641.
It really was very relaxing even though filming while driving is stressful at times.
Never opened the tool box.

Previous Road Trips:

Across Nevada on US 50, "The Loneliest Road in the Country", October 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098

Mount Evans (the highest paved road in North America) August 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115013

Canada in June 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109872

Monument Valley in March 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99523

Bryce Canyon in February 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822

Milford, Utah in December 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137

Nevada and Idaho in November 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89080

Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966

Yellowstone National Park in May 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72864

Death Valley in February 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62705

Pike's Peak in July 2011: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19141

Route 66 in April 2010: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57511