When I begin a post or actually decided that I might have something to say or share for a post I do a lot of thinking. I don’t want to ramble….like I am right now because I want people to think that I actually am intellectual and have something to say or share. All of which really doesn’t matter does it? So once again for posterity sake and hopefully for your curiosity into my big and exciting world (hehehe) a week has gone by and I thought I would……share……once again.
A week after my surgery I had cabin fever and I didn’t want to miss the fall leaves, since nothing was really turning here in the valley we ventured into the mountain of Southern Utah, not too far. An hours drive away then another couple of hours through the mountain and into Dixie National Forest.
I was so disappointed with the colors, maybe we were to soon? Maybe we were too late, but they were not vibrant. We pulled off of the road and stood at a turn-out section and this is what we saw at the 9,500 ft elevation.
Much of which was so desolate looking. The air was even a little hazy. Could there have been fires somewhere?
We continued on our road trip and came across a very interesting sight, a field of lava….it is plentiful in this area
This sign explains a little about the lava field and how it was formed. I found it to be very interesting because we were driving where dinosaurs probably walked…
This is what the sign says about the Lava Flows…
These Lave Flows are very young 1,000-5,000 years. They come from vents not a central volcano. There are many land forms associated with the Lava Flows. Lava Tubes, Cinder Cones, Sink Holes and Craters. The Cinder Cone developed from a series of continuous mild volcanic explosions piling the debris on the surface surrounding a volcanic vent. There are numerous Cinder Cones on the Cedar City Ranger District, many visible from the highway.
interesting don’t you think…
We drove a bit further and the vast spread of the forest seemed a little daunting to me. It almost made me sad. Several years ago a Pine Beetle infested the beautiful forest and killed thousands of acres of pine trees. This is the devastating results.
Trees once green and lush are now gray and almost scary…
one teeny tiny match or a cigarette flicked from a car window would be disastrous!
These things ran through my thoughts…
And I hoped that everyone else driving through these parts would be thinking the same.
We came upon another lava field and stopped to take a few pics. I tried walking through the field. It was very difficult. I decided to just stop and sit on a rock. Which was not a wise choice. Lava is not a comfortable rock to sit upon.
The sight of these fall trees was amazing through the black lava
Of course Huhoney spotted a hole…probably another exit for a lava spout, who knows how long this hole has existed, right here in this very spot. Huhoney was so curious, luckily it was NOT big enough for him to shimmy into! THANK GOODNESS.
He decided that he would be happy just to take a little piece of the past home with us and place in our yard. The dead wood was also very intriguing so it found a place in the trunk of my car too. Just a small one!
We left the national forest and made our way down Scenic Highway 89. A favorite drive of mine.
We came upon a KOA camp spot.
It was deserted and closed for the winter……..
except for some horses being stalled there
This drive was green and lush and I did spot a few bright red and yellow and orange trees so my journey was not in vane after all!
For some of our drive we enter a very short part of Arizona.
Have you ever wondered…..or even witnessed how all of these communication poles got to be? I have. And for hundreds of miles, there is always a fence along side the road you are traveling keeping you OUT, I have NEVER seen any person installing these fences. They are ……..just there…….
Just a thought, that’s all
Just a thought…..
My friend Kathie sent me these beautiful flowers. I was reminded after my wonderful drive with Huhoney how blessed I am.
Have a wonderful weekend my village friends….
