Map Miles: Today 4.7/ Total: 478.7
GPS Miles: Today: 4.6/ Total: 507.3
Today’s Miles Sponsored By: Chilidog
Didn’t fall asleep until after 1:30 last night for some reason but was able to wake up a little later due to the short mileage goal for the day. I enjoyed the complimentary toast and hot chocolate breakfast at the hotel and made my way out the door to “hike” nearly five miles up the road to the town of Tropic along Utah Scenic Byway 12.
Hiking the scenic byways.
The byway starts in Panguitch and runs to Torrey through Bryce Canyon, the Grand Staircase, and not far from Capitol Reef. It’s actually the same road that Goes through the middle of Escalante. It might be great for driving, but definitely is unnerving for walking as there is no shoulder and the cars are zooming by at 60 mph or faster.
The destination was Tropic, a town made possible because of a 10 mile irrigation trench hand dug in the 1890s to divert water from the Sevier River bound for the Great Basin down to the Paria River watershed instead.
Once in Tropic I had about 5 hours to kill before I could check into my hotel room, so all the town things commenced- PO Trip where I not only had new food but also new shoes a new sturdy water bladder, and two letters waiting for me!, grocery store, laundry, and hang out at the local coffee shop.
Goodbye old and hello new!
Pizza for lunch, soup and salad for dinner (with live guitar player!) and another day to rest the feet. I’m really happy for the new shoes, but bummed that nowhere in town sold socks, so I’ll need to wait for Kanab on Wednesday to pick some up. Town days always seem to slip away with more activity then planned. I’m super excited to check out Bryce Canyon tomorrow!
Daybreaker 