It was still storming when we left at 6:15 (slight alarm clock accident, move along people, nothing to see here).

Just before we headed south, we visted Cove Fort. It was built by the Mormons to serve as a stage weigh station and telegraph relay post (one every 30 miles). It was built from volcanic rock to withstand Indian attacks (Black Hawk Wars), but was never attacked.  Cove believed in trading with the Indians rather than fighting them. They liked long red underwear. Who can say why?

Went round about in the mountains. Got out and looked at the natural ampitheatre that is Cedar Breaks National Monument. We were overlooking a huge natural amphitheater of streaked red, yellow, purple, white sandstone. It was immense and breathtaking and the wind blew like an icy scythe through my flesh and into my bones. The breath of winter.

From there we saw Zion National Park, which was blessedly not on the top of a mountain and quite warm. Shear red and white cliffs. The coolest bit was the white sandstone that had cracked in odd rectangles like skin. 

Then off to the Valley of Fire State Park. A wonderful road full of dips and curves and long visual range. I drove fast. Couldn’t help it. The road asked me to. Its called the Valley of Fire because when the sun hits the rocks, they look like they are on fire. The sun was just setting as we hit the valley.

We finally saw some free standing petroglyphs. Carvings of goats and shapes and a hunter with an atlatl. Also, petrified logs. All purple and I am a wooden rockish. Some cabins left over from the 30s when the Works projects were putting the park together.

And of course, cool rocks. When you rapped on them, they sounded like paper machee. And they had all these cool smooth holes in them. And you know, they glowed in the light.