GeologyForestryEngineering

Leaving Hillside Cemetery after 15 minutes of rain and hail and driving into Silverton for some groceries, then to get gas, and on to the Alpine Loop to see where Great Great Aunt Mable (Lang) Coyle lived in Gladstone. I said she was born there but that's not accurate she was born else where and moved there. We didn't make it to Gladstone this day because of 2 land slides we were told about by on coming traffic at different times. I did go take pictures of the lessor slide we probably could have gotten through but I decided with no one with us it was safer to turn around, before it got any worse.

Looking through Hillside Cemetery for the grave marker of my Great Great Uncle Andy Coyle my Grandpap's Uncle that he rode an Indian motorcycle out in the late 1920s to meet and mine for gold with.

Walking around the primitive campsite we stayed at the night before that we were told about from a nice guy at the Camp grounds in Silverton because they were full with no vacancy.

Driving from Silverton, Colorado and working on getting up to Engineer Pass via the Alpine Loop. I'm talking with my dogs who aren't in camera view. My youngest has a knack for getting into trouble.

Driving into Silverton and asking for directions and information about where Hillside Cemetery is and where I might find my Great Great Uncles grave. I was told by one of the hardware stores clerks that the cemetery was past town and take the fork to the left, and that either the Historical Society or museum would be a good place to start.

After crossing over the mountain pass we descended into the historical mining town of Silverton where silver was unearthed by the ton.

Still Driving South on 550 the Million Dollar Highway heading to Silverton Colorado.

Getting to live my Pap's stories from 1928 of going out west on an Indian Motorcycle and traveling the same stretch he did when he went out to meet his Uncle Andy Coyle who was a Gold Prospector/Miner and work his claims with him. John my Pap relived his adventure the most during the last couple years of his life when he had Alzheimer's. Its those stories he seemed to recall with the most details. I always tried to imagine what the places were like but to see it, gave me a renewed sense of respect and awe. I always want to go by motorcycle like he did but a broken neck a decade and a half earlier in my life prevented that trip. So by Jeep was the next best thing to me, and having the company of my retiring service dog and my young dog in training will always be some of my great memories, along with the people I met and places I seen and photographed.

Leaving the Amphitheater Camping Area and getting back on to 550 South.

The Amphitheater Camping Area above Ouray was full so we took some time to grab some stills with the Nikon and then were back on the road to Silverton.

After having my Jeep's charging system looked at, at Flower Motor Company and Mark from Service telling me that the newer Jeeps don't like the high altitudes of 13,000 feet and higher, he was also nice enough to tell us about the Amphitheater Camping Area above Ouray and another camping area near Ironton. What started as a bad experience turned into a blessing that I am still thankful for.

As I said in the description of the video before this the Campground was full with no vacancy and out of some miracle a park ranger asked what I was doing and I told him we were hoping to camp at the Campground but there was a sign saying no vacancy so we were headed back to the Kaibab National Forest. He asked if I had driven from Pennsylvania after seeing the license plate and then proceeded to tell me his father was a Pennsylvania State Troop, he asked if I'd wait for a few minutes and that he'd go talk to the Camp Host. The Camp Host came back with the Ranger and his partner and told us to follow him.

We were only an hour away from the Grand Canyon where we were in the Kaibab National Forest primitive camping area but I decided I wanted to wake up and not have to drive that far so we went to Grand Canyon Campground in hopes someone left due to the passing storm. When we got there it was near dusk and still raining and the sign said no vacancy.

Driving north of 89A then south. We found one of the Ponderosa Pines that exploded after being struck by lightening. The shards of the tree were something to see and realize the danger that we were in. Later on I heard from a camp host 6 people were struck by lightening while hiking along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon which wasn't that far from here.

At the 0.29 second mark a bolt of lightening comes down the left side of the screen and across my hood before blowing up a Ponderosa Pine when it turned the water inside to steam. The sound isn't even close to how loud being there was. In the time I sat there 2 trees exploded like that and I have an all steel Fiskars shovel on my roof rack that has me more than a little concerned like its a potential lightening rod.

It didn't take long for the storm to catch up to us that was to bring torrential rain and flash flooding and torrent water. The wind was more of a problem then the rain. It kicked up twisters of sand that could easily peel paint from cars an skin off with its abrasive grit. We are doing as other drivers are and racing to the Kaibab Plateau and higher ground.

My GPS is spouting out directions that I can't make sense of. I ended up having to find a local and ask for directions. What I learned wasn't at all what I expected. The local Native American I spoke with that was selling his crafts near Cliff Dwellers told me the National Park Service requires a Permit that is selected via a lottery 200 miles away from where I am currently in Arizona.

Trying to find where the entrance or trail head is for Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Lots of driving in 95 degree heat.

Weather band is giving repeated updates about an impending storm, with potential flash flooding and to seek higher ground all while we descend into the valley and across the flat to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

Leaving Cape Royal Parking Area Grand Canyon North Rim. Seeing the Indian Motorcycle brings back memories of my Pap's (Grandfather's) stories of riding and Indian motorcycle from the family farm out to Silverton Colorado around 1928 and then out to California after prospecting for gold with his Uncle Andy Coyle (my great great Uncle). Driving back out Cape Royal Road looking for a place to eat lunch and rest in the shade.

Sight seeing vistas and other points of interest along Cape Royal Road along North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Heading to Cape Royal Road to see the sights. Lots of beautiful wildflowers to be seen along the way and lush green landscape that I never anticipated when thinking of the Grand Canyon. After the storm the previous night it was a nice 60 some degrees and very comfortable.

After spending our first night in Grand Canyon Camp Ground we found the Lodge close by and unexpectedly found a vacancy at the Lodge, this was the only time we stayed in modern facilities the whole trip in a Frontier Cabin, the rest of trip we camped or slept in the truck at truck stops and roadside rest areas.

Since we had no luck locating Escalante National Monument after visiting the closed visitor center in Cannonville Utah we spoke to a guy who suggested seeing Kodachrome State Park. I am honestly happy we did.

No luck finding Escalante National Monument, I turned around to see if the Visitor Center in Cannonville Utah can tell me where to find it. However the visitor center was closed due to Covid-19. Not really any help found there.