Today we are on the trails. Retracing some previous trips so start with a hearty breakfast as we have a way to go. Pre booked Ruby inn at Bryce Canyon so we don't have to worry.
Valley of the gods is our first stop having been to monument valley in the past we had heard that this was an impressive place which few people go to.
 
  The dirt trail drops off the highway just before Mexican Hat you can see miles in front of you red rocks buttes and stacks and miles upon mile of desert we are in big sky land. 
 
 This trail is worth the trip it is scenic back country at it's very best it is a real gem. 17 mile dirt and gravel road with a mix of terrain very steep in sections which was fun two up,

  it connects with the Moki Dugway which is a series of tight switch backs 
 
 climbing up the cedar Mesa the view from the top again is amazing colours incredible changing with the light.. 
 
 We followed this up making our way to lake Powell to take the ferry across to connect withe the Burr trail. The turn off for the ferry takes you along 50 miles of nothing but scrub land the temperature was rising rapidly.  

 
 Lake Powell is a national recreation area so good we have our pass. At the are the ranger asks if gave come to look at the lake we answer sort off as we are taking the ferry. A blank look is returned to us with a shake of her head " there is no ferry today it is closed for maintenance, did we not see the sign" What sign?....
This was a problem for all sorts of reasons
1 Tom does not like turning back
2 the only detour is 200 miles
3 we miss the burr trail
4 our hotel can not be cancelled and it is too far to get too

After a brief cool down we head back. There was a sign both of us are sure it was not showing closed when we passed.

The detour was extremely scenic but long, not a road we had covered before. However Tom was determined to cover it as quickly as possible and was not going to admit it was enjoyable.
We cross the Colorado by road so not quite as we had planned. At the turning for Bullfrog we considered trying to cut through to pick up the Burr trail. Tom still not talking at this stage. To add to the stress the sign for the ferry was showing open ahhhhhh.....

It was now very late afternoon/ evening it is still very hot. We stop at Hanksville to consider our options. Bryce Canyon is not one of them unless we want to ride at night so I try to cancel the booking. Utah for some reason does not like iPhones no signal so we had to find a pay phone. The attendant in the garage said he had not seen one in years! We were running out of options. Fortunately the same guy came and asked if he could help and offered us to use his mobile phone. I call BW and try to change the booking1 hour and many calls later we get a reservation at Torrey which is near Capitol Reef National Park. We offer to pay for the calls the guy would not accept anything we give him some dollars for a few beers as a thank you. We laughed at this later as most places in Utah are dry. He seemed grateful!!

Planning now needed as we were in the wrong place for the rest of our route

Our hotel was a little way past the park entrance so we had a great ride through Canyon small in comparison to some but still spectacular. As you are much closer. The sun was setting excentuating the shadows and colours beautiful