March 1, 2017

We started out in Richfield, where the newspaper served with the hotel breakfast seemed ominous...



... to me, a non-farmer, who takes a while to think about the connection between "reaper" and rich fields and thinks first and distractingly of the Grim Reaper.

We made it to Route 89 after getting distracted by a tandoori tacqueria and not hanging a left turn, then getting our mistake helpfully called to our attention by a sign that read — my all-time favorite road-direction sign — "This Is Not 89."

Out on Route 89, there was "ho-made" pie...



... and we found our way through the tunnel...



... to our beautiful destination.

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67 comments:

Bay Area Guy said...

Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together
I've got some real estate here in my bag
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner's pies
And we walked off to look for America
Cathy I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
Michigan seems like a dream to me now
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
I've gone to look for America
- America (1968), Simon & Garfunkel

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

Zion?

Mark Nielsen said...

Zion indeed! Enjoy -- it's a spectacular place.

MisterBuddwing said...

"Ho-Made Pies." Nice. Remind me to watch "American Pie."

Ignorance is Bliss said...

...and thinks first and distractingly of the Grim Reaper

The Grim Reaper is a dead metaphor.

mockturtle said...

She looks a bit like a 'ho'. ;-D

mockturtle said...

That is a beautiful destination. Where is it?

Nordicnomad said...

Welcome to our neighborhood! I lived in Richfield when I first started reading your blog. Had to get out of the big city so we are now in Monticello....first time poster.

madAsHell said...

I've travelled by side roads in E. Washington, and E. Oregon. You can learn a lot, and the photography is better. Bonus points for losing communication with the cell phone tower.

Virgil Hilts said...

Ann you really have to do Angel's Landing. There were young children and seniors doing it when we went. As long as you don't let go of the chains you won't fall, its not that strenuous of a climb and the pictures you take at the top will be epic.

rcocean said...

Definitely looks like Zion. Its great.

Virgil Hilts said...

Restaurant recommendation - Whiptail Grill in Springdale. Its small and in a former garage and we were suspicious of all the good reviews, but it was easily our best meal at Zion.

Jay said...

The entrance to the Narrows?

PB said...

Ho-made pies? What's the cover charge to get in? Do they have a 2-slice minimum? Do they feed it to you while sitting in you lap for extra? It makes you wonder what they do with pies in a private room.

Marc in Eugene said...

"I’m Joseph John Deaton. After much resistance and hesitation, I decided to return to my Heavenly Father, Feb. 24, 2017, because after 90 years, things just wear out." The obits in The Richfield Reaper are interesting; have never seen a page of LDS obits, I think. No police reports I could find, alas.

Justin said...

Richfield is my hometown - long time reader here but finally feel compelled to comment. I have a shoebox full of clippings from the Reaper from my mother cutting out any piece that had my name in it during school. Cool little newspaper and a special town.

Jon Ericson said...

Ho-made.
Tsk, tsk.

traditionalguy said...

Nice rocks.

David Baker said...

Zion, a perfect place, especially around midnight. This is where the spirits gather, under the stars, the wolf howls calling the moons. At night they're everywhere we call High Utah, but after daybreak they reside in the Wasatch Range.

James L. Salmon said...

Nice to vacation vicariously through Althouse and Meade.

Ann Althouse said...

I'm reading about Angels Landing, but it says "Not suggested for children or those with a fear of heights." I do have a fear of heights! It's not a question of physical ability, just of not being able to enjoy it.

David said...

What's the word?

Thunderbird!

Ann Althouse said...

"Welcome to our neighborhood! I lived in Richfield when I first started reading your blog. Had to get out of the big city so we are now in Monticello....first time poster."

Thanks. We were mostly just passing through. I did wonder about a place that small being the largest town in a pretty big area. It made it a good target for a car shooting down I-70.

I read the Wikipedia entry to learn the history of the place: "In the early part of January 1864, a party of ten men under the leadership of Albert Lewis came from Sanpete County, Utah and arrived in what is now Richfield. The Mormon settlers found fertile soil, good water and wood in the nearby hills. They decided that it was a desirable site for a settlement. These pioneers made a dwelling place for all ten men, which they called 'The Hole in the Ground.' They carefully covered this hole with brush willows and other materials and made a crude chimney of rocks. This dugout was located on today's Main Street. These men spent the remainder of the winter in this dwelling, planning and preparing for the time when they could bring their families. The early Mormon settlements were abandoned in 1867 due to the conflict known as the Black Hawk War. But, when resettled in 1871, Richfield grew to become a regional center. The coming of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1891 opened the valley for expanded agricultural commerce and mining."

The Hole in the Ground!

Justin said...

Richfield is basically the halfway point between Denver and LA. When they finally finished I-70 in the early 90s it really changed the place.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

I don't know if The Narrows is doable this time of year but I would recommend looking into it. It's pretty amazing and no heights for the acrophobic.

~ Gordon Pasha said...

My Grandmother was born in Richfield.

Earnest Prole said...

If you'd gone north on 89 at Richfield instead of south, you would have passed through the Sanpete Valley and the best-preserved remnants of the Mormon utopian-agrarian landscape in towns like Manti and Spring City. Google them if you're interested in that kind of thing.

OldManRick said...

While you are there check out some of the off trail East canyon hikes found on this map - http://www.zionnational-park.com/map-zion-topo.htm Click on the hike name for details. You can make any of them an out and back hikes as long or as short as you want.

Easy navigation by just following along the stream bed across the slick rock. I've done short hikes along Many Pools, Checkerboard Arch, Keyhole Slot from below (very short), Clear Creek, Hidden Gardens (now more difficult because of erosion) and some others I can't remember. Just stopping on the road and wandering on the slick rock is a great treat.

DKWalser said...

You're traveling in some of my favorite country. And, I've eaten some of those Ho-Made pies. They're quite good. Not as good as my wife's, but quite good.

Etienne said...

A funny story, I thought I would take a shortcut across US-50 to get from I-70 to I-15. Holy cattle farmers, it was "open range", and you had to drive slow, because around every blind corner was a stupid cow in the middle of the road.

So after awhile my daughter started shooting them with her Super Soaker, until I told her to not waste ammo we might need to survive on if the car broke down. The cows only enjoyed it anyway.

That Ho sign reminds me of grabbing some pussy...

Wilbur said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wilbur said...

That sign reminds me of the Del Reeves classic "Girl On The Billboard".

Who is the girl
Wearing nothing but a smile
And a towel
In the picture
On the billboard
In the field
Near the big old highway?

Darrell said...

I hope you got to stay in the Ho-Tel.

Steve said...

This will give you an idea of what Angel's Landing is like. This video is actually more stressful than climbing it yourself.

http://fox13now.com/2017/02/14/afraid-of-heights-do-not-watch-this-trek-through-angels-landing/

MadisonMan said...

We had snow yesterday here. Good time to leave Madison.

Big Mike said...

No self-respecting married woman will let her husband eat a pie made by a 'ho.'

Big Mike said...

@MadMan, the Weather Channel said five inches. Were they right?

MadisonMan said...

3.7" at the airport. There's maybe an inch on the ground.

Althouse, my all-time (currently) favorite Highway sign in on I-65 southbound somewhere in northern Indiana: "Hell is Real" I think it a very apt commentary on that particular road :)

Curious George said...

Wait, I was assured blacks don't enjoy our National Parks.

DanTheMan said...

>>We had snow yesterday here. Good time to leave Madison.

85 here yesterday. I had to turn on the AC.

Zion is absolutely my favorite place in the US. Bryce is just a few hours up the road and not to be missed...

Titus said...

What are the accomies and dindin options like in that god awful place?

I am guessing no James Beard winners in the vicinity.

And are there only "motels" around there?

All white people, right?

Curious George said...

"MadisonMan said...
Althouse, my all-time (currently) favorite Highway sign in on I-65 southbound somewhere in northern Indiana: "Hell is Real" I think it a very apt commentary on that particular road :)"

I thought every sign on I-65 southbound in northern Indiana was for Fair Oaks Farm?

Bruce Hayden said...

@harryo - never had that problem on US-50 between I-15 and I-70. Usually fairly fast, but last time got stuck behind a truck on the long downhill on the other side.

Been by Richfield a bunch of times, but only stopped maybe once or twice, for gas. There are signs W of Green River and E of Salinas warning of no services for the next 99 miles. Pretty desolate, and surprisingly worse roads in the winter than US 6 from Green River to Provo. So, I make sure I always have at least a half a tank or so going into that stretch of I-70. I try to fill up on I-15 eastbound, but Richfield is my last good chance before the 99 mile stretch (Salinas actually is, but prefer Richfield). In any case, it is always nice coming out of that 99 miles of desolate road into this nice agricultural valley around Richfield.

The fast route between PHX and W MT is around the north rim of the Grand Canyon on US 89, north of maybe Panguitch, then pop over the ridge onto I-15 between Ceder City and Beaver, neatly bypassing Las Vegas and the Virgin River canyon (between Mesquite and St George). Esp Vegas any more with its horrible traffic problems, esp on I-15. I have always wanted to instead follow US 89 up to at least the Richfield area, and I-70 (and US 50). And maybe even all the way up to US 6 right before Provo. Earnest Prole just provided an incentive for that segment. Problem for me is that my partner doesn't travel well any more, and she spent a lot of time growing up in that area - her grandparents had a ranch somewhere in the mtns between St George and Cedar City, plus her mother would take all the kids camping for a month or two every summer in the west, and, esp, southern UT. So, this part of UT bores her. Hopefully getting a road car this year, which has to make it easier on her than the Tahoe we have been driving through there the last maybe 5 years.

Bruce Hayden said...

"We had snow yesterday here. Good time to leave Madison."

What's snow? Said the guy who inadvertently packed a snow shovel on his move from CO to AZ earlier this year. It is an object of interest by the denizens here. They had seen pictures of snow shovels, but never one in person. I have been thinking of taking it around the neighborhood, and charging everyone who wants to feel what one really feels like. Weird. In any case, high 70s yesterday, with my partner walking in short sleeve top and pants, jazzing me for wearing a long sleeve shirt. She was right - I was a bit hot after a bit. In any case, not supposed to break 80 until Friday, then into the mid 70s for more moving this weekend.

Fernandinande said...

"This Is Not [US-]89."

Featuring 1984 BMW R100RS.

Fernandinande said...

Unknown said...
Welcome to our neighborhood! I lived in Richfield when I first started reading your blog. Had to get out of the big city so we are now in Monticello....first time poster.


Monticello is a metropolis for Mexican Hatterites.

Unknown said...

I agree, Ann. Should wander up into Sanpete.

So here's a perhaps interesting tidbit, legal wise. Richfield and Sanpete are part of Utah's 6th Judicial District, which is massive, geographically. 3 judges, and it stretches from central Utah down to the Arizona border, covering Richfield, Hanksville, Wayne county, etc.

So while Richfield is the largest town, Sanpete county has the most people.

And Sanpete county has fewer people than probably attend University of Wisconsin. I know there's fewer people than go to BYU--i.e. the entire student body at BYU is larger than the total population of the largest county in a stretch of land that goes for 300 miles or so.

Ann should try Capitol Reef park too; it's pretty nice. Off the beaten track as well.

--Vance

rhhardin said...

Reaping is about harvest, whether men or news.

The grim reaper operates with a touch of the hand

pic

Fernandinande said...

Titus said...
All white people, right?


That depends, you creepy racist fag, on where one happens to be. San Juan County is > 50% Indians.

MadisonMan said...

Fair Oaks Farm

We stopped there, once. The ice cream was okay, a bit overpriced, I guess, but you are paying for "the experience". (Just like Graeter's in Ohio, when UDF Ice Cream is just as good but cheaper!) Also bought some cheese that was good. Haven't felt the need to stop again. But yes -- there are many signs. It's not South of The Border sign magnitude, or Wall Drug. I'm sure they're working on that.

F said...

I've flown over much of that country in a sailplane (glider). There is spectacular soaring all around there, launching out of Nephi, which only got on the soaring map about five years ago when some Utah soaring pilots started having contests there. It is possible (and not terribly hard for experienced soaring pilots) to fly 500 km flights out of Nephi to Springfield, then west to the NV border and back to Nephi. I've flown several like that. We're talking 8-10 soaring flights there! Pretty country!

John henry said...

Blogger PB said...

Ho-made pies? What's the cover charge to get in? Do they have a 2-slice minimum? Do they feed it to you while sitting in you lap for extra? It makes you wonder what they do with pies in a private room.

Didn't Saul Goodman have a client with a pie sitting fetish? Maybe that's what goes on in the back room?

John Henry

John henry said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John henry said...

Blogger Bruce Hayden said...

Said the guy who inadvertently packed a snow shovel on his move from CO to AZ earlier this year. It is an object of interest by the denizens here.


Back in the early 90s when Walmart first came to Puerto Rico they had some bugs to work out in the merchandise mix.

At one point they were carrying snow shovels in the Fajardo store.

John Henry

DKWalser said...

@ Bruce Hayden -- Plenty of Arizonans know what a snow shovel is. Their experience with snow shovels is one of the primary reasons for moving to Arizona! I hope you enjoy your new home here.

mockturtle said...

Flagstaff, AZ, gets 82" of snow per year on average.

mockturtle said...

Darrell quips: I hope you got to stay in the Ho-Tel.

:-D Is it in the red-light district?

Birches said...

Welcome to our neighborhood! I lived in Richfield when I first started reading your blog. Had to get out of the big city so we are now in Monticello....first time poster.

I have some very good friends from Monroe.

@Bruce Hayden

The 89 from Flag through Glen Canyon is one of my favorite drives. Even more scenic: turn off toward Jacob's Lake on the 89a.

mockturtle said...

One of my favorites in that area is Marble Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs.

john burger said...

A propos of nothing, but a tandoori taquería is a cause for alarm. What's next, a Madhya Pradesh waffle house?

jvb

mockturtle said...

A propos of nothing, but a tandoori taquería is a cause for alarm. What's next, a Madhya Pradesh waffle house?

Yes, we must keep our culinary ethnicities in line. La Maison du fish & chips wouldn't cut it, either.

Peter said...

"Reapers a win away from outright I-8 title"

Reapers? Yes they're reapers, but, they're only grim when they lose: it's boys basketball, in Plano, IL. Where the high school's teams are known as "Reapers."

http://www.kendallcountynow.com/2017/02/21/boys-basketball-back-in-plano-nathan-shead-and-reapers-a-win-away-from-outright-i-8-title/amoyahk/?page=2


I guess we're not an agrarian society anymore is why "reapers" makes people think not so much of harvesting but of death.

southcentralpa said...

Great, now I've got Blue Oyster Cult stuck in my head

"Professor, don't fear the Reaper ..."

(Talk about one of the biggest name/reality mismatches, the East Coast replacement fighter squadron was called the "Grim Reapers", which is a pretty badass name for a bunch of pre-nuggets ("nuggets" are pilots on their first major deployment, and the replacement squadron is where they receive their final type training before being assigned to their first real squadron).)

Fustigator said...

Ann....go up to Angel's Landing....you don't have to do the last little bit. I took wife and kids up there and decided the risk of the last little bit where you have to hang onto to the chains while coming around the cliff wasnt worth the risk to take my kids out there.

Absolutely worth the hike and plenty of other good views beyond Angels Landing where you can look over the cliff face down to the valley.

Someone else above mentioned WhipTail Grill in Springdale. My daughter still talks about that place.

urbane legend said...

Ann Althouse said...
I'm reading about Angels Landing, but it says "Not suggested for children or those with a fear of heights." I do have a fear of heights!


Fear of heights? I don't even like being this tall!

hombre said...

Go to the Grand Canyon, through Flag, then through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. Uniquely beautiful!

ndspinelli said...

The most uniquely beautiful part of this great country. But, it's tough to get an adult beverage. There are places, but they can be sparse.