4th day: Utah my love

The plan to go to bed later and wake up later didn't quite work out. At 4:00 AM my internal clock rings and even if I doze for another hour, it's not well-rested.

For the first time, something like breakfast is offered. I'm not interested in the wrapped muffins and sweet pieces. But I take an apple with me.

After about 20 minutes, I reach Mt Carmel junction, where I stayed during my first US road trip 6 years ago. The place consists of a gas station, a restaurant, and that shack. It hasn't become any nicer.

The road leads past red rocks with individual bushes growing on them. After 1 hour, it turns right towards Bryce National Park into Red Valley and the red sandstone formations become even more impressive. In a small tunnel, I'm irritated by a bus of Mexican women, lightly dressed taking photos in front of this natural wonder, giggling and running around blocking the view. Stupid tourists.

I don't go back to the National Park, instead I continue on Byway 12, which shows the diversity of Utah. The Grand Staircase Escalante provides the drama for this unique spectacle. I spend a total of 4 hours driving like this and time flies by. Contrary to my initial fears, there aren't as many people around, and the overviews and lookouts are often not full or no one is there.

Red sandstone alternates with yellow sandstone, sometimes passing through forests, sometimes over a prairie. Even at almost 10,000 feet, there are still remnants of snow, and it's no wonder that some roads are closed until May.

In the late afternoon, I arrive in Salina and realize that my phone still remembers the Wi-Fi password. In other words, I've stayed here before. And slowly I can remember. The hotel has relatively young operators and they have done a really great job. The room is incredibly well arranged and almost a steal for the price. However, the town itself is a typical American small town, 20 gas stations, a few bars, in this case a state liquor shop, and 10 motels.

On the recommendation of my host, I get something to eat at Chicken Champ. The chicken shop is in a gas station and I wouldn't normally buy anything there. But, you can be mistaken, it is really excellent and freshly prepared.

Since I have a very long drive ahead of me tomorrow, I decide to end the day with the last episode of season eleven of The Walking Dead. I'm two years behind on that. And now all these spin-offs are starting, I think I'll pass. It just never ends.