(Glenn) Today we toured Capitol Reef National Park which was only a few miles down the road from where we were staying. The park was not nearly as crowded as other parks we have visited. The scenery was very nice but I told Cathy that the view from the patio of our room was as nice as anything in the park. We viewed some petroglyphs (ancient figures of people and animals carved in the stone about 700 AD) and visited the Gifford Farmhouse settled in the 1800's (the sell some great 6" homemade pies-we ate an apple pie while we were there). There have been fruit orchards (peaches, cherries, apples, and pears) that were planted by settlers long ago. They are maintained by the park service and tourists are welcome to pick and eat any fruits in the garden for free or take as much as you wish with you after leaving $1/pound in a locked "honor box". We enjoyed some apples and pears before returning to our room. Cathy washed some clothes while I read a book by the pool. Tonight we will have leftover pizza and a homemade strawberry/rhubarb pie-yum yum😛. We have really enjoyed resting here but tomorrow we leave early to Arches National Park.
(Cathy) Got to sleep late. Enjoyed eating the little apples and pears from the orchards and the pie too. Mormons settled here originally and planted the fruit trees. It is really strange to see all the desert mountains and still have water, trees, and orchards out here in the middle of nowhere. We were told this area starts cold weather in October and may have snow in May. Not much warm weather time.