The world is a different place for most of us than it was a year and a half ago. Last May I posted all about our home renovation progress, and how we were so….close to being done. Well, we did finish 95% of those plans, and of course, as any homeowner will tell you, there is always something more to do. Through it all, we have enjoyed the process and the Arizona lifestyle. If we had to have chosen a time to purchase, renovate, and get acquainted with a new house, the Spring and Summer of 2020 was a good time to do it. Most travels were curtailed, plans were postponed and then canceled. But through it all, we had our health, and a comfortable place to call our own.

This year opened up travel for us again, and we spent Spring in New Orleans with the kids and the entire Summer on the Oregon coast. Having the boys with us for over a month of that time, and Sara for a week when she flew out to bring them home, we made the best of every moment traveling up and down the coast and exploring the small towns and eclectic finds in each area.

The wonders of the outdoors still call to us on a daily basis, and we are fortunate to be back in Utah for Fall. This is the sixth October we have spent in Southern Utah and it seems no matter how much exploring we do in this area, every week we find new treasures. Our very dear friends Kathy and Ron are traveling with us again this Fall to see some of our old favorite haunts, and through their eyes, it opens it up to us anew.

A look at this week’s journey. Pictographs, Petroglyphs, Arches, Bridges, and VIEWS!

Robidoux Inscription

Of interest to all four of us is the Rock Art of the ancient people that lived and worked in this area. Ron had been to one location north of I70 a couple of times, the first visit over 35 years ago. The long journey was down a dusty road, but so worth it. Along with the ancient artwork was also the historical marker of a traveler through the area back in the 1800’s. The inscription was made by a French trader named Antoine Robidoux. The Robidoux family left their mark in the early history of the westward expansion of the United States by establishing trading posts and forts in several key places. Unfortunately, the panel has broken over time, but all the pieces still remain. All on private land, we were lucky to run into a lifetime resident of the valley that showed us where it was.

Along the valley was an assortment of other ancient artwork, most all on private land so a big lens comes in handy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Robidoux
https://historytogo.utah.gov/antoine-robidoux/

Next stop, Thompson Springs

***Thompson Springs/ panel in Sago Canyon***

The second of our side trips for the day, a little north of I70, off the Thompson Springs exit, follow the main road through town about 3 ½ miles on Sego Canyon Road. We dry camped here and explored the area for a week or so back in 2016, so wanted to show it to Ron and Kathy. (*The petroglyphs and pictographs are left by several different cultures. Fremont thrived in this area from A.D. 600 to 1250 and was contemporary with the Anasazi culture of the Four Corners area. There is also rock art from the Archaic period dating from 7000 B.C., the Barrier Canyon period from around 2000 B.C., and the Ute tribe dating from A.D. 1300. Barrier Style rock art is estimated to date back to about 2000 B.C. It is distinctive in life-size mummy-like human shapes without arms or legs.) c Legends of America

It is so very unfortunate and disheartening to see the graffiti and damage to the art.

(All pictures are mine, but grateful to the following sources for this information) https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ut-segocanyon/
https://www.desertusa.com/desert-activity/ancient-rock-art.html