Monday, October 14th, we left Mesquite for Manti, Utah. Cordell, Claude's brother, and his wife, Kris, live there. We were going to visit them. This would be a 3 1/2 hour drive with the loss of an hour due to the time change to Mountain Time.
We totally enjoyed our drive thru the Virgin River Gorge. This was constructed for I-15 during the earlier part of our marriage. The southern section of the highway was complete and open in the early 1960s, but the gorge section was inaccessible until 1973. Built at a cost of about $10 million per mile (the equivalent of more than $50 million in today's dollars) it was the most expensive stretch of interstate highway ever built at that time. It is a stunning highway to drive.
We totally enjoyed our drive thru the Virgin River Gorge. This was constructed for I-15 during the earlier part of our marriage. The southern section of the highway was complete and open in the early 1960s, but the gorge section was inaccessible until 1973. Built at a cost of about $10 million per mile (the equivalent of more than $50 million in today's dollars) it was the most expensive stretch of interstate highway ever built at that time. It is a stunning highway to drive.
Claude misses his Rocky Mountains. Driving thru and seeing the colors, layers and formations speaks to his western soul and to his geology heart. This one mountain near Leeds, Utah clearly shows it was lifted up from the valley floor is an example of tremendous forces at work. I marvel at the work of creation.
A wonderfully pleasant drive brought us to Manti, Utah. We found Cordell in the yard working at the picnic table on a rain gauge. He called for Kris to come. I got this wonderful picture of the brothers talking. Oh, how Bonnie and Evan would love this.
They had a pipe burst in their very old home and water from upstairs came down thru the walls. They had to sheet rock practically the entire home. This day painters were painting the inside. Cordell and Kris are living in a big trailer while this work is being done.
For our sleeping arrangements, they arranged for us to use a friend's Air B&B, Manti Cottage. It was built in 1851. How cute is this restored pioneer home! It was easily the most fun room we had on this long journey.
We went for a light lunch at the bowling alley in Ephraim. Followed by a drive thru the car wash to clean Kris' car. Then back to their home.
We would leave there to take the Buick for a bath. Yeah. Then we went to our little bungalow to put our luggage inside.
We met Kris and Cordell again at their home and walked to dinner with their group of friends. They have dinner together once a month with 11 other couples. It was nice to meet their friends and have a very pleasant dinner at the home of Doug and Valerie Dyreng.
We walked back to their trailer and visited a bit. We agreed they will pick us up at 9:30am for breakfast. Time for a good night's rest in the Manti Cottage.
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