When the GPS suggests you turn around, maybe you should...

Throughout this trip Ashley and I had taken turns driving, although Ashley's primary role had been navigator and DJ, of which she is incredible at both. So, as we left Capitol Reef National Park still admiring the views I came across a brown park sign that said to take the next left to get to Bryce Canyon National Park. So, I turned left. A few minutes later Google Maps told us to turn around.

Ashley quickly checked the route and determined that continuing on the road we were driving on would cost us an additional 3 minutes in getting to our destination. And at this point it would cost us at least that much time to turn around and take the other way. So, onward and then upward we went. We were climbing and climbing over the mountains ahead of us. The farther we drove, the worse the weather was becoming. There were dark clouds now surrounding us and it had begun to rain. The wind had picked up as well. What do you do? Put on some jams!

Then as we went higher and higher in elevation we were also dealing with fog and then...snow! It was crazy to think that just a few minutes ago we were in warm weather and sunshine. It wasn't just the weather, this was a winding curvy road we were dealing with often with drop offs on the side of us.

We checked our altimeter and we were at 9000 feet! As we approached a scenic overlook we stopped to take a video. It was hard to get out of the car as the wind was so incredibly strong.

Shortly after the stop we passed a sign that said, "Summit 9600 feet". Unbelievable! As we carefully descended the weather gradually improved and the sunshine returned. Thank goodness!

The rest of the drive was beautiful.

We arrived at our hotel just outside Bryce Canyon National Park ready to rest after a long day, but the adventure for the wasn't over...the power was out at the hotel. Apparently, a pole had caught on fire and we had no lights and no heat in our room.

So, we went down the street to a restaurant that appeared to have it's lights on to get some food. We did manage to get served, but not before the lights went out in the restaurant two times! So, Ashley and I sat in the ambiance of our cell phone flashlights and laughed. What else could we do?

The story has a happy ending...the lights went on, the food was good, we went back to the hotel and service had been restored and we both got to take nice, long, hot showers.

What we woke up to though was quite a shock!