Tuesday, July 11, 2017

SLC RV Trip - Day 4: The Alpine Loop Scenic Byway and a red sunset

After work today, Martha and I headed out on Fiona, my '99 Bural to cruise the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway which takes one around the mighty Timpanogos mountain that overlooks the Utah Valley and the towns of Orem and Provo.

We took the I-15 Super Slab to the town of Pleasant Grove and there caught Utah State Road 92 which comprises the scenic byway.  More info on this lovely twisty road here:  LINK

By the way, yes, its very twisty, full of blind curves and foolish/unwary cagers trying to take the unwary rider out.  Exercise due care.

Most the byway is twisting roads winding their way through thick pine and alpine forests. The highest points is just 8086 feet from sea level so you never really rise above the treeline like you can in Colorado.


Still, quite scenic indeed.  The wildflowers were out, traffic was very light and only one close call involving a cager trying to use both lanes of traffic at same time.

 First good views of Mt Timpanogos along the UT92 
scenic byway.



As we neared Robert Redford's Sundance resort, I realized that the road we were riding on was the one that had been closed due to winter when I'd last been in this part of Utah!

Here's a pic from the trip the previous year.

It had been a work gathering at the Sundance resort and I'd ridden then with Scarlett, my 2014 Patrol.  Here's a link to the first posting of that trip:  LINK

Past the resort (we decided not to stop for expensive food), we reached US 189 which we took towards Provo.  On the way we spotted the sign for Bridal Veil Falls and Martha wanted to check it out.


The entrance to the falls turned out to be just a bit further north along US 189 from the exit to Squaw Peak Road which we took for the first day of Provo Uraling.  Nice falls, don't get me wrong, but the Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, CO were better I think.

Back in town, it was time to run some errands in the blistering afternoon heat.  We were very glad to get back into Uma, the URRV who had been running the AC the whole time we'd been out!  Aaaahhhhh,

Sunset approached and this time I rode alone to capture it at the same road we'd used last night.

 The first few moments were nothing exciting...

 Then as the sun fell behind the mountains....things got interesting

 For a few minutes, it was like the mountains
held back a fire behind them

 The last few rays from the sun illuminated the clouds nicely



6 comments:

LB said...

I'm loving your pictures. You do a great job in capturing the beauty of this great land. I'm glad that Martha is now joining you on these trips. Thanks for taking the rest of us along vicariously as you share your pictures here on your blog.
Laura

redlegsrides said...

Thanks Laura, for the comments....Martha makes a great travel companion!

RichardM said...

When you came into Provo, did you go through Price and Hey 6? I remember that being a very nice road through a canyon. Really nice colors.

redlegsrides said...

I don't recall seeing a sign for Price RichardM.

SonjaM said...

Reminds me of the Alps indeed. We also had a close encounter on narrow winding roads, in our case with a two wheeled idiot riding with the obvious desire to end up as a hood ornament. Why can't people just simply stay in their lanes?

Love the waterfall by the way, and the sunset pics speak for themselves, Dom.

redlegsrides said...

SonjaM, thanks for commenting...and yes, one wonders sometimes about the rest of humanity on wheels.