Instead of the Mall: The Never-Ending Road

Instead of walking the mall (as I mentioned in the last entry we might do) Taylor suggested we drive up a new canyon for the evening. We packed the car with snacks, our computers (with the cell phone, we can connect to the internet wherever there is phone coverage, and we thought we might look up an adoption checklist that is online), books, and games. We were set! Our plan was to find a park up the canyon, where it would be cooler, as our apartment is hotter than Hades. So we drove through Springville (nice little town), passing million dollar homes nestled into the hills, and headed into the left fork of Hobble Creek Canyon. The estates got more and more elaborate as we went. We kept thinking that the road would eventually loop back into civilization. But it ended at some gorgeous estate, where the road veered to one side of the property, and indicated that an "Adventure Camp" lay 2.5 miles away.

At this point, however, the road also became unpaved, just dirt and rocks. Taylor asked if I was interested in seeing where it went. I was; our interest was piqued. So we crept along the road, trying not to put a hole into the bottom of the car.

All along the way were signs saying "No Trespassing", "No Hunting", "Keep Out", and just "No." Started to make us laugh -- someone is protective of his private property and was reminding us every 10 yards to stay on the dirt road and not try to jump the barbed wire that lined both sides of it.

Just in case the other signs were too complicated! :)

After about a mile, we came to a dip in the road that was filled with water. Would have made sense to turn back then. But by this point we had to see where the road ended! So we parked the car and started trekking up the dirt road. I was in Chacos; my feet were filthy within minutes. But I had to laugh, again and again, at the silliness of our quest.


We were passed by two 4-wheelers and a jeep, but otherwise had the road to ourselves. And after 25 minutes of walking, we finally did find the "Adventure Camp". It had numerous picnic tables and other facilities -- looked like it was used for a Boys or Girls Camp. They must all ride in on 4-wheel drive vehicles, though!

And the road continued on. But the sun was setting. So finally we turned back (Taylor may have continued onward for another hour, but my dirty feet were ready to get home). There is no exciting climax to this story (though we did learn that a boy had been bitten by a bear at "Adventure Camp" exactly one year earlier). It's just a story of our silly adventure. Taylor later looked on GoogleEarth, and sure enough, the road seems to never end, and never goes anywhere near civilization. We could have walked on that road till morning ... and still been nowhere!