To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

After three weeks in the hospital getting his flywheel resurfaced, clutch plate, pressure plate, U-joint, front drive shaft bearing, race, and seal, oil pressure gauge, three tires, and fuel pump hose replaced and transmission rebuilt Old Henry was crying to get back on the road again. So we went . . . to City of Rocks National Reserve in southern Idaho where we'd tried to get three times in the previous two months without success (too snowy, too muddy, too much vibration in the drive line.) Here's the story:

This is the video without music as some have requested they wanted to just hear the car going: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZG1TlGMRrE

The City of Rocks is over 14,000 acres of unique granite formations, some over 2 billion years old and towering as high as 600 feet. The California Trail that cut off from the Oregon Trail for 52,000 emigrants to go to the Gold Rush in 1852 went right through the City of Rocks. Emigrant diaries described the rocks in vivid detail as “a city of tall spires,” “steeple rocks”, "the silent city" and a display of “all manner of fantastic shapes.”

Wagons on the California Trail:

http://www.nps.gov/ciro/historycultu...trail-R1_1.jpg

Later John Halley's stage route connected the railroad at Kelton, Utah with Idaho's mining hub of Boise, Idaho, and supplied the early economic development of Idaho, which won statehood in 1890. The Kelton stage route passed through the City of Rocks, with a stage station set up near the junction of the old California Trail and Salt Lake Alternate.

http://www.nps.gov/ciro/historycultu...Road-Map_2.jpg

The Kelton stage station with the Twin Sisters rocks (seen in the video) in the background:

http://www.nps.gov/ciro/historycultu...isters_2_1.jpg

After leaving I-84 at the Sublet exit we drove through Malta, Elba, and Almo then hit dirt road to the reserve.

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...pscd5d4f68.jpg

Looking back at the valley we came through from Almo to get to the reserve:

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...ps76252698.jpg

We shortly came upon this old rock farm house that was built in 1904 - 1905 by Aaron McBride, a rock mason, and William E. Tracy, a rock layer and house builder. Eighteen inch thick rock walls were installed to provide excellent insulation, keeping the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The Tracy family lived in the rock house for five years. More here: http://www.nps.gov/ciro/historycultu...use-1998-3.pdf

Early picture of the house:

http://www.nps.gov/ciro/historycultu...cy-House_1.jpg

What we saw (approaching from the right side of the above picture):

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psd79073a1.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5c4cb41a.jpg

Same angle of view of the old picture.

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psa9878c5a.jpg

Then we pretty much just drove around the reserve looking at the different rock formations and scenery.

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psd96ae01b.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...pseb048dbd.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3eee849e.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psf78a78e5.jpg

There are two big rocks upon which many emigrants recorded their names as they passed along the trail, usually with axle grease. One called Register Rock and the other Camp Rock (seen in the video).

Here emigrants are stopped to record their names at Camp Rock:

http://www.nps.gov/ciro/historycultu...es/_0165_2.jpg

How that same rock looked to us with some faint names still visible. One is even my family name. That was cool to see:

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...ps86084d0d.jpg


http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psef8c1f9e.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5e6a5738.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psb1902b3d.jpg

After leaving the reserve to the west we continued on dirt road almost to Oakley. That night we made it to Burley, Idaho to stay at the same old Bass Motel where Pepe and I had to be towed away from just two months ago.

Then, on the way home, we stopped at Farr West, Utah to get a Subway Sandwich. When we came out the front left tire was flat. I got the jack and tools out to change it when AnnaRae gets out, comes around, and says, "Why don't you just pump it back up?" Duh, that was sure a better idea than changing the tire. So I did.

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9128d8f8.jpg

Then drove to the nearest Big O where they fixed the flat for free. Look close and you can see the mechanic laying on the inner tube to get the air out to get it back in the tire.

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psace5c97f.jpg

What punctured the tire? Nothing! It was a "pinch" in the crappy radial inner tube I got from Coker tire. Don't use those. Always get the 550/600/650-16 tubes from the local tire store.

That's it. 448 miles over the two days. No mechanical problems other than the flat tire.

Previous trips:

To Capitol Reef National Park in March 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133018

To Grouse Creek and the AAA garage in February 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130966

To Grand Canyon in January 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128820

To Moab, UT in December 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127222

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument November 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123694

Across Nevada on US 50, "The Loneliest Road in the Country", October 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098

Mount Evans (the highest paved road in North America) August 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115013

Canada in June 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109872

Monument Valley in March 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99523

Bryce Canyon in February 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822

Milford, Utah in December 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137

Nevada and Idaho in November 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89080

Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966

Yellowstone National Park in May 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72864

Death Valley in February 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62705

Pike's Peak in July 2011: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19141

Route 66 in April 2010: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57511

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Congratulations on a successful return to the highways! Great pictures as usual, but I'm totally confused by the last one! Is your car maroon?!

PS -- video shows to be "private"?

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

WOW this brings back great memories of many fund days rock climbing there. You have wet my apatite to go back and hang out and go climbing.

Rick Mck
Seattle WA

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Another outstanding adventure Prof. I'm getting antsy to do another road trip in one of our Flatheads, maybe in May.

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Professor,
As Willie Nelson used to sing "On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again". Great trip and Old Henry did good. In the "rate this thread" box in the red banner up top, I give this a 5. Thanks for the pictures
John

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Great report Professor - thank you!

Ken

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Another great post! Can't wait to see you at the Joining of the Rails this summer!

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Video is now public here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZG1TlGMRrE

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Beautiful scenery, Prof. The USA is certainly well blessed in that department. Glad the only hiccup you had was one that was easily fixed.

Mart.

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Yeah, I forgot to mention the rock climbing as one of the main attractions of the reserve.

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

In every photo that I've seen your car appears to be black, but the photo in the tire shows it to be maroon. Which is it? By the way a nice history lesson. Enjoyed it.

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

The paint is officially maroon but appears different colors in different light and camera effects from chocolate brown in bright sunlight to black at night and in increased contrast pictures. My favorite that it's been called is "egg plant" at twilight. In the video and some over the hood photos it appears quite blue. The purple in the tire store is a camera white balance error. It's not really that purple to the eye in any kind of light.

This is probably what it really looked more like in that garage:

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psf0f6419c.jpg

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

ok prof has the car been healed of all its little problems that you were having great pics trev

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

All but the clutch chatter. It's still there in all its glory in spite of everything I did. But, I'm used to it and can almost do the clutch to totally avoid it.

Thanks for asking.
Hope your battle is going well.;)

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Henry, your trips are more fun than working on cars. Thank you for visual odyssey.

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Sorry to repeat a question when the answer is obvious....Your car is maroon? I always thought it was black. Again, after one of these videos I feel I owe you gas money. Thanks for the ride !!......Mark

Sorry I typed to slow !!!

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Thank you very much Professor, What a beautiful day for a drive. I can now put my computer screen on my 42" TV and go along for a ride in my easy chair. Increadable, what caused those rock formations.?
Take care Henry, waiting for my next ride.
Ol' Ron

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

See post # 12.

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

As the earth's crust stretches, faults develop to accommodate the extension. Along these faults, mountains were pushed up and valleys dropped down, producing the distinctive alternating pattern of mountain ranges and valleys of the reserve.

As the rocky ranges rose, they were immediately subjected to weathering and erosion. The exposed bedrock was attacked by water, ice, wind and other erosional agents. Rock particles were stripped away and washed down the mountain sides, often covering young faults until they ruptured again.

More here: http://www.nps.gov/ciro/naturescience/geology.htm

Re: To the City of Rocks National Reserve
 

Another great road trip. Thanks for the ride, can't wait to go on another trip with you.