2nd day of exploration on way to Provo

We woke early, cleaned up, and packed before Jacob Lake Inn opened for the day.  We joined in the line of tourists waiting for breakfast.

Sometimes it is fun to sit on the bar stools in a big square and people watch while you eat.  Heather wanted to make sure that her traveling companions were in a picture, too.  We were traveling in two cars, Heather with me in mine and Toby in grandpa's.  This meant I would have more freedom and flexibility once in Provo/SLC.

It also worked out well since the Tahoe's speedometer went out.  I got to be the leader as well as set the pace!  We did park my car and go together a couple of times on Day 2.  I parked in the church lot in Fredonia while we drove west across the Arizona Strip to Pipe Springs National Monument.

It has been a few years since we have stopped in at Pipe Springs and it has changed.  It is jointly run by a Paiute Native American tribe which borders the monument and the National Park Service, hence the wikiups.  There is also a new museum which gives the story of ALL the peoples who have lived on this land.

Natural materials were used to build at this dry place with its large natural spring. It was first a large cattle and sheep operation. The original settler and rancher plus a ranch hand were killed by the Indians.  The Mormon church purchased the location from the widow and her nine children.

Ponds were created to store water for cattle, sheep, and crops.

Because of the problems with the natives, a large stockade was constructed and was named Winsor Castle.

My grandmother, Rhoda, grew up north of here in Orderville and she remembers coming to Pipe Springs with her father and it was most probably in a wagon like this one.

This plaque is located on the northeast corner of the stockade.  It appears that some inscription was once visible on the sandstone.

There were pioneer implements and tools for the children to explore once inside.

This is the east side of the enclosure which is a bit lower than the west side.

We first entered on the northwest side on the bottom floor into the main living quarters and kitchen.  Notice the thickness of the walls.

I am honestly so drawn to this simple, homey living.  I know it was hard work, but I've often felt I was born in the wrong century.

Doesn't this vignette pull you in?  Pipe Springs cooks were known for their good food and pies. 

The story is that John Wesley Powell would make it a point to make long visits to Pipe Springs to rest up and eat pie during his explorations of this part of the West and the Grand Canyon.

There were sleeping quarters upstairs for the parents. . .

and the children.  Those little holes in the wall were for guns if needed for protection.  This level later had a door put into the west wall as it opens out at ground level as the stockade is built next to a hill.

The balcony was also used as a work space.  This is a bobbin winder.

It is just across the doorway from the treadle loom.

We then followed the guide east across and down to the east side of the complex.

Looking back at the west side.  That is not a chimney in the middle but an updraft to help in the expulsion of excess heat.

Pipe Springs was also a telegraph station and this is the quarters of the operator who had to be counted on to keep everyone's secrets.

Her quarters were off a common middle room. . .

which also included quest sleeping areas including the "bed/sofa" covered with patchwork quilt.

The doors into the center of the stockade were wide enough to accommodate a wagon.

The final area we explored was the lowest and coolest level.  The spring water runs in troughs through this room making it ideal for cheese making and dairy storage.  The picture is of a storage lazy susan.

The room north of the cool room included this giant vat were milk could be heated in preparation for becoming cheese.  The guide is standing at the outer door which exits on the east side.

We next walked up the hill overlooking the Arizona Strip to the cowboy quarters.

They were a bit more rustic and not nearly as inviting as Winsor Castle.

There was space for many ranch hands and it was all in all a pretty nice bunkhouse.

Coming back down the hill, this is the south wall and east side of the castle and you can see the doorway we exited at the end of our tour as well as the the spillway where the spring water exits the cool room on the very southeast corner.

Part of the springs are diverted to feed into the pond.  This spring runs year round and comes from water making its way through the sandstone for years before hitting a layer of slate which is impervious to water and diverts the water until it exits at the south end of a large plateau.

The water is used to water grape vines, orchards, gardens, and animals.

Sometimes the best way to water the plants is to flood them in a mini-flash flood.

After retrieving my car in Fredonia, we drove on to Mt. Carmel where I once again parked my car and then we traveled east together through the mile long tunnel into Zion's Park.  The tunnel runs through that large rock wall above the Tahoe.

This is a view of the west side of the canyon.  We drove down to the bottom and took the natural gas powered tram line along the Virgin River before heading back this same way and once again splitting up into separate cars for the final drive to our destination.

You will notice that one of Heather's traveling companions earned her Ranger's badge!