Bryce to Escalante via Kodachrome SP (and a Flat Tire)

By Robin

An adventure isn’t an adventure without mishaps. If we had to have our first flat tire, we picked the perfect day, time and location.

We split from Bryce at dawn, picked up a coffee and headed to Kodachrome State Park for the day (Isn’t that just the BEST name for a park?). Ross mountain-biked and I walk-jogged a trail that explored incredible pinnacles or spires that are unique to the area. Geologists aren’t sure how they were formed. 

We hung out in the sunshine the rest of the morning then packed up for the leisurely short drive to Escalante.

As we were leaving the park, Ross noticed a sensor reading low on our back passenger truck tire. We pulled over at a flat pullout and checked. Sure enough, there was a big screw embedded in the tire. Luckily it was sunny, 60 degrees, we were in a safe, flat spot to change the tire.

We unhooked the trailer, pulled out the manual and tools and changed that giant tire! The spare is secured UNDER the truck on a pulley, which was new to both of us. It was a team effort, and we both felt pretty pleased to have pulled off the exchange so smoothly. The drive to Escalante was uneventful, and Ross took the tire to a garage for repair.

As a bonus ‘adventure,’ I forgot to secure the pantry door when we left Kodachrome. When I opened the trailer in Escalante the boxes containing crackers and box of psyllium fiber had EXPLODED all over the inside of the trailer. It was a giant mess that I cleaned up with much cursing. This is the kind of lesson you only learn once. That closet will be secure from now on!

I should have taken pictures of the tire change and food explosion. Use your imagination for those.

Kodachrome Pinnacle example

Our rig in the wild (before the flat).