Slickrock Ride and Robbers Roost - Day 2

The next morning, we decided to make one more foray in our search for Cowboy Cave.

We went back to the same canyon, then up the other side and around a slickrock hill (Navajo sandstone, I think).

Didn’t see anything but a few dents in sandstone that looked like they might be caves in a few thousand years. We did see a lot more of the burro trails, but still no actual burros. The scenery had Utah's deserts' wild, stark, beauty, though, and we had another fun, fast ride to and from the canyon on sandy roads and trails.
After returning to the trailer for a quick lunch, we drove to the vicinity of Robber’s Roost and took a walk down to the spring. This canyon was a hangout for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and other lesser known lawbreakers.
The area is a long, long way from civilization, even now, so it’s easy to imagine it as a hideaway.
Here’s a big cottonwood growing near the spring. No leaves yet, but I assume it's still alive.

This is Shootout Canyon, a quarter mile away.

Outlaws were cornered here by a posse, and many shots were fired. The outlaws did not fare well.
This fireplace was in a cabin that was built by a rancher in 1890 as a line cabin for cowboys. Off and on, the outlaws also stayed there.

It’s rumored that some cowboys were attempting to smoke out a nest of rats and accidentally burned the building down. The stone fireplace is all that remains. The good news is, the rats are gone...

We arrived back at camp just as the sun set, which was getting to be a pattern.

It's good to wear out the day, but maybe not so good to wear ourselves out. However, after a good night's sleep (in the gooseneck, not in motel 6), we were ready for more adventures.

To be continued...