On the rock.

Part of this trip out west  started in Key Largo on the live rock farm.  Some of the rock used is a special type f volcanic rock which come from Utah.  Since I had no particular place to be and I had he time why not take I drive.  When I started last year I didn't have a big push to make it to the southwest.  I'd seen parts of it before on other trips.  But I was inspired with the challenge of rock hunting in the desert. Some intel was gathered on the internet with a place to start: The BLM (Bureau of Land Management) office in Fillmore, Utah the county where large deposits of the "aquarium rock" is found.  The Natural Resource Specialist gave me info on where I would be able to go with the RV in an area called the "Honeycombs:.  I also got maps and directions.  With new front tires I was ready to roll.

The turn out to the desert.

I got an early start on a Sunday morning.  Clear skies and no one else on the road.  From Fillmore it was 50 miles to the turn off.  From there it was 30 miles to the next turn. Then another 30 miles on a decent packed dirt road.  There are a few isolated communities and wildlife preserve in the area so the county grades and maintains the road.

30 miles of paved road through mostly sage brush ( and saw maybe 6 other cars).

30 mile of not to bad dirt road and the Honeycombs are in site.

A little perspective.  I had to drive an extra few miles down the road to find a place to turn around a 22' RV and 17' trailer on not get stuck in the sand.  For those fans of "Breaking Bad" I felt like it was time to "cook".

I decided to not risk the RV on this part of the access trail.  But the ATV had no problem.

Lots of interesting formation in the rock from the volcanic gases.

The main deposit.  The rock is brittle and is naturally falling of the side.  Although there was evidence of people braking the rock apart too.  (Which is permitted)

So I started with the closest area to the road and just started walking around and picking up anything that would look interesting in someones fish tank.

Return of the buckets of rock!  Luckily these already have lots of holes and don't need to be drilled.

More formations.

Collecting the rock.  A view back to the RV out on the "main" road.

Looking back up to the buckets.  It was clear blue sky day and only got up to 40.  The coolness was nice for hiking up and down with the 40 pound buckets.  The "pile" of rocks to the right are tailings at the entrance to an old mine.

Full buckets ready to move. I was able to gather 1000 lbs of rock in about 5 hours (24 5 gallon buckets).  If I had had a truck or the access road was just a little better I could have driven the RV up to this point.  Instead I made four round trips with six buckets each time.

Awesome rock but wouldn't fit in a bucket (or the trailer).

I'm glad the rock option came about and got me inspired to travel out this way.  I've seen some amazing sights and hopefully have more to come on my way back east to drop off the rock.