September 18th we had toured both rims of the Grand Canyon so we move on to complete this trip with the National Parks in Utah then on home thorough the Western Slope of Colorado.
We hitch up and hit the road again with plans of staying in an RV Park in Hurricane Utah. Arriving in the afternoon we washed the pickup, cleaned the camper and went to town for supplies. It sure was nice to be all shiny again with electric hookup's, water, and sewer connections.
We only spent one night in this wonderful little town but we did
get a good night of rest and was able to drive on to Springdale just a few miles from Zion
National Park where we had reservations at the Nat. park campground. On the way we found a
great rock shop and several treasures! The "picture stone" found around the area is beautiful.
Finding our camp site we are very happy with it! The picture below shows
the scene right across the road from us. We got all set up and drove to the visitors center
to get brochures and study the area for touring the park the next day.
The park is beautiful with big old jagged mountains and high cliffs with layer after
layer of exposed colors
Zion National Park has a very nice shuttle system that allows you to ride through the park
and be dropped off at various points for exploring on your own so we spent the day doing
just that, staying as long as we wanted at the different drop off's. With a small of amount of
hiking we found our way down to a pretty little stream and just enjoyed looking at the
mountains around us.
layer of exposed colors
Zion National Park has a very nice shuttle system that allows you to ride through the park
and be dropped off at various points for exploring on your own so we spent the day doing
just that, staying as long as we wanted at the different drop off's. With a small of amount of
hiking we found our way down to a pretty little stream and just enjoyed looking at the
mountains around us.
We had received an email from some friends who were camping at Lake Powell.
They were actually our "tail gunners" through the Mexico trip and they ask
if we could drive over to meet them since they were working the caravan on their "great southwest tour". We wanted to visit
Glen Canyon Dam anyway, so we took the next day in the pickup
to Page Arizona and visit the dam and lake powell and have dinner with our friends
The only way out of Zion is through the tunnel. Built in 1930 it's a very interesting
structure with windows cut through the rock in the sides of the tunnel. Knowing we
would need to pull the camper through later, this gave us a good chance
to make sure we would fit when we were pulling it.
Immediately on the east side of Zion National Park, is the magnificent geological wonder Checkerboard Mesa. With it's patterned and twisted rock sculptures, edged right up to the rim of the highway.
Checkerboard Mesa
A Picture Rock
On down the road to Page Arizona for the day
Arriving back at our campground in Zion, it was long day of driving but well worth it.
September 22nd. we hitch up again and pull the camper through the tunnel with no problems. They held traffic at the other end so we could drive thru the middle of it with plenty of clearance and we had no problems at all.
Bryce Canyon National Park here we come!
As we near our next destination we begin to see totally amazing scenery and beautiful beyond the ordinary. With reservations at "Ruby's campground" we arrive and settle in by 2:00 that afternoon.
Taking a short drive on into the park we stopped at the visitors center, then on to the lodge to make reservations for a mule ride down into the bottom of the canyon the next day. While there we stopped at several of the viewing point to see the sights from the top.
The formations, called "hoodoo's" are so very unusual making you question how in the world such tricks of nature could create them. At first sight you wonder if you've entered a different world.
Up and "at em" early the next morning we awoke to a bright day but with
very chilly temperatures of 36 degrees.
Dressing warmly for the day ahead of exploring by mule we questioned our sanity more than once!
I'm not sure the mule was any happier about what lie ahead than I was. :)
Being down "amongst them" had been an awesome experience and we got to see
so many neat things like the Bristlecone Pines which grow only one inch per one hundred years......
The colors of the rock formations were beautiful with their red and yellow swirls, blues, and white stripes. It was a great way to see the canyon and it's uniqueness.
Leaving Bryce Canyon on September 25th with a lot of sore spots from the ride the day before
and pulled out on the highway for Moab Utah. We drove through the Grand Escanlati and Capital Reef National Parks and stopped for lunch along the road near "Torry" for a picnic lunch. After going through the little town of "Hanksville" we drove across the San Raffael desert......50 miles of
sagebrush, and open lands fenced by the outcropping of beautiful low rock peaks
Grand Escanlanti Staircase
Capital Reef
San Raffael Desert
Arriving at our campground around 4:00 we had been told not to miss the
Canyonlands by Night dinner and boat ride in Moab, so we went into town as soon as we were settled to make reservaations. They had 3 tickets left for the following nght so we got our tickets
went back to the camper for supper and hit the sack early. We were all feeling the effects of the Mule ride and long day's drive.
The next morning we set off to explore "Arches National Park"
Through millenniums of erosion the park is full of natural arches creating a true wonderland
of outstanding beauty
That evening we went back into town for the canyonland by night dinner and tour
The dinner was great served in a large dining hall it was a classic dutch oven prepared meal with pots full of wonderful slow roasted beef or pork, potatoes, vegetables and delicious open fire kettles of sweet baked desserts. After supper and darkeness had moved into the canyon we boarded the boats for our
ride down the green river.
The Colorado River in Utah as taken by daylight
With powerful projectors set along the narrow canyon rim they turned spotlights
on the high, flat canyon walls above us depicting the history of the Native Americans, the early settlers, and the geology and history of the rock walls surrounding us. As we quietly and eerily floated down the river the story was told in a beaufifully narated sound track of information
and Native American flute music. It was a well done and wonderful presentation and
I would advise anyone to take part in this if you're ever in Moab.
Picture taken from a post card as my camera would not capture the scene at night.
The next morning we took a picnic with us and visited "Dead Horse Canyon" State Park
Visitiing the vast canyonland expanses was a beautiful sight.
A little stream
Well known for their challenging 4 wheel drive roads, AVT, Motorcycle & Dune Buggy trials
we seen some very interesting routes that the faint of heart need not bother with.
and head for home. My compliments to the state of Utah for preserving their precious natural lands and allowing us all to enjoy them.
September 28th on the way home,
we were greeted with the the telltail signs of an early winter upon us.
We stayed at a nice campground just past Glen Canyon that night
and awoke to temperatures of 28 degrees the next morning.
The fall colors of the aspen in the mountains told us
it was time to kiss the summer goodbye.....
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