April 5, 2015. Celebrating Easter in the Colorado Plateau

I CAMPGROUND:  North Campground inside Bryce National Park. The only one open yet for the season. No electricity or water, but much better bathrooms than Zion.  $7.50/night. 4 stars.  Nice sites with grills, picnic tables and trees for privacy.

LOCATION: Bryce National Park in south central Utah.

WEATHER:  Much colder due to altitude. Highs in 50s; lows around 20

We took off early from Zion, knowing that new campers were waiting to pounce on our site.  We drove the scenic highway through the canyon.  Before entering the 1+ mile tunnel we had to get the trailer measured to see if we could make it through double file or required single file.  Even though we were within the limit, we got to lead a parade of cars one way, single file through the tunnel.

The road was another scary one with many hairpin turns, no shoulder, no guardrails, and sheer drop-offs.  I gasped a lot and almost wore a hole through the floorboard trying to brake on my side.  I managed not to scream more than once, and that was when we turned a sharp blind curve, practically colliding with a tour bus taking up more than his half of the highway.

We stopped in a little cafe advertising the "world's best ho-made homemade pies", and George had a slice of apple pie.

We only drove about 80 miles, but it was mostly uphill. The landscape along the way is beautiful.

See next post for more.....

April 4, 2015. Hiking and biking in Zion

CAMPGROUND:  3rd (and last) night at South Campground inside Zion National Park

LOCATION: Southwestern Utah

WEATHER:  Cool in AM.  Sunny and warm in PM.  Highs in 70s

We took a 3-mile hike to the top of a mountain.  This trail was not nearly as crowded.   The view from the top is fabulous. The hike was pretty strenuous.  We spotted some deer in a ravine.  Others saw big-horned sheep.  

Then, as if we were preparing for a triathlon event, we took the park shuttle to the last stop inside the canyon, and biked back down.  Although it was downhill, the 5-mile ride was pretty rough due to the strong winds against us.  

We stopped at the Zion Lodge midway for a late lunch.  We sat on their upstairs deck with the majestic canyon walls around us.

Back at the campground, we walked into town to the commercial RV park where we had stayed our first night. They had given us shower tokens that we didn't use since we were squeaky clean from showers in Las Vegas.  Today, we felt dusty and sweaty, so we sneaked back into the RV park's showers and used the tokens.  I was a bit scared that we would get caught, but there was no problem.

DINNER:  Beans and rice, left from a meal in Las Vegas, to which I added chicken meatballs with jalapeño pepper flavor.  Side was broccoli with cheese sauce.  

April 3, 2015. Feeling the Mormon influence

CAMPGROUND:  Second night at South Campground inside Zion National Park

LOCATION:  Southwest Utah

WEATHER:  Cooler. Highs in 70s

We watched the mad dash to find campsites in the morning, empathizing with the "campsite hunters".  Then, we loaded our bikes onto the free shuttle and went halfway into the canyon to the Zion Lodge.  From there, we hiked about 2 miles up into the canyon to view waterfalls.  There are so many people here!  The trails are choked with people.  Many of the families appear to be Mormon and have at least 5 children.  Many hikers carried babies in back packs and strollers up the steep trail.  We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the end of the trail, at the upper falls, then descended back to the lodge.  It was quite a workout.

Then, we hopped on our bikes to return to the entrance of the park.  It was about a 3 mile ride, all downhill......my kind of biking.  It was a little scary because there is no shoulder, but the only vehicles on the road are the park shuttles.  

We stopped again at the brewpub at the entrance of the park.  We learned that Utah law does not allow one to buy a beer without ordering food.  So, we shared a pretzel and drank a beer on the pub's patio.

We also learned that all beer sold in Utah is 3.2%, and is heavily taxed.  A 6-pack of 3.2 beer in the grocery is $12.95.  Until recently, alcohol wasn't sold at all in Utah, so I guess this is some progress.

DINNER:  I warmed pieces of prime rib, left over from a restaurant dinner in Las Vegas earlier this week.  We had raw broccoli florets as a side, and potato salad.  

April 2, 2015. Hiking Zion National Park

CAMPGROUND:  South Campground inside Zion National Park.  Like most national parks, only few amenities. No water or electricity. No showers. Flush toilets.  Spacious sites with picnic tables and grills.  $8/night. 3 stars.  No reservations.  First come, first served. 

LOCATION:  Zion National Park in southwestern Utah

WEATHER:  Sunny. Cooler. Highs in 60s

We got up early.  We hurriedly prepared to leave the commercial RV park in Springdale, not even eating breakfast, and headed to the Park. The attendant at the entrance gate told us that one of the national campgrounds had 10 vacancies, but we should rush to grab one.  It is insane.  We drove around and around the campground, not spying  any empty site.  We asked the host about the supposed 10 empty sites, and he said they  were available 10 minutes ago.  He wasn't sure if any were still available.  We kept on circling, with no alternative plans.  Suddenly, one camper yelled, "Do you want a site?"  His site sign said his departure was not until April 4.  Something came up, and he had to leave early.  We were SO lucky.  He let us park while he was still packing up.  We decided to stay here 3 nights, leaving Sunday morning, when hopefully this craziness will end.

After setting up, we jumped on the shuttle through the park.  The red rock sandstone cliffs are breathtaking.

We took a 2-mile hike through the canyon, following the river.  Other hikers wearing waders or wetsuits continued on, wading across the ice-cold river, deeper into the canyon.

The shuttle dropped us off right next to a brewpub, so we quickly changed lunch plans from a cold ham and cheese sandwich in the camper to a nice lunch and beer in the pub.

We rested in the afternoon, then took the shuttle to the park's museum.  Then, a bike ride around the campground.  Our neighbors are a bunch of gypsy-looking kids from the Yukon.

  George made a campfire, mostly to keep us warm, as it is really cooling down.  A tumbleweed tumbling through our site made a great fire starter.

DINNER:   I heated leftover risotto and pork loin (from meals in Las Vegas) in pans over the campfire.  

April 1, 2015. On to Utah

CAMPGROUND:  Zion RV PARK. Commercial park. Full amenities including cable TV and wifi.  Pay showers.  Campfire grills and picnic tables.  Way overpriced.  $50/night.  Very crowded.  2 stars

LOCATION:  Outside Zion National Park in southwestern Utah, in Springdale

WEATHER:  Sunny. Highs in 80s

We tidied up the Las Vegas house and took off a bit later than we had hoped.  We drove 160 miles north and east toward Utah.  We drove through a small slice of Arizona.  The drive was dramatic, through steep canyons and lush valleys.  On farms, we saw apple trees in bloom and beautiful lilac trees.  

We arrived at Springdale, the town at the entrance to Zion.  What a madhouse!  People all over.  The park is so busy that you pick up a shuttle in town to enter, as the visitor center parking lot is full.  The 2 campgrounds inside the park were full, so we checked into the one commercial park in town.  It is packed, too.  The views are magnificent, though.

We plan to get up tomorrow morning early to get in line at the park entrance, hoping to get a campsite.  There are 5 national parks in southern Utah.  We hope to visit them all.  There is a scenic route connecting them all.  We hope this crowdedness ends after Easter week.  

DINNER:  Grilled shrimp with  fettuccini in cream sauce, the pasta leftover from a restaurant dinner in Las Vegas. 

March 31, 2015. More Las Vegas Strip

We walked through a Parisian-themed shopping mall.  Tucked in next to the food court, was Sin City Brewery.  

George wanted to buy this shirt.....changing from Repent to Re-pint.

We took the monorail to the Sahara Casino for lunch.  We had an umami burger, supposedly one of the best lunches around.  There are many restaurants here with world-famous chefs.

We ended the Strip visit back st the Bellagio to watch the water show.  Note the duck next to us, enjoying the water spouts.

Back at the house, we started loading up the camper and truck.  The neighbor joined us for dinner.  She brought burgers.  I made fajitas with leftover vegetables and meats.

March 31, 2015. Las Vegas Strip

LOCATION:  Final day at my cousin's house in Las Vegas

WEATHER:  Sunny and hot.  In 80s

We dropped off my aunt and uncle at the airport for their flight home to Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada.  It has been so wonderful seeing them again.

Then, George and I headed for the Las Vegas Strip.  After stressfully finding a parking space, we hit the main road, called the Strip, lined with casinos, restaurants, and crazy people.  The noise, sights, and crowds almost overwhelmed me.  Here is the huge Caesar's Palace hotel and casino.

This is a view from the street of their Eiffel Tower.  Are we in Paris?  It is like Disney World on steroids! 

Our favorite hotel is the Bellagio.  The lobby's ceiling is covered with Chihuly glass.  Just beautiful!

Then, we toured the Bellagio gardens.  The current theme is Japanese.  The flowers are out-of-this-world.  They even have blooming cherry trees!

See next post for more of the Strip.....