Big Travel Day

Hi all
Yesterday was busy.
Putting things away in the BWB
Laundry
Quilting
Naps
Visit to museum
Clean out the truck
and welcoming new camping neighbors.
Went out for some fine dining
Was nice and weather still great to sit outside.

Park museum was nice
Loved the relief map of the park.

The views from the veranda are spectacular.

And the cloudy, rainless, skies added a bit to the drama.

Our stay at Zion has been great.
The RV Park, run by Quality Inn
worked out well for us to enjoy the area.
The staff was friendly,
even though they were having some sewer line issues,
none effecting the area we were in.

Today we move on traveling through 3 states
totaling about 75 miles.
Oh yeah, big travel day.
It's all about timing today.
We would not expect to find a spot in Valley of Fire
on a Saturday of a beautiful weekend.
So we are going to a Casino for a big Saturday night.
Then tomorrow we can reach VoF early
and hopefully find a great spot for a few days of dry camping.

Make your day great and rejoice in another day.
Tom and Millie

Nearly time to leave

Hi all
Yesterday we took the Fur Kids on the one trail in the park
that allows  pets.
They had a great time and it was only
about 2 miles long.

Elska made it all the way and

was one happy girl to be along.

The Boyz even settled down and
were behaving quite well when
we got to the visitor center and lots of people.

Back to the BWB about 2 PM
had a snack and a nap.

Met another couple that had a newer Passport trailer
and visited with them for a bit about modifications.
Then went into town and did a little shopping.
Home and pork steaks, veggies and rice.
Great supper after a great day.
Made a campfire and
enjoyed watching the stars.
Slept pretty good and up early
Today we put the BWB back into
travel mode, do a little laundry and
get us all cleaned up.
Tomorrow we move on.
Really enjoyed our time at Zion
Now looking forward to Valley of Fire.

Make your day great and say "Hi" to someone you don't know.
Tom and Millie

Emerald Pools

Hi all
First of all, our campsite.

We have been fairly secluded
and have appreciated it, along with full hookups
and great showers, big enough to share.

Yesterday we did about 3 miles hiking
only some of it steep and rocky.

Yes, Millie was able to hike this close to the edge
however, she did keep hold of the wall.
Beautiful views of the Virgin River Valley
and the surrounding "mountains".
Maybe more accurate, canyon walls.

The pools each had their own characters
and I found it nearly impossible
to capture the grand experience in photographs.

We were so close to the canyon walls
and I did not have a wide enough angle lens,
to capture the experience.

If you ever have the chance to visit Zion NP
DO IT!
We are, ok, I am, a pretty slow hiker.
The info said the hike we took would take about 3 hours.
We did it in 5!
I stop a lot not only to rest, but to take photos.
And on this hike sometimes just stopping to take it all in.

Hard to believe some of this exists in a desert.
Nearly rain forest like little ecosystem
with cactus and yucca.

When we finished the hike
the reward was $7 beer at the lodge.
Wasn't so much the attraction of the beer
as the feeling of the reward
for a great day and a great hike.

Back to the BWB
and our fur kids, who were happy to see us.
Home made pizza
a couple of cool ones
and out around a campfire with
our furry lap warmers.
They really cuddled last night
I guess they missed us.

Today they get to go along.
One of the trails is pet friendly
and is 3 miles long, although
we can do only half of it
in case Elska can't make that far.

A little shopping
should fill out the day.

Make your day great and enjoy the New Moon.
Tom and Millie

Virgin River Canyon

Hi all
Yesterday.......
Wow, this canyon drive in Zion
which is only accessible by shuttle,
is gorgeous!

Although I can't imagine what the crowds
would be like during the summer.
About a 2 mile walk on paved paths
with vistas that rival anything I've ever seen.

Plenty of people
and we were spaced out so did not feel crowded.
We packed a lunch and enjoyed that
at the "end" of the trail.
This is where you would take to the river
to continue up the canyon.

We did not, not prepared with shoes, clothing (water was cold)
and a little lack of desire.
Then at another stop walked up to
Weeping Wall.
Water just leaking out of the cliff about half way up.

Trail was steep, but short.
A good close for the day.

So much of it was like a park.
And the fall colors helped with that and no insects.
At one point we could see "climbers" (crazies) on the wall across the river.
Yes, there are 5 on this wall.

One more of Millie enjoying the walk.

Back to town and a little shopping.
Home to BWB and
well earned adult beverages
some light snacks
a great campfire with fur kid lap warmers.
They were alone in the BWB for 6-7 hours and
really missed Millie, they were happy to see me, too!

All in all a fabulous day.

Tired and slept well.
Today, back into the canyon
for some more hiking, can't do it all in one day.

Make your day great
Tom and Millie

WOW! A Park worth going out of the way for!

Hi all
Yesterday was a great day,
told you we would make it that way. LOL
Got moving pretty early for us.
Went into the park Visitor Center.
Bought a few things and read up on the park
and the shuttle system.

After the Visitor Center we headed for the East entrance
(the other side of the park).

If the shuttle up the canyon is the highlight of the park
it is now hard to imagine how great that will be,
after the drive through the park.

The views were unbelievable

and even had
park inhabitant encounters.
Starting with the nicest "rack" on a deer
I have ever witnessed on a live animal.

Too bad he was so shy.
Then more vistas

unique geology

and beautiful weather.
At the East entrance we kept going to
Mt Carmel Junction and had lunch at Subway.
Not real exciting, but how many more experiences
could we take in one day?
Turned around and headed back to Springdale
the West side of the park.

This is when we had a wonderful 30-40 minutes
with a Desert Big Horn family.

Lazing around enjoying the sunshine
Ram standing watch and

Mama and baby laying in the warm sand.
It looked like they were watching cars drive by
for entertainment.
When they decided to leave it was fantastic to watch them

climb the cliffs and disappear around the corner.
From there a few vistas
and back to our BWB
a campfire
a couple of "Black Russian"
and leftovers from Millie's BD dinner.
Showers and bedtime.

Today the shuttle
so making sandwiches for lunch along the way.
Makings of another great day.

Make your day great
Tom and Millie