Keep your eyes on the road, hands upon the wheel–A South West RT-The End!Bonus Tracks

[franandaj]

Where were we going? Well I made a slight reference to it earlier, but I’m not sure anyone actually picked up on it





























Wait for it.



























This was not a planned stop on our trip, however, when we picked up the maps from AAA the day before we left, I realized just how freakin’ close this park was to Bryce Canyon. I knew that they were two parks most people did in conjunction, but I didn’t think that they were less than an hour apart. Since I realized that Bryce Canyon was probably just a half day park this seemed like a great way to spend our last day before returning to civilization.

You see though that we are still 12 miles away from the actual entrance to Bryce Canyon, so ride with me a bit. We have deer auditioning for spots as Vegas showgirls.



There it is off in the distance…



But wait…what do I see to the left. Bison!



A whole herd of them!



Here we are.





The first turnout. This structure is rare in the way that the cracks have formed like a lattice work.



And a closer up view.





Everything was just so beautiful.



I waited forever for this shot, an annoying family had to get shots of everyone here, and I’m not talking young kids, I mean mother & daughter, daughter & husband, just the boys, the elder couple, “oh please, can someone take one of all four of us?” This was after the family with young children had jumped in, taken their potential photo for next year’s Christmas Card and got right out. Here it is.



I loved this little lone tree.



It looks even more lonely with the zoom lens.



I just love all the pretty wildflowers out in the desert.



I won’t tell you what these made me think of.



There is no way through pictures that I can convey to you just how grandiose these rock features are. They are truly amazing and awe inspiring. All the way past the admission booth, I kept saying, “If I had any idea it was going to be like THIS, it would have totally been on the trip from the beginning!”





And there was this tiny trickle of a waterfall.



I know what a “Tunnel” is but I was in no means prepared for what lay ahead.





Despite many attempts, this was the best one. Now we’re not talking about your standard tunnel that goes under a freeway, or even under a river. We are talking about a mile long tunnel through solid rock, there are little ducts out to the canyon (which I believe are called galleries). When building the tunnel they used these galleries to dispose of the excavated rock.

Originally the tunnel was built for two way traffic, but now it is restricted to one way traffic and cars are held at each end of the tunnel until all opposing traffic is clear then the traffic flow in the tunnel is reversed. The tunnel was started in 1927 and completed in 1930 at a cost of $503,000. Vehicles over 13 feet, semi trailers, pedestrians and bicycles are prohibited in the tunnel.



[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]



This is what you see when you come out of the tunnel.



You see that range of mountains on the right there? THAT’s what we drove underneath.



I don’t think there is any way you can appreciate the sheer height of this mountain.



We were driving through a huge Canyon switching back at either end so as to reach the bottom, this was the other end of that canyon.



There was a hawk flying around the canyon as we made our descent.



Eventually it flew up and out of view.



There were flowering cactus alongside the road near the top of the canyon. These are just so pretty!





Here is another look at the end of the canyon, I believe we have gone through one turnback already and this is the second.



This sort of gives you an idea of the scope of the Canyon.



And lower in elevation we have a different kind of desert flower.



Once we reached the valley floor, we were in a whole new ecosystem.



Looking back up at the monolithic giants.







And at the current level



During the late Spring and Summer the only way to view the other parts of Zion Canyon are through a hop on/hop off shuttle bus. We decided not to do this for two reasons. 1) Fran is not a “hop on/hop off” kind of person and 2) We were dressed for weather in the 40s-50s and clearly at this lower elevation it was somewhere between 70s and 80s. We took a look around the visitor’s center and I had to talk Fran out of adopting a Ram or a Big Horn Sheep in the gift shop.





When we came out, this deer was just hanging out in the parking lot.













Here’s Fran asking the deer if it wants to come home with us.



And then we left Zion park proper…but where is our next destination? As you can tell we have blown off the regularly scheduled plans completely!

 

[dolphingirl47]

How wonderful that you got a whole bonus national park. The photos are stunning again and you were really lucky with all the wildlife. I can't blame Fran for wanting to take the deer home.

Corinna

 

[PrincessInOz]

Twin Peaks.....er.....Parks!


Zion! I love Zion NP. It is one of those places that we keep promising DS that we will take him BACK to. I was pregnant with him when we last hit Zion and we really need to take him back to see it properly.


You got great shots of the scenery. That drive between Bryce and Zion is remarkably short, isn't it?
Beautiful flowers and animals and of the hawk.

 

[Pinkocto]

That is one long tunnel! Beautiful scenery. Those lattice work cracks are pretty cool.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Before stopping at the Visitor’s Center, Fran wanted to take a look at the gift shop at Ruby’s. This was by far the largest gift shop that we had encountered the entire trip. There was no question about the motive of the owners of this establishment! Their bottom line was $$$s! I was pretty tired and not interested in walking around the massive gift shop.

Aw, come on. Everyone needs a tiny shot glass and a lacquered piece of wood with a comforting saying on it.

One thing about this place was that they focused on Healthy Sustainable Food. We weren’t sure how much we were going to like the meal.

I love the look of the lodge. Rustic places get me every time, as you may be able to tell from my avatar.

This was not a planned stop on our trip, however, when we picked up the maps from AAA the day before we left, I realized just how freakin’ close this park was to Bryce Canyon.

Hey, there's an idea.

A whole herd of them!

They're all sitting down. Does that mean it will rain?

Here we are.

I love all of the National Park entrance signs, but I think Zion's is the coolest.

I won’t tell you what these made me think of.

A scene in the Naked Gun?

There is no way through pictures that I can convey to you just how grandiose these rock features are. They are truly amazing and awe inspiring. All the way past the admission booth, I kept saying, “If I had any idea it was going to be like THIS, it would have totally been on the trip from the beginning!”

I love the colors. And thanks for confirming my trip planning skillz.

I know what a “Tunnel” is but I was in no means prepared for what lay ahead.

Being the engineering geek, I've been reading up on that.

Originally the tunnel was built for two way traffic, but now it is restricted to one way traffic and cars are held at each end of the tunnel until all opposing traffic is clear then the traffic flow in the tunnel is reversed. The tunnel was started in 1927 and completed in 1930 at a cost of $503,000. Vehicles over 13 feet, semi trailers, pedestrians and bicycles are prohibited in the tunnel.

I shudder to think what it would cost today.

You see that range of mountains on the right there? THAT’s what we drove underneath.

So cool!

We were driving through a huge Canyon switching back at either end so as to reach the bottom, this was the other end of that canyon.

There's a parking lot just before the tunnel and a trail that leads to an overlook on that ledge looking over the whole valley--I'm really hoping we can take the time to do that hike.

There were flowering cactus alongside the road near the top of the canyon. These are just so pretty!

Gorgeous!

We took a look around the visitor’s center and I had to talk Fran out of adopting a Ram or a Big Horn Sheep in the gift shop.

You're going to have way too much wildlife in that new house.

And then we left Zion park proper…but where is our next destination? As you can tell we have blown off the regularly scheduled plans completely!

I'm going to laugh if you suddenly head to the South Rim.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I think Mark just said it all I can't think of another thing to possibly add and for those who know me I am NEVER speechless

 

[Leshaface]

Oh my gosh it snowed! I wish it was 48 degrees here in Tulare. Yesterday it was 108. We. About. Died.

DH would have KILLED me if I had booked a room without a TV. But that's my cup of tea though. As long as I have a good book or magazines, i'd be perfect. And that lodge is so cool! Exactly how I would imagine a lodge looking.

Ooh, those frito pies look good. Such an easy, delicious meal. Probably tasted great espeically with it snowing outside!

I love the views from all the points but Rainbow point is absolutely breathtaking!

Look at all the Bison! So cool!

Tunnels freak me out. I mean, it's so cool how they did it, but could you imagine driving under it and it just caves? I know, i'm morbid like that.

You guys got pretty close to that deer. Surprised it didn't run away with Fran being so close.

 

[dgbg100106]

I'm pretty sure we packed him. But here's a picture that I found online.

He is cute, and I am sure with all the packing you have no idea where anything is right? I can't imagine packing up my house right now. I would have to take off work and go through everything and throw half of it away and not take it all with us. We just have way too much stuff.

I just sent 5 lawn and leaf bags to charity.

 

[dgbg100106]

Do you think Zion was worth it? I know it is so close and all but do you think the tunnel and the twin peaks were worth the visit?

Just to get an idea of the different parks and what all we can get done in our trip?

 

[scottny]

The photos are pretty with the snow on the ground.
I would find it very cold.
The photos are gorgeous.
The dinner looked good.
Nice seeing the bison.
Pretty view after the tunnel.
Love the cactus.
I am caught up.

 

[franandaj]

How wonderful that you got a whole bonus national park. The photos are stunning again and you were really lucky with all the wildlife. I can't blame Fran for wanting to take the deer home.

Corinna

Yes, it would fit in well with our newly forming Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom!

Twin Peaks.....er.....Parks!


Zion! I love Zion NP. It is one of those places that we keep promising DS that we will take him BACK to. I was pregnant with him when we last hit Zion and we really need to take him back to see it properly.


You got great shots of the scenery. That drive between Bryce and Zion is remarkably short, isn't it?
Beautiful flowers and animals and of the hawk.

I suppose his view from within the womb was not a stellar one of the park!

It was a really short drive and made for a nice and not so long day. Which proved to be a good thing.

That is one long tunnel! Beautiful scenery. Those lattice work cracks are pretty cool.

Yup! The whole thing was really pretty cool.

Aw, come on. Everyone needs a tiny shot glass and a lacquered piece of wood with a comforting saying on it.

If you've seen our shotglass (or toothpick holder as they call them in Disney) collection you would know that we certainly got one of those to commemorate Bryce Canyon, but it was from the National Parks gift shop.

I love the look of the lodge. Rustic places get me every time, as you may be able to tell from my avatar.

Well the healthiness of the food did not detract from the taste so that was good. I like rustic places too, hence why we own at your avatar.

Hey, there's an idea.

They're all sitting down. Does that mean it will rain?

Is this a movie reference that I’m not getting?

I love all of the National Park entrance signs, but I think Zion's is the coolest.

I never actually noticed the signs other than the fact that they marked the entrance of the park. I will have to notice now. I never noticed light fixtures until LisaViolet pointed them out to me. Now I notice them all the time. Even when I’m not at Disney.

A scene in the Naked Gun?

I really need to take in more movies!

I love the colors. And thanks for confirming my trip planning skillz.

Being the engineering geek, I've been reading up on that.
I shudder to think what it would cost today.
So cool!

I figured as much. I did think about you and your, what is your occupation again, traffic engineer? Self and how you probably would geek out driving through there. I thought it was pretty cool and I’m a musician and database specialist by profession.

There's a parking lot just before the tunnel and a trail that leads to an overlook on that ledge looking over the whole valley--I'm really hoping we can take the time to do that hike.

Had I done my homework on this place, I would have liked to have checked that out.

Gorgeous!
You're going to have way too much wildlife in that new house.

Tell me about it!

I'm going to laugh if you suddenly head to the South Rim.

Ha! No not that adventurous. We’re actually getting to a turning point in the trip. Cue the foreboding music.

I think Mark just said it all I can't think of another thing to possibly add and for those who know me I am NEVER speechless

Oh my gosh it snowed! I wish it was 48 degrees here in Tulare. Yesterday it was 108. We. About. Died.

I know what it’s like up there. I spent one summer in Taft and that was plenty enough for me. I love living at the beach, even if we’re really not beach people. The ocean keeps everything so temperate and now with this new house with central air. It’s almost like I’m on a vacation every day. If you don’t count the unpacking boxes and not having any of stuff anywhere I can find it! We were certainly yearning for the cold while at WDW!

DH would have KILLED me if I had booked a room without a TV. But that's my cup of tea though. As long as I have a good book or magazines, i'd be perfect. And that lodge is so cool! Exactly how I would imagine a lodge looking.

I thought Fran was going to kill me when the check lady explained that none of their rooms had TVs, but she just shrugged and said, “I have a book.”

Ooh, those frito pies look good. Such an easy, delicious meal. Probably tasted great espeically with it snowing outside!

It was really good after all that driving. I think that was our longest day.

I love the views from all the points but Rainbow point is absolutely breathtaking!

My favorite was Bryce Point, but you’re right they were all cool.

Look at all the Bison! So cool!

Tunnels freak me out. I mean, it's so cool how they did it, but could you imagine driving under it and it just caves? I know, i'm morbid like that.

We did see a lot of wildlife (even though those were domesticated). I just don’t think about cave ins. Plus if it made it 80 years, it should be pretty solid.

You guys got pretty close to that deer. Surprised it didn't run away with Fran being so close.

It actually walked up to us, I was standing still taking pictures of it, and it just walked right past!

He is cute, and I am sure with all the packing you have no idea where anything is right? I can't imagine packing up my house right now. I would have to take off work and go through everything and throw half of it away and not take it all with us. We just have way too much stuff.

I just sent 5 lawn and leaf bags to charity.

Well, luckily I don’t work in a traditional sense, so we can actually handle it (somewhat). We too have way too much cra.. er Precious Items. We are doing it in small loads now that we have most of the big stuff moved. We are leaving a lot of our furniture for the Estate Sale and we are only bringing stuff that we know where we are going to put it. This. Will. Not. Be. A. Hoarders. House.

Do you think Zion was worth it? I know it is so close and all but do you think the tunnel and the twin peaks were worth the visit?

Just to get an idea of the different parks and what all we can get done in our trip?

There was a lot more to the park than what we did, but it was just not accessible for Fran. I would say that once Mark (Captain Oblivious) comes back and starts his TR, you should definitely check that one out because he is going to a lot of the places you’re considering. It will give you another perspective. He’s also a pretty funny guy!

The photos are pretty with the snow on the ground.
I would find it very cold.
The photos are gorgeous.
The dinner looked good.
Nice seeing the bison.
Pretty view after the tunnel.
Love the cactus.
I am caught up.

Glad you’re all caught up again, we’re almost done here.

 

[franandaj]

In the end, we decided to check out the Northern end of the Park which was about a 20 minute ride up the I-15. Kolob Canyons. We ate our sandwiches on the ride up and enjoyed some chips too.

The town of Springdale is right outside the canyon and looked quite cute. There was a Hampton Inn and we decided it would be a good idea to come back in the Winter when we could drive the main route on our own and take it at our own pace. It would be a nice little trip to combine with a trip to Las Vegas.

We saw some more interesting scenery on our way out, but nothing as stunning as within the park.





We came across this little town. It’s clearly evident why everyone here is lazy and nothing really ever gets done.



Less than half an hour later we were approaching this.



They had a “downsized” Visitor Center.



As we started off the road, you could already see parts of the main viewing spectacles.



I believe that this part of the journey was a 5 mile road. It takes you back into Kolob Canyon to a Vista point where you can see the entire rock feature, but it was fun just winding our way through the canyon and viewing the rocks from the different vantage points. I’m not quite sure my commentary can add much of anything so I’m just going to share the pictures.



























[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]




Then we decided we’d had enough for the day. Fran was starting to feel a little woozy. Cue the ominous music. So we headed back down the I15. When we added Zion into our stops, we canceled our hotel in Cedar City and booked at the Hampton Inn in St. George. I couldn’t resist getting the room with the Jacuzzi Tub because I knew after all those nights of being our Bellman I was going to be hurting and besides, I deserved it! I had also gotten really, really sunburnt, so before finding the hotel, we found a Target and I picked up some Aloe and a media reader for the older camera which took Compact Flash and not SD cards.

Check in was simple and painless, we even got a couple bottles of water and some Gummi Bears for Fran’s status as a Hilton Honors member. The room was very spacious and since we upgraded to a Jacuzzi tub we also had a microwave and a refrigerator.

















It was blazing hot in St. George so unloading the car was pretty grueling. Also since the car was going to heat up to over a hundred degrees, I had to take a lot more out of the car than I did when I parking it in nature’s refrigerator. After that I took advantage of the Jacuzzi tub and worked on the trip report for a while. Fran slept.

Finally around 7:30 I decided that I was hungry and there was a Chili’s near the hotel. So we headed over there. I started off with chips & queso.



For my main, I ordered the beef fajitas, but for some reason I don’t have a picture of it.





Fran just ordered a green salad and ate one of my fajitas. I’m pretty sure that I had a margarita or a glass of wine. She just had water.



When we got back to the room, she went to back to bed. I played around on the computer a little longer (having gone through internet withdrawal while in the realms of nature). We fell asleep before 11PM.

 

[dolphingirl47]

The scenery is so pretty again. The room looks really nice and I am sure that jacuzzi tub was heavenly.

Corinna

 

[Leshaface]

Agh, right before I read the part about Fran getting woozy, I was going to ask you how bad the roads were. Are they pretty curvy? Did she get woozy because of the roads?

That is a spacious room!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Lovely scenery and pictures of it.

That's a great room you got. And I hope that Fran didn't get too much worse.....

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Is this a movie reference that I’m not getting?

No, just an old wives' tale around these parts. If all the cows are lying down, it means it's going to rain.

I really need to take in more movies!

http://youtu.be/S5OQMoSCrqw

I figured as much. I did think about you and your, what is your occupation again, traffic engineer? Self and how you probably would geek out driving through there. I thought it was pretty cool and I’m a musician and database specialist by profession.

Yeah, I'm a road design engineer, so that's right up my alley. Of course, I don't get to work on cool stuff like that in Delaware.

There was a lot more to the park than what we did, but it was just not accessible for Fran. I would say that once Mark (Captain Oblivious) comes back and starts his TR, you should definitely check that one out because he is going to a lot of the places you’re considering. It will give you another perspective. He’s also a pretty funny guy!

Thanks for the shameles plug! Your check is in the mail.

We ate our sandwiches on the ride up and enjoyed some chips too.

Not far removed from our PB&J adventures.

The town of Springdale is right outside the canyon and looked quite cute. There was a Hampton Inn and we decided it would be a good idea to come back in the Winter when we could drive the main route on our own and take it at our own pace.

You may or may not be seeing that Hampton Inn again...

I believe that this part of the journey was a 5 mile road. It takes you back into Kolob Canyon to a Vista point where you can see the entire rock feature, but it was fun just winding our way through the canyon and viewing the rocks from the different vantage points. I’m not quite sure my commentary can add much of anything so I’m just going to share the pictures.

Very nice! Looks like it's worth the detour.

It was blazing hot in St. George so unloading the car was pretty grueling. Also since the car was going to heat up to over a hundred degrees, I had to take a lot more out of the car than I did when I parking it in nature’s refrigerator. After that I took advantage of the Jacuzzi tub and worked on the trip report for a while. Fran slept.

I'm tired just reading this.

 

[rentayenta]

Toquerville. The irony of having that town in Utah.

Pretty pics. Red rocks. Yeah yeah. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Can't go wrong with Chili's fajitas.

I hope Fran got to feeling better.

 

[franandaj]

The scenery is so pretty again. The room looks really nice and I am sure that jacuzzi tub was heavenly.

Corinna

I do love the scenery there since it is so different from what we have here at the beach.

Agh, right before I read the part about Fran getting woozy, I was going to ask you how bad the roads were. Are they pretty curvy? Did she get woozy because of the roads?

That is a spacious room!

No the roads weren’t curvy, and that’s not what caused her wooziness. We still have no idea, but have some suspicions. She thinks the plug in cooler in the car didn’t keep the yogurt cold enough.

Lovely scenery and pictures of it.

That's a great room you got. And I hope that Fran didn't get too much worse.....

Thanks, I just love the scenery in that part of the country, despite whether others are fed up with it!

I was rather pleased with the room, the fridge and microwave were a pleasant surprise. I didn’t have to carry in the styro cooler that Fran found outside the Safeway in Page and fill it with ice.

No, just an old wives' tale around these parts. If all the cows are lying down, it means it's going to rain.

Interesting not something that we hear ‘round these parts.

Yeah, I'm a road design engineer, so that's right up my alley. Of course, I don't get to work on cool stuff like that in Delaware.

I’m not sure there are cool things like that to come up in most place. I would imagine it’s another bridge job, or in California, another earthquake retrofit….

Thanks for the shameles plug! Your check is in the mail.

Thanks! :

Not far removed from our PB&J adventures.

Another one of the reasons I like you guys so much. I’m just not a fan of PB&J, however, making your own sandwiches to enjoy in the most beautiful locations of the world. Priceless!

You may or may not be seeing that Hampton Inn again...

Cool! You can tell us how it is and if their “make ‘em yourself waffles” are up to par.

Very nice! Looks like it's worth the detour.

I thought so, which is why I’m glad you have included it on your trip. Early on it should be even more impressive. Everyone can even get out and stretch their legs. If you’re coming from Hoover Dam, they’ll definitely need it you haven’t stopped already!

I'm tired just reading this.

Fortunately you have child labor at your disposal. My only complaint about this trip (which you will read in a post or two) is my role as pack mule. Other than that I have no complaints. I need to tell Fran this is a backpacking trip for her, if it doesn’t fit in her pack, it doesn’t go.

Toquerville. The irony of having that town in Utah.

I must have been pretty punchy by the point we passed that sign because took that picture with that quote in mind. Yeah, you would think Toquerville was just outside of Humboldt or something!

Pretty pics. Red rocks. Yeah yeah. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Hater.

Can't go wrong with Chili's fajitas.

I hope Fran got to feeling better.

You know as I remember it (sort of foggy), they didn’t actually have the fajitas I wanted on the menu, they were some kind of Chipotle fajitas and I HATE Chipotle. I told the waiter I wanted the same old fajitas that I had been ordering at Chili’s for like 20 years or so. He said he would take care of me and they were the same good plain old carne asada fajitas I wanted.

No she did not get to feeling better.