My Vacation

Saturday, April 28th


405 miles

I left Bakersfield on Saturday, April 28 around 7 am. My intention was to drive to Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, about 50 miles northeast from Las Vegas and camp out there for the night. Well I made it there, but it was just too hot to camp out. All the available campsites had no shade except for the picnic tables, which had a roof on them. So, after driving around Valley of Fire for a little bit, I decided to drive to St George, Ut and find a hotel for the night. I ended up staying at a Motel 6.



Sunday, April 29th


42 miles

I got up early on Sunday morning and checked out of the motel and headed for National Park. Zion is located right outside Springdale, UT, about 42 miles from St George, Utah. I had reserved a campsite for 3 nights at the Watchman Campground, located right next to the Visitor Center. The nice part about Zion is that they have a shuttle which takes you to different trailheads and points of interest in the canyon, which can only be accessed by either bicycle, walking or by the shuttle. Private vehicles aren't allowed in that part of the canyon.

After setting up my tent, I decided to go on at least one hike that day, so I chose to do the easiest, the Riverside Walk. This is the route you take if you want to hike The Narrows (which I didn't - lol - you have to wade thru waist high water to do it and I had not the equipment nor the energy to do so). The Riverside Walk is 2 miles round trip, along a paved road which is mostly level. I think the elevation gain is only about 57 feet or so. It is a beautiful little walk along the Virgin River, and it is mostly shaded, which was nice since they day I got there it was pretty warm...was supposed to be in the low 90's that day.

After the hike, I went back to the Visitor Center, got in my car and went to the Museum and watched the 22 minute video on Zion National Park. After that, I got in my car and drove up the canyon to do some more sight-seeing.

On the way up the canyon, you have to drive through a mile-long tunnel, which can be backed up by traffic, since it is narrow and in order to let the motor homes and vehicles with trailers go through, they have to "escort" them through the tunnel. Basically, they have to let only one lane of one-way traffic go through the tunnel at a time. Early mornings and late evenings when the park entrance stations are closed, they don't allow the large vehicles through the tunnels (there are 2 tunnels, one long one and one short one), so at those times, the traffic is not backed up around the tunnel. I must have driven through that tunnel 10 times at least - lol.

I drove up to Kolob Canyons, which is part of Zion National Park. It is located just a few miles up the I-15 from the Zion exit. It was very pretty and pretty quiet up there, too. Not much traffic at all. There was a lot more traffic in Zion Canyon.

So, after driving around for a bit, I went back to my campsite and rested up for the next day. The night was warm, but very windy. It was windy every night but the last one. Oh, and the campground was full of little caterpillars who decided to make cocoons on my tent - lol.


Monday, April 30th


253 miles


I got up very early on Monday morning and headed for Monument Valley. I drove down Highway 89a, which I think was a more scenic route than Highway 89, as it drives thru the Kaibab National Forest and past the Vermillion Cliffs (but that is just my opinion - hehe).

The drive was long but colorful, as the sides of the highway were covered in wildflowers, namely Desert Globemallow and Brittlebush. There wern't many services along the way either. But the drive was totally worth it. Monument Valley was just amazing. I took the scenic drive which goes around the park. It is an unpaved road, so my car got totally filthy - hehe. When I was there, I felt like I should be wearing a cowboy hat and riding off into the sunset. Many a western movie has been filmed there. In fact, there is a point on the scenic drive which is labeled "John Ford's Point." I took so many pictures there. I wish I had been able to spend all day there so I could catch the sunset, but, unfortunatley, I couldn't, as it was over a 4 hour drive back to camp.

After I finished the drive, I decided to check out the Four Corners Monument, as it was only about 70 miles from Monument Valley. I had already come that far. What was another hour's drive? Besides, I had always wanted to go there as a kid. I just thought it would be cool to be able to stand in 4 states at once...and it was.

I took a few pictures, bought a few postcards and a magnet and then started back to camp. I didn't get back to Zion until very late. I think it was after 11 pm when I got back. I was wiped out, but it was worth it. I had an incredible day.


Tuesday, May 1st


On Tuesday, I slept in a little bit. I think I got up at 8 am. But I was dog-tired from all the driving by this point. Yet, I wanted to see more! So I decided to take another drive, this time to Pipe Spring National Monument and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.

It wasn't a very pretty day. In fact, it was cloudy and pretty cold all day long, and it started sprinkling when I was at Pipe Spring National Monument. I did see a gopher snake on the road when I went to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. I got out of the car to take a closer look at him. He didn't even move. I left him alone and drove away.

I drove out to the Vermillion Cliffs once more and wanted to check out Antelope Canyon, but by the time I got there, it was closing up :( Maybe next time. I always wanted to see a slot canyon, and that is what Antelope Canyon is.

I got back to camp late at night, again. It was pretty cold at night, but the winds had died down a lot, so sleeping was much easier.


Wednesday, May 2nd



86 miles


I got up in the morning and took down my tent and headed off to Bryce Canyon National Park, which is about 86 miles from Zion. On the way up, you drive through the Red Canyon, which is kind of a mini Bryce Canyon. And it is aptly named. The canyon is indeed red. There are many scenic turnouts where you can stop and take pictures, and there are 2 "tunnels", which are more like arches, that you have to drive through. They are called the Twin Tunnels.

When I finally got to Bryce Canyon, I was excited and wanted to see it right away. But I was also feeling grungy as I hadn't had a shower in 3 days (there were no showers at the Zion campground). I had reservations at the Bryce View Lodge, so I was fully ready to check in and get a shower, but I decided to go up the canyon first. I stopped at the Visitor Center first and got some souvenirs. The shuttle wasn't running yet so I got in my car and drove up the canyon.

The first stop I made was at Sunrise Point. And the view was breathtaking. The Bryce Ampitheater (as it is called) is full of colorful and whimsical shaped hoodoos. Hoodoos are tall spires of rock that seem to grow like trees from the canyon floor. They are formed by erosion caused by rain and frost. What it looked like to me on first sight, was a forest of rock totem poles. I don't think pictures can really do it justice. You really have to see it for yourself to really appreciate it.

There are several more viewpoints in the canyon, each one as scenic and beautiful as the others. The best way to see each viewpoint is to travel up the canyon to the very last turnout and then make your way back down the canyon, stopping at each turnout on the way down (as all of the turnouts are on the left). I am glad I arrived when I did, when it was sunny and the weather was nice. Because the next 2 days, it turned cold.

I did see quite a bit of wildlife in the park as well. I saw a little town of Utah Prairie Dogs, some Mule Deer, many birds, and some Pronghorn Antelope.

I also got a real meal for the first time in 3 days.

And oh yes, I got my shower. And man did it feel good!



Thursday, May 3rd


125 miles


The next day, I got up and set out for Capitol Reef National Park, which is about 125 miles from Bryce Canyon. The drive is beautiful. First you drive through canyons and then you drive through the mountains. I saw several small groups of Mule Deer on the drive, as well as a marmot walking alongside the road. Of course, as my car got nearer to him, he ran off to the safety of his home.

It wasn't a pretty day. It was cloudy and cold. But there were a few moments of sunshine. When I got to Capitol Reef, it was partly sunny, and I hoped the weather would hold for a little while. I could tell by the skies that it would soon rain. And you don't want to be in a wash when it rains, as flash floods are possible and a very real threat. And I didn't really want to be any part of that action!

I took the scenic drive around the park and took some pictures. It started getting windy and cold, so I took off an drove back to Bryce Canyon. On the way back, it started to snow in the mountains...yes, snow! And not just a few flakes. It was really coming down. By the time I got back to Bryce Canyon, it had begun to flurry there as well. Just a little bit, but it was neat to see it.

I did get to check out the Wildlife Museum that day. It was pretty cool.


Friday, May 4th


548 miles


Friday came too fast. Time to head for home. I got up around 6:30 am and was ready to leave by 7:30. It was still cloudy and cold. I stopped off once again at Valley of Fire state Park. This time it was much cooler. So I took the scenic drive and then headed back on the road.

The drive was fine til I hit Vegas. I hate traffic! It continued to be bad into Baker, CA, but it turned worse once I hit there. The wind was terrible! It was blowing my poor little car around. When I got to Barstow, it got worse. The windstorm turned into a sandstorm. I was getting tired of driving by this point. But finally, I hit Mojave, then Tehachapi, and finally, home....Bakersfield. It was a long drive. I didn't get home til 8:30 pm. After over 500 miles, I was finally home!

I had a great trip, but it felt so good to be home at last.


I posted a lot of pictures below. You can click on any of them for a larger view.