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Can you believe we've been on the road for 30 days ?? Today is our one month anniversary, it's officially been 30 days since we left Stockbridge and we're still going strong !! Once again this day would bring us more of this great land to discover. As I was making sausage, egg and cheese croissants for breakfast, Tim was washing the front of the motor home and we were preparing for our departure. We were headed towards Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. While Tim was across the street last night paying the $16.95 in hook-up fees, he picked up a little brochure for a 4 X 4 off road tour in the park. After breakfast we headed up Highway 90 towards Springdale. On our way, I called the number listed in the ad and made a reservation for us to take the three hour tour. We met the tour guide in Springdale at the Majestic View Lodge and loaded up in the 4 X 4 modified truck he was driving. He called it an open-air safari vehicle ! We were off on our Zion Outback Safari where we were going to experience the back-roads of Zion National Park and
Zion National Park !
Beautiful view in Zion National Park. do a little hiking. Our tour guide, Dustin, was very experienced and he knew a lot about the ecosystem, geology, history, wildlife and the local folklore. He had a four year degree in biology and left Laguna Beach, California over five years ago to escape the rigorous city life and settle down in small town Utah. He was really awesome to listen to because you could just tell that he loved and cared for the land so much. He knew every single formation, flower, animal and all that there was to know about them. I told him I felt like I was riding in the car with wikipedia !! We ventured deep into the rugged back country of Zion National Park to catch the spectacular views of the Zion Canyons from atop Gooseberry Mesa. This Mesa was a privately owned 3000 acre ranch, but Dustin had permission from the owner to allow us to ride and hike all along the land. This allowed us a much more up close look at the canyons and an opportunity to see things that you wouldn't normally be able to view. I had asked Dustin if he ever saw snakes and he said he
Zion National Park !
Zion is a very peaceful park with lots of unique formations. sees one almost everyday. He proceeded to tell us the best way to find one was to stomp your feet on the ground and then listen for the sound of a rattle. You know every time that truck stopped and we got out, the first thing Tim did was start stomping on the ground and hoping to hear that noise. He was very disappointed when after three hours in the hot sun and then the flash floods, he never saw or heard a snake. Our fantastic tour today also included going off road to visit a small town called Grafton so we could see where the Mormons first settled. We got to see their church as well as the main house where Mr. Studdard lived with his first wife. There was a small one room shack across the street and that's were the 3rd wife lived with her five children. Dustin said that no one ever found out what happened to the second wife! Of course Mr. Studdard was Mormon therefore he had all three of these wives at the same time. We soon left Grafton and began traveling up a very steep, very rocky, very old dirt road. As
Painted Formation!
Erosion has shaped these "hoodoos" and tinted them with colors too numerous and subtle to name ! soon as we were at the top, we all got out and began walking. The hike was short lived because no sooner than we got started good, a huge dark cloud came over us and the rain began to fall. Once we were all back in the truck, Dustin told us that we were experiencing what is commonly known in the area as a flash flood. There was some lightening and a ton of rain fell for about 20 minutes and then it was over. I guess that's why it's called a "flash" flood" !! We made it down the hill safely and then we headed back to the Majestic View Lodge. The complete tour lasted exactly three hours and it was an awesome experience. Tim and I decided to stay at the Lodge and enjoy a light lunch before we hit the road towards Bryce Canyon. While we were there, we strolled through their gift shop and their museum, where we got to see some different animals (not alive). In order to get to our next destination, we had to go back through Zion National Park which meant we had to go back through the dreaded tunnel. There's this
You Don't Want to Step On These !
These are prickley pear cacti in which the locals use to make there delicious prickley pear jellies and sauces. 1.1 mile tunnel in the center of Zion that was built in the 1930's so any vehicle larger than a truck has to pay an extra $15.00 and has to have a private escort to get through to the other side. You know I'm loving this tunnel that has absolutely no lights in it and goes straight through a mountain !! I just held my breath and it was over before I knew it !! Once we were on the other side, we looked up and there was a waterfall coming right out of the side of a mountain ! It had just formed from the flash flood that had came through while we were on the mountain earlier. It was an amazing sight to see !! I took several pictures and we continued on through the park. A few minutes later we see smoke coming from the top of a mesa and then we see the fire trucks. It seems that the lightening from the flash flood had struck and caused a fire right there in front of us. Who knew a little rain could cause so much drama !! After a small delay, we continued on out of
Sundance Kid !
We passed this old house on our 4 X 4 tour. It's where part of The Sundance Kid movie was filmed ! Zion and back to Highway 90 so we can make our way to Bryce. We were not sure if we would make it all the way but we did and we settled in at Ruby's Inn, RV Park, Campground and Motel in Bryce Canyon City, Utah. Ruby's consisted of a main lodge, general store, post office, restaurant, gas station, and a new Best Western Lodge. It was really nice and definitely worth the money. Tim got us settled into space number 165 at the RV park and then he helped me bag up all the dirty laundry. I went over to the laundromat while he decided to give the ole Coachmen Aurora a good washing. Other than the windsheild and the front grill, it hadn't been washed since we left and it needed it desperately. We finished up all of our chores and we were fast asleep. We'll be off to Bryce Canyon in the morning and then we're headed over to Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. Take care and good night !
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