Zion



The start of our National Park journey
 



We left Nashville with the adventuresome spirit and now are ready to take on the Northwest USA! The RV started right up as did the Honda at the storage facility and we drove them to Main Street Casino and RV to make sure all the systems were go and to stock up with groceries. The generator needed a little TLC but otherwise all was good to go. One last night at Fremont Street and on Thursday morning we headed to Zion National Park, 2 hours north of Las Vegas near the Virgin River in SW Utah. 4 new tires (sitting on the dry for 2 months in 100 degree weather was not good for tires) and 6 hours later we pulled into a fabulous BLM ( meaning free, Bureau of Land Management land with no services--just legal pull over and park) this was located about 20 minutes out of Zion. The weather is hot (95) during the day and breezy and 65 at night. We compare this to "anchoring out" on the boat--our cup of tea. We drove to Zion bright and early Friday morning and seems we timed it exactly right. Nice weather but no crowds. There were enough people to talk to (lots of families including grandparents and babies) and the sites were spectacular.  John Wesley Powell discovered this land for America in the 1869, the Piute and Hopi Indians were there before that.  We hiked the river bed (the Virgin River runs through the vast canyons--sometimes as rapids, other times a peaceful stream), up to the Narrows entrance and to the Emerald Pools. The flowering cactus and the various wild flowers were in full bloom and made for a beautiful day. We have noticed that all the National Parks are breathtaking and unique. Our Fitbits love us, recording about 25,000 steps which is 2 1/2 times a brisk active day for us.

The Colorado River makes the deep cuts through the Zion mountains

The flora was in full bloom throughout the park--locals attribute this to a very rainy Spring

Fitz was the king of the mountain

The expanse was really beautiful