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DAY 4 Tuesday 31st July 2001
EXPLORING ZION NATIONAL PARK |
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| An Unrefreshed Start | Up at the crack of 9am. Aircon unit is in the room so all night it was stopping and starting. Not too much trouble on account of my ear plugs, but not a deep refreshing sleep. Organised ourselves and headed for the day's adventure - suss out these free buses.
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| An Explanation | So, for future reference everyone, should you wish to go there, this is the deal . . .
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| A Quick Recap | So . . . recap time!! Park in Springdale. Catch the free shuttle to the park. Enter the park. Catch a free gas-driven (don't start that again!) shuttle to any of your chosen destinations in the canyon. Do your walk(s). Pick up a returning free gas-driven shuttle to the Visitor Centre . Exit NP. Free shuttle back thru Springdale to car . . . . REST!
All the shuttles inside and outside the Park run every 7-10mins all day, so you never have to wait long. All the shuttle drivers tell you what is coming next and, in the case of the "inside the park" shuttles, what walks and facilities are available. It all works very well and everyone is really friendly.
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| A Plan Is Formed | So . . . what will we do? First catch the Shuttle from our Inn to the Park entrance. Get off, cross the footbridge, buy our $50 family ticket (explaining that we were doing Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon etc). Then back over the footbridge to the café in the external car park for our breakfast. They sold cereals - deep joy.
Suitably replenished we re-entered the Park, this time flashing our card!, Looked round the VC, decided to go to the far end - to Temple of Sinawara - and do the Riverside Walk as far as The Narrows.
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| . . Then Executed | All the way the Shuttle Driver talked us thru the salient points we were passing, how they got their names etc. Fantastic scenery, very hot (later found out 99° - 102°F for the day). Lovely walk by the side of the Virgin River until the path stopped at The Narrows. Here the well equipped or the foolhardy (Mary went - you choose) can carry on wading upstream. All the way along the walk don't forget to look up - all the scenery is above and at the sides. Don't bother to look back too much - because it is a "there and back" trail so you get to see it anyway on your return. As I said, lovely walk, fantastic scenery.
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| Refreshments | Back to starting point of walk, shuttle already waiting, hop on and get off half way back at Zion Lodge. Remember I said no vehicle except shuttles up the canyon - I lied. There is a Lodge with Guest Rooms, Shops, Cafes, etc half way up (or down) the canyon. So anyone staying there can drive as far as the Lodge to park - but they have to be Red Badge Holders. OK OK, so the coach trips drive there as well - BUT NOTHING ELSE - RIGHT!
Had a smoothie/cold drink etc at the Lodge in the shade of a tree, prior to embarking on our second walk of the day.
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| A Second Walk | This time it was up the canyon side opposite to the Middle and Lower Emerald Pools. This was quite hot work and we toiled in a long zig zag up the canyon side to a sort of plateau or rock-shelf half way up (yes - or down). There we found a pool which was indeed bright green - due to the algae etc contained therein. On the way up and at this pool were great views up and down the canyon. They were duly recorded - for their obvious beauty and nothing to do with me resting awhile - no sirree!
From the Middle Emerald Pool we dropped down quite steeply to the Lower EP, passing underneath the waterfall - the overflow from the Upper dum-de-dum, and back to the valley floor. Very pleasant walk once more.
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| . . . And Rest | Mary and Katie went to the shop to have a look - Lucy sat by me as I fell into a well-earned slumber for 15mins or so (did I mention 99° - 102°F and 6200ft?)
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| Bumbleberry's Discovered | Catch shuttle back to V Centre, bought Mum the video of Zion/Bryce/Grand Canyon, lost Mary's hat, found it again. Over the bridge, out of the Park. Onto the shuttle (having waited less than 7 mins) and back to our Inn. Another great day - but its not over yet!!
Lucy was so keen to get ice for drinks that she got a hat full at the machine in the lobby before we went up to our rooms! Rested by the pool, showered, changed, rested again. Into Springdale on the free shuttle, stop off at Bumbleberry's for our evening meal. Proper Diner this time, so American Prices and sensible portions. All full from starter/main course so we shared one portion of Bumbleberry Pie and Ice-cream with 4 forks - Yummy!
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| Attempting To Stay Up | Outside, cross the road, shuttle back to Inn. Mary and I down in the Lobby in the comfy chairs this time - drinking what was left of the wine, Mary reading and me writing diary again. Guess what - 10pm had to stop as both nearly asleep. All tucked up before 10:30pm. Having packed ready to leave as soon as . . . well, ready I suppose. No rush - got to be out by 11am again.
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Words and pictures © Steve Andrews 2001 - 2012