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DAY 5 Wednesday 1st August 2001
A LAST WALK IN ZION THEN ON TO BRYCE CANYON |
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| Preparing To Leave | Up early, phoned the girls to ensure they were too (phoned because no reply when we knocked on our adjoining door). Packed last night, so luggage trolley, pack car, check out, leave car at Inn, catch free shuttle to Zion NP.
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| Last Walk In Zion | Start our final walk - The Watchman Trail. This is a 2 hour there-and-back, snaking up the right-hand canyon wall near the Visitor Centre, to an outcrop underneath the impressive Watchman. We climb about 300ft up the side. As it was 9am and we were walking up the right (East) side of the canyon, we were in shade nearly all the way up.
Eventually out onto the promontory that was our goal into bright sunshine at about 10am. Beautiful views up the canyon, across the canyon and south down over Springdale and towards the distant hills. Sat there admiring the views eating our apples (the last 2 bits of fruit from Las Vegas plus 2 organically grown plucked from . . . the basket in reception at our Inn).
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| A Photo Call | At the Lookout was a couple who had been there since 7am. They had been taking photos as the light changed and were just about finished. She took our photo for us - she offered as Mary had just had a fit of the giggles trying to take my photo with the canyon as a backdrop. She had wondered why the camera had flashed on such a bright day? I had casually mentioned that it might have something to do with her fingers being all over the light sensors and things - hence the offer of help!
Journey back down was uneventful if hot. By now the shadows had gone so we were in direct sunlight - but we were walking DOWN not UP!
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| Food (& Shopping) | Time was after 11:30am so no chance of breakfast at Bumbleberry's - Mary had fancied pancakes. So a last look round the VC and shop, out of the park for the (almost) last time. Wait in heat 99°F for shuttle. Stop off in Springdale at Bumbleberry's for an earlyish lunch. Contrary to our usual norm we had a proper lunch - Cheeseburgers etc and Bumbleberry Pie with Ice Cream. Into the Outdoor Clothing Shop opposite - nothing of a reasonable price - over the road to the "Trading Post" - bought a T-shirt in their "sale". Now back to the car park at Zion Inn and away.
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| Leaving Zion | Drove through Sprindale and to the NP Toll Booths. Flash our card and follow Route 9 up the canyon - hang a right at Canyon Junction - remember we can't go up Zion Canyon - and we are on our way to Bryce Canyon. Some incredible rock formations and spectacular views all the way up this side canyon - snaking ever upwards to the plateau. At one stage we had to go through a tunnel which is narrow and winding - large vehicles need an escort and get charged $5. There was a car stuck in the middle of the tunnel which was causing a backlog of traffic.
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| Lots of Geology | The rock formations are amazing, several stops at the roadside for photos and then we were on the top of the plateau and out of Zion NP. Hour or so later we reached Mt Carmel Junction. This was a, wait for it, LEFT TURN onto 89 Northbound. Spontaneous round of applause in the car as this traumatic manoeuvre was successfully negotiated!
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| Following The Signs | From there on the signs got bigger and bigger for Ruby's Inn at Bryce Canyon, so did the signs for Bryce Canyon itself - but just smaller. In fact on our final turn off to Bryce Canyon the fields were filled with signs to Ruby's Inn. There are apparently Restaurants, Camping and RV, Trading Post etc etc all prefixed "Ruby's Inn" - so this is probably the place.
It is, so park up (10min parking for Check-In ONLY) and check in. 2 rooms next to each other - 7305 and 7306 in Antelope Lodge - go from here, thru the Filling Station, turn right by the Laundromat, past Deer Lodge and you can park outside your rooms. Two double beds in each room, shower and toilet in back. Nice. This place is huge with a lot going on. There is a Rodeo nightly opposite next to a little Indian Shopping Village. On site is a Diner, a Garage, Restaurants, Swimming Pool, Trading Post, Hardware Store, General Store etc etc. Settled in, had a look round then decided to have our first look at Bryce Canyon.
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| A First Glimpse | Drove to the NP Visitor Centre (flash card at toll booth). In there we sorted out where things were, how the Free Shuttle runs (similar to Zion), what the walks were like etc. Note that the VC is at 8200ft, so although very sunny it has only been 76°F - cor, almost freezing. Drove over to Sunset Point and parked. Approached the rim and Bryce Canyon unfolded in front of us. Good Grief !!! Sandstone hoodoos and terraces as far as the eye can see - CAMERA!
Walked along the rim to Sunrise Point and took some more photos. This is so impressive and so completely different to Zion. Dusk closing in a bit so shadows are lengthening and the red is getting darker. Wonder what it will look like tomorrow? Next we went to the farthest point cars are allowed to - Bryce Point (8300ft). From here you can walk the Rim Trial all the way back - they do a run later in the year.
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| A Pre-Planned Meal | Finally back on site and wondering about food. We know where we are going apparently because Mary and Lucy had already done a full recce. We had tea in the Diner next door because we can have snacky things. Breakfast tomorrow we go in the restaurant in the main lodge.
So, down to Diner, Katie and Lucy had Jacket Potato, Mary had a bowl of chilli and I had a Hoagie with beef and fries. All had drinks (which we refilled to take out - including our orange juice for breakfast). Drop these off at rooms and go out again to General Store - this time to get Water Bottles in the cooler holders. This is because currently I am carrying all the water on our walks and at this altitude we need to share the load.
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| Winding Down | Back in our rooms 9ish. I started to do a bit more catching up on the diary, Mary read for a while. Eventually age, altitude and fatigue caught up with us. Arranged with the girls to get up at 8am, all tucked up in bed (with aircon switched off) by 10pm. Mary up again at about 10:30pm with another nose bleed - her body really doesn't like altitude.
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Words and pictures © Steve Andrews 2001 - 2012