August 22 – 31st, 2019 – Zion National Park,Utah – Las Vegas, Nevada
Thursday 8/22/2019:
As we leave the Cimarron Campground National Recreation Area our plan is to take two days to drive to Utah and visit Zion National Park. Our fellow, full-time RV friends, Ellen and Pat Pritchard @ “Rolling along Country Roads” have shared with us the coordinates for their very special/private boondocking spot about 12 miles from the park gates. As usual, once we get to driving, Mike decides to drive it all in one day making it a very long drive day. We usually hope to arrive late afternoon’s that so we have adequate time to set-up, though today, like all too often, Mike decides to push farther down the road… and we arrive here around 6:00 pm at night. We pass several BLM spots along the way, where we see others parked, though decide to push on to the site they have recommended…
A little bit of paradise boon-docking outside of Zion NP…
A little bit of paradise boon-docking outside of Zion NP…
The view from our campsite…
We get to the access road the BLM site is on and have to unhitch in order to drive up and make sure it will be safe to take the rig in.. While we are pulled-off on the side of the road unhitching the owner of the adjacent house comes out to check us out. He says adamantly, “No place up there for us. No place will fit your rig; you’ll get a $350.00 ticket. They’re really cracking down.”– he is pretty persuasive though Mike tries to maintain rapport and after about 1o minutes of
chatting him up he warms to us and says,— “I can tell you there is one little area that you might fit up there. Unhitch here and go check it out. If it doesn’t work come back and I’ll tell you another option. – Just remember the rules of the movie “Fight Club” – Same rules apply to this very special (one rig BLM spot) – …Their is no such thing as “Fight Club” – and “their is no site up there and don’t tell anyone about it…”
The small spot, enough for one unit, is perfect as long as we can get turned-around and the the views will be amazing! We have to pass a sign that proclaims no camping allowed, though once we turn off the road we back-track along a small dirt road behind the sign which allows just enough BLM land for one rig (Ours!). After some tight maneuvering we get situated with our slides open and a breathtaking view of the the cliffs/mesa, mountains and valley below. This is a primo spot!!! Right after we park a drone zips by and although we think it’s the home owner checking up on us, it’s actually an Airbnber staying in their guest house. As we pour a Gin-n-Tonic and start to relax after set-up, we are in awe of the darkness and incredible star gazing for another night. Unbelievable!!!
Friday 8/23/2019:
Today is our first day in Zion National Park! In 2001 when we were in the area with the kids we drove right by the park entrance and instead opted to take a few days to relax on the sand beach of Lake Powell. Although we loved our time at Lake Powell, we have regretted missing Zion NP on that “2001 cross country adventure” and have been looking forward to exploring this park since!
We get to Zion’s entrance around 10:30am and are happy to have found a parking spot (and in shade- since it is close to 100 degrees!). We head to the visitors center to “get the lay of the land”. We try to do this first with every national park we go to. We also know that there is almost always a water fill station and since we are boondocking for a bunch of days this will work out well. We carry two large water bottles that we can refill there.
Welcome to Zion National Park…
After viewing the visitors center film and speaking with a ranger at the information desk we decide to hop on the shuttle bus and do one of the most the famous hike’s in Zion NP – “The Narrows”. It is a hot day and this should be a very nice way to cool off. We pull out our old water sandles and grab our trekking poles. We also expect crowds, as this is one of the most visited trails in the National Park System
This turns out to be a fabulous day:-). The Narrows bus stop is crowded. The walk/hike from the shuttle stop winds along the river and is about 1 mile long to the actual water entry of “The Narrows”… Of course it is crowded at the start and we both know we will have to hike quite a ways in to try to get out of the crowds. The water is cold, though with 100 degree temps it is very refreshing. A word of advice- make sure you haven trekking poles! The rocks are slippery and some often move when stepping so it is quite easy to roll an ankle or fall without supports. Also, the current in the river can be quite strong in spots as you make the trek up the river. We spend several hours traversing side to side and at times are up to our waist in the water, though mostly it is knee high. There are many swimming holes where you can take a quick dip…
The Narrows is definitely living up to it’s reputation today and the farther we venture into the canyon the smaller the crowds get. Several hours in it is actually more fun with a lot less people on the trail. One of the biggest challenges of “The Narrows ” is the concerns of flash floods. There would be no escaping out of the stream bed given the vertical side walls of several hundred feet of rock that lines the canyon. There are many warnings before you start the river trail as the danger is very real if it rains… Fortunately today is a clear day. Collectively we do about 4.5 hours hiking in” The Narrows” with several miles out & back. This is an incredible hike which has well earned respect along with rave reviews…
The Narrows Hiking Trail…
Hiking the Narrows…
Hiking the Narrows…
Joanne heading up the trail…
The walls are steep along The Narrows…
Back at camp it is blazing hot! We sit outside as long as possible and get a text from our new friend down the street (yes the one that originally didn’t want us to camp there!). He invites us down to watch the sunset with his wife! So we head down! It is a lovely night but is also the second night with no supper for us. They give us a tour of their beautiful small ranch. We feed their horses and we share stories of our respective early retirement adventures so far. They are originally from Ohio though vacationed here several years finally building their small ranch just outside the town of Zion… Great evening and great new friends!
Saturday 8/24/2019:
Yesterday we had signed up for the “ride with a ranger” 9:00am tour. We get up early, eat breakfast and leave with (what we think) is ample time. We did not anticipate the early lines to get into the park! We miss the ranger ride by about ten minutes. So Mike decides it is our day to hike “Angels Landing”. Joanne has been worried about this hike for quite awhile. It is a strenuous hike, with many switchbacks though it is paved almost all the way to Scouts Lookout. With temps in the mid 90’s the steepness of the hike can be a challenge so bring adequate water…
It is steep and information about this famous hike indicates the top section has a narrow path with steep drop offs on either side. There are chains to hang onto. Yes- Joanne is very nervous and concerned that I will try to convince her to do it. We begin the hike around 10:30 and it is already very hot. Surprisingly the trail is paved all the way up! It is an exhausting 2 1/2 miles to where the chains start. At this point it is a tough decision for Joanne (yes, involved some tears) but in the long run she decides not to go but to wait at “Scouts Lookout” for Mike’s roundtrip to the top.
Mike is gone almost 1 1/2 hours! This part of the hike is a little over a mile round trip. In that time Joanne sat there in the shade and found many people to talk to (and had to chase many squirrels and chipmunks away from the backpack!).
When Mike finally gets back down he said he was glad she didn’t go. It was a little scary, very steep, and definitely difficult- though he was very glad he did it. He said that he passed several people on the trail that were frozen in place and very scared. He (of course) found a few people to hike it with. He surely had quite a feeling of a accomplishment as this had been a “bucket List” item. Though he forgot to take water with him – it was in the side pocket of the backpack which he left with at Scout’s Lookout.
The hike down was much faster than going up and we decided to take our hiking boots off at the river and sit and soak our feet in the cool water for a bit. Felt so good!!
Starting up “Angels Landing” Trail…
Starting up “Angels Landing Trail”…
Did I say switchbacks…
Views of the Zion NP Valley heading up the trail…
More Views of the Zion NP Valley heading up the trail…
The Top of “Angels Landing…”
Wow… That chain trail was worth it…
On the way back to the camper we stop at “Sol Market”, right on Main Street, to get some Powerade for hydration given the heat. Arriving at the camper it is blazing hot inside so we sit outside in the shade provided by our awning and reward ourselves with a refreshing gin and tonics. The sunset views are again amazing on the red rocks below. We always feel so fortunate to have this lifestyle.
Sunday 8/25/2019:
Though we had planned to go into the park again today, Mike had seen that it is a free day in all the National Parks so we decide against it. We spend the morning relaxing then decide to do laundry. There is a laundromat in Hurricane, UT (about 10 minute drive) that got good reviews. We both get the laundry started before Mike leaves to do some errands. This laundromat is awesome! Probably the cleanest we have seen since starting this adventure. It also has an attendant there whenever it is open. Mike heads out to Walmart (down the road) while Joanne reads and catches up on journaling. It was truly a pleasure to do the laundry today (it was air conditioned!).
This is the only problem with boondocking here: it is ungodly hot and we have no hookups. We decide tonight to run the generator and the ac for awhile before bed, then shut it off around midnight. The ac has cooled things enough and we don’t have to open windows until around 3 am. This turns out to be a good plan and we both get a pretty good nights sleep.
Monday 8/26/2019:
We had heard about a scenic drive through the park on 89 heading out toward Bryce, though our first day in Zion one of the park rangers discouraged us from doing it. This morning we decide it will be a good day to do this drive, and so glad we did! It is spectacular!! Exiting the East entrance to Zion NP we decide to drive all the way over to Bryce Canyon National Park for a quick drive through today. Bryce brought back many great memories for us as we find the campground we stayed at with the kids in 2001. The service station that fixed our pop-up in 2001 and the restaurant we ate at seemed to still be pretty much the same…Talk and reminiscing of “Kick-a-Poo” and “Luckystrike”, our trail ride Mules from our 2001 visit here with the kids reminded us of the laughs and the stories of that incredible summer trip.
Driving through Zion NP….
Driving through Zion NP….
Driving through Zion NP….
Zion NP … Wow!
Bryce Canyon National Park…
Some Hoo Doos…
Bryce Canyon NP ….
Driving back we almost run into a small herd of long horned sheep in the road around a sharp corner! Then another one trotting down the road. The tunnel was very cool (a mile long with “windows” cut out).
Back at the RV We play out the same plan with the generator/ac as the night before.
A visitor along the road…
A visitor along the road…
Tuesday 8/27/2019:
Sad to leave our incredible Zion NP boondocking spot but with the forecasted heat, the next few days, we think it’s time to move on. Before departing we stop at the Maverick Gas Station heading towards Hurricane, UT to get fuel, dump our full tanks, and take on some water just in case. Our next stop will be at Oasis RV Resort in Las Vegas, NV. We stayed here back in 2001 and we know they have great facilities with full-hookups, a nice pool, and given this is the slow time of the year the nightly rate is 50% off…
The drive to Vegas is only about 3 hours and we gain an hour as well. We get to Oasis around noon and get onto our site. Happily we put our suits on and head to the pool to cool off and let the ac cool things off in the RV. We had contacted Paul and Lorena of “The Motor Home Experiment” as we see they are also in Las Vegas area and have followed their full-time adventures for several years. We make a plan to meet up at a vegan mexican restaurant in Vegas but not on the strip. After the pool we shower, change and get to the meet-up. It is very fun to sit with them and exchange stories and ideas. The food at the restaurant is exceptional and cheap. We stay past closing time then move our “party” to a pub near the airport. A great evening that ends pretty late (after midnight, close to 1 am).
Oasis RV Resort Las Vegas, NV….
Oasis RV Resort Las Vegas, NV….
Our meet-up with new Full-time RV friends Paul & Lorena of “The Motorhome Experiment”…
Wednesday: 8/28/2019
Today is another really hot day. We decide to take it easy and enjoy the resort for the day. A little R & R after so much travel and activities for the past 4 months. The thermometer reaches 115 degrees and we can’t think of much to do except to keep cool by/in the pool, so that’s what we do! Mike makes some new friends (a couple of retired LA Police officers and chats with them for a long time). We feel ready to get back to the desert, our RV lot, and prepare for the Fall wedding activities:-)
Thursday 8/29/2019: today we head west toward the desert and have to meet up with the guy who will repaint the ceiling in the bedroom (that got water damage when we drove through Hurricane Michael last October, while driving thorough Virginia). We meet him in the Walmart parking lot in Corona CA which is actually pretty close to Redlands where we have some service scheduled for Friday. We meet up and he seems to have done a great job on the ceiling. While he is painting the ceiling Joanne spots a hair salon and get a desperately needed trim! The last time she had her hair trimmed was in Mexico in January!
We finish up around 3pm:00 and head over to the campground that is part of Redlands Service Center. We get situated and have to stay inside- way too hot to be outside! Though they provide full hook ups, we just connect the electric so we can run the AC. With one AC unit down (out of the two) it takes a very long time for the coach to cool down and it is pretty hot when we head to bed.
8/30/2019:
We are up at the crack of dawn awaiting a service tech to pick up the coach up by 7 am. There is a nice outside sitting area as part of the campground, so we make our tea and take some muffins we picked up at Costco in Corona, CA and relax and enjoy the somewhat cool morning outside. Mike drives the mini over to the tech area so he can fill out a work order while Joanne sits back at the campground courtesy area. Redlands complimentary campground has a restroom, washer & dryer, TV, WiFi, and work station areas. Very nice service! We finish there around noon. We plan to return the coach here for more work while we are back east for the wedding.
We arrive back at Desert Shadows around 2:00PM and get situated on the lot. We get the ac going then head to the pool. Though this is not “home”, it feels good to be at a familiar place with a lot of amenities. We take the afternoon and evening for ourselves knowing we will spend a few days with Mike’s family over the next few days who all live in Palm Desert, CA.
….And just like that 4 months of planning, anticipation, fun, and excitement has come to an end. It has been a trip of a lifetime for sure. Too often when you dream of something for so long it can often not turn out as well as the dream…Not in this case! This was an incredible adventure this summer we will never forget!
We both have mixed emotions about finishing our Alaska Adventure though we need to get ready to fly back to New England in preparation for Caitlin and Bruce’s wedding day on 10/5/19. Next stop on this Revolutionary Journey is New York, New England and the Island of Martha’s Vineyard….
