Did I tell you about the lady from the small RV park we're staying at? She is dutch and comes from the town where Henk's cousin  Wout (Walt), retired now, but has always been the town family doctor. She remembers him and says he delivered her. And Henk emailed Wout and sure enough, his mind is still excellent, he says he knows the family; and yes, he remembers that some of the children emigrated... such a small world...

Yesterday, Monday, was Zion National Park day. As is our habit lately, we were on the road at 7:30, but not really, this time not so much because of breakfast but we forgot the spare battery for the camera. Turned back, retrieved, and were on our way again just before 8. We took route 89 west/north as far as Mt. Carmel Junction and then picked up route 9. Kanab is already in the red canyon land, but it got better and better as we went along. At the entrance to the park, $ 25 entry per car – no no, Henk has his senior pass! They waved us through cheerfully and we were in for free. Heehee. The road surface changed from blacktop to redtop, appropriately, and there were parking spots every few hundred yards so we could take this kind of picture.

There are two tunnels in the road, pretty low inside, and they have an interesting arrangement for people whose RV is a bit too tall: you can buy a permit, and then they stop the oncoming traffic for you so you can drive in the middle of the tunnel. $15 for one trip each way. Of course if your RV is much too tall you have to go the long way around. When you come out of the tunnel there are three 180 degree switchbacks to get you to the bottom of the canyon and then there’s more beauty at every turn. The road brings you to Zion Canyon proper, which comes from the right, and that’s where the visitor center is. There’s a road into it, but not for private cars, there’s a free shuttle bus service instead. We parked the car, hit the restrooms, and boarded the shuttle. It makes many stops at all the good places for pictures, hikes, and of course the lodge. We first rode along until the upper end of the canyon, checking out the various stops, and got off at the end. There we took the path further up. It goes until the point where the little river fills the canyon and there’s no more room for a path. You can go further if you want to, but from here on you hike through the water, and for this you will need 1) a permit (in case of flash floods or something, they’ll know who are all up there), 2) hiking boots with deep profile soles, 3) one or two walking sticks, and 4) all your stuff waterproofed in your backpack. I’m thinking maybe also dry socks? We thought this would be great fun, according to the pics it’s a beautiful “slot” canyon, very deep between very steep walls, hollow even; but not so much in late October. So again, we’ll have to go back some other time, when it’s warmer.

So we turned around and admired the view from the other side before heading back. We got out of the shuttle a few times to grab a sandwich at the lodge and to admire other people hiking up various trails – particularly a group that had taken the most strenuous hike, we saw them up on the canyon rim. That trail includes chains that you pull yourself up on along the vertical canyon wall… not really our level of fitness, I think, not to mention that the stress from looking down would give us heart attacks…

Back at the visitors center we stopped briefly at the museum and then headed back via the switchbacks and the tunnels. Equally many gorgeous views when you drive the same road back. And once we were out of the park there was one more surprise ->

 

Today, Tuesday, was Bryce Canyon Day. We left at, eh, a few minutes after 8, this time with everything. North on rte 89, an hour later east on rte 12, a half hour after that south on rte 63, which is the Bryce Canyon access road. At the beginning of rte 12 is a red canyon called Red Canyon, probably the same limestone as Bryce, and we saw our first few hoodoos, just to whet our appetite. Once in the park and the obligatory visit to the visitors center (visited the restrooms and bought the picture book), Opa and I worked out whether we would first go for a short hike or first for the ride along the many view points.  The road travels along the rim and the walks go down steeply between the rock formations. Then you have to go up to get back to the road. Opa won ;) and we went for the ride first. Good thing because it was pretty chilly. The highest point was 9114 feet up and it was 48 degrees F. They're expecting the first snow tonight... After all the viewing and picture taking from the rim we did get to go down one of the trails, we went a few switchbacks but turned back soon. We're just not in that kind of shape. Here are a few photos in no particular order.

View of hoodoos from the rim

close-up of hoodoos that look like gnomes

 limestone ridges before ice breaks them into hoodoo shapes  

and while we drove from one viewpoint to another: pronghorns! The bison yesterday were on a ranch but these were 100% wild.