Coddiwomple Stardate 180607

When we left Crane Flat camp site Saturday morning we headed to Lee Vining. We reached an altitude of 9600ft (2096m). There was still snow around at that altitude. Once again stunning views over mountains and lakes. At Lee Vinning we went out to Mono Lake to have a look at the Tufa. Tufa is formed from underwater springs. When the water rises from the lake they form crystallised stalactite's.

Saturday night Sharon wanted a shower. I don't know why! It had only been 5 days since her last one. I found a place with a shower through Wikicamps called Keough Hot Springs. They also had swimming. The pool was fed from a hot spring. It cost us $28 for the night to camp in dirt with many ants. The showers cost $2 each and the pool for guests was $8 each. We didn't worry about the pool. Sharon enjoyed her shower even though you only had 6 mins to have one. The shop attendant gave Sharon an extra token, so she could enjoy 12 mins.

Sunday it was a trip to the Ancient Bristlecone Forest. The trees can be dated back 4000 years and are the oldest living things on earth. They use Bristlecones as a base for carbon dating. It was another stunning view over to the Sierra Mountains as we ascended to 10300ft (3140m). There were 3 great walks up there. I walked 2 of them while Sharon stayed in the car suffering from altitude sickness once again. One walk was around the main forest of Bristlecones and the other to old log cabins and mine site originally mined in the 1863. They mined zinc & lead. It was abandoned in the 1950’s.

Then Death Valley. What a stunning baron place. As we ascended to 1000’s of feet again then descended to below sea level we kept watching the outside temperature rise to 118F (48C). We stopped at viewpoints, sand dunes & an old mining site that mined Borax in the 1880’s.

That night thanks again to Wikicamps I chose a camp site called Fiddlers they had showers and swimming also. Didn't realise it was part of the resort. We booked in at the hotel reception expecting to pay heavily. It was only $18 for the night. That gave us use of the warm spring fed pool, showers & restaurants. We pitched the tent then went straight to the pool. Stayed there a couple of hours until about 6.00pm. Then beer and pizza at one of the restaurants. At 8.00pm it was still 115F (46C). Sharon was complaining about the heat and reminded her 2 days ago she was complaining about the cold. Being a dessert and clear skies, I expected the temperature to plummet. How wrong was I. The lowest it went to was 29C at about 4 in the morning. It was easily the hottest night of our lives. I tried to convince Sharon it is all part of our experience. She wouldn't have a bar of it. (seriously do you blame me people!!)

Monday, we made use of the pool & showers again before heading out of Death Valley. On the way out, we stopped at Zabriskie Point. This would be one of the best views in the Valley. It reminded us of the glass bottles full of different coloured sands. Then a detour off the main road called 20 Mule Team Trail. It was a drive through very rugged baron canyons and once again stunning.

We stayed at the Zion Inn at La Verkin Utah. It was a 37C day and Sharon didn’t want to stay in a tent again. About 5 miles from the Inn we booked online for the night. It was only $46.42 US a night. It was a great Inn. Had 2 queen size beds, ensuite, towels TV fridge, aircon and very clean.

We left Zion Inn at 8.30 Tuesday to head for Zion National Park. It is 26 miles (42km) from where we stayed. We looked for Airbnb close to the park entrance. They wanted $250 US a night.

As we drove through the town of Virgin the area reminded me much like our Pilbara area. Only difference was there being random housing estates in the desert and lots of old abandoned equipment everywhere.

As we approached the town of Springdale the views where grand. You see many photos of this area but until you see it all for yourself you don't realise the sheer size of the canyon walls. When we approached the park entrance traffic was crawling and it was still before 9.00am. Once we got through with our annual pass we followed the signs and realised we were heading back out again through another exit. The main area is only accessible by shuttle buses. It was off to find a car park then on the shuttle.

We started at shuttle stop 3 Canyon Junction. There was another 6 stops after this. Between each stop is a running commentary about the park. We have decided to get off at each stop to check out each one. The first was Court of the Patriarchs. Stunning cliffs again and I also saw Bush Turkeys. The bus had standing room only and no one else got off.

Next was Zion Lodge and an 800m walk to lower Emerald Pool. On the way we talked to Ranger Janice who told us the story of the boulder called Bob. After a flash flood Bob slid down the mountain and closed the trail for 3 months. Bob was so large they had to use explosives to clear the path. When we reached Emerald Pool, there wasn't a lot of water, but still pretty with water seeping through the rocks.

On the way back as we past Bob the Boulder we saw a Mule Deer. They have long ears and assume therefore they are called a mule.

Then it was Weeping Gardens and more Mule Deer. There was more water here than Emerald Pool. With water seeping through the rock, it has created a nice garden growing from the sheer cliffs. Sharon has found people to talk to here so she is very happy. The garden is like a natural amphitheatre as we were leaving a group decided to sing the National Anthem of the USA. It did sound quite spectacular.

Temple of Sinawava and the river walk was next and last. Now I know where all the packed shuttles were going. It was a nice walk along the river but not as spectacular as some of the others. There were thousands of people here and more pouring out of each shuttle that arrived every 10 mins.

We exited through the park by the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Its length is 1.1 mile and completed in 1930. It is only one way so another wait in a queue. There was no light in the tunnel except a few ventilation windows that overlooked some of the park. There was a bigger queue entering the park than leaving. The time is 2.00pm and the park is only getting busier. The exit of the park was far more stunning than the entrance from Springdale. Tomorrow we head for Bryce Canyon.

Today we went past the entrance and decided to stay in a town called Panguitch. Wikicamps listed 2 campsites to stay in. Hitch-N-Post was given a 4.5 star rating so I chose that one. When we saw it, Sharon said no way am I staying here so we tried the next one called Panguitch KOA. It was much nicer and had a pool which we took advantage of. We also took one of their little cabins which are quite cute. Sharon can complain about the cold again. It will get down to 7C tonight.  Evan enjoyed the cabin too...especially the wooden swinging love seat out the front on the little porch)

Wednesday we head for our 4^th USA National Park. 12 miles (20km) out we go through Red Canyon and can't believe with everything we have seen so far we can still get that wow factor. With the morning sun on all these Hoodoo formations it was an awesome site. A Hoodoo is a tall thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid basin. In the visitors centre there was a picture of our Pinnacles at Nambung NP they are classed as Hoodoos.

Looking at the size of Bryce Canyon I decided to get a camp site straight away in the National Park. It is a first come first serve site. Being 9.30am there were plenty to choose from.

After setting up camp and a visit to the Visitors Centre we caught a shuttle to Bryce Canyon Lookout. You can drive to the sites. Using the shuttles we can walk from one point to the next rather than having to walk back to the car.

We set up camp and then made our way to the Visitor's Centre.  Then headed to the bus stop to get the shuttle bus. You can drive to the stops but its easier to use this as you then dont need to worry about your car if you decide to walk further. Our first stop was Bryce point.

We decided to walk the Rim Trail that takes us to Inspiration Point a 2.4km trail. Once again Sharon & I are just in awe of the shear size of the canyon. On the walk we reached 8300 ft. (2530m) This seemed to be the first time I suffered from altitude sickness. There are a lot of sections of this trail that is right on the edge of a 1800 ft. (550m) drop which probably did not help my feeling light headed.

Next walk was from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point. There was another walk that I took to Queens Garden. A 300 ft. (92m) decent into the Bryce Amphitheatre. It took me a long time. There were just so many photo opportunities. I don't think I have ever walked such a short distance and taken so many photos. Sharon didn't want to do this walk so I met her at Sunset Point to take the shuttle back to our car. It has been another grand day and time for beer.

Wednesday night and it was a local Rodeo. It only went for an hour which was just long enough. They did all the usual events you see in Aus. It was a night for beer & hotdogs. Another thing Sharon can tick off her list, not the beer that was mine. ( Having had hotdogs in the US twice now, I can now confirm they are horrible and wont be revisited again!!)

Thursday, we drove as far as we could along Bryce Canyon to Rainbow Point. We were at 9200ft (2800m) once again more stunning views. I went for a walk on the Bristlecone Loop Trail. More great views but these Bristlecone were only young they were 1800 years old. Not as many as the Ancient Bristlecones we saw a few days back. Then made our way out of the park stopping at all the vantage points. Towards the end Sharon didn't even bother to get out of the car. We are both just overloaded with stunning scenery.

We are now heading for Arches NP we will be there on Friday. I didn’t think the landscape could possibly wow me anymore, but it has. The drive between Bryce Canyon and where we are staying the night at Green River was an amazing change of landscape in a few hours drive. The drive through Dixie National Forest was lush and green compared to the sparse greenery and ruggedness of Bryce Canyon. Then it was through more NP with even more stunning Vistas. As we left the parks behind we came across another amazing landscape it was a kaleidoscope of colour. There was white, tan, brown, red, purple and mountains that were the colour of concrete. It was an amazing drive.