Zion -- May 2 - May 5

Our final destination -- Zion



Coming in from the East entrance, we were mistaken for a real motorhome, and had to pay an extra $15 so we could drive down the middle of the road in the long and narrow tunnel. According to my measurements, we were just under the width and height limit, but I wasn't going to argue with the ranger (and perhaps lose my awning, mirrors, or air conditioner to the wall or ceiling of the tunnel).

The East entrance approach features rocks not seen elsewhere. Their striations seem to undulate and curve. This reminds me, we heard of another amazing area called "The Wave" in the southern and very remote portion of the Escalante area. The Wave is only accessible by permit (20 per day -- 10 by online lottery and 10 by a physical lottery in a parking lot near the entrance at 9:00 pm -- followed by a six mile hike....pretty exclusive). Take a look at the pictures linked above and the area looks unreal. The East entrance to Zion very vaguely has a similar look.





In Zion valley, convenient shuttles took us to a very pleasant river walk ( a mile or two in) which led to the narrows. We had hoped to drive to some famous slot canyons in the Escalante area, but rangers advised us that heavy rains had made the unpaved roads treacherous for rv's -- another time.



While we were on the river walk, we had a pleasant lunch next to the river. Alexa had made ham sandwiches before we set out. About two hours after lunch, I wasn't feeling too well, and by late evening, I was intimately familiar with all the little details of the rv commode.
This put a definite damper to my activities. While I went through the purging process, followed by sleeping almost all of the next day, Alexa and Sadie took numerous walks around the campground. Alexa got to know many campers and improve her college German (almost all who were in rental rv's were from either Germany or the Netherlands), and Sadie got to mark every shrub in the place. Alexa also took the shuttle to other hiking locations in the canyon.


One of Alexa's favorite rocks on one of her hikes, but she forgot what it was called. It was white while all the others were very reddish. I suspect that this was a snapshot of a post card and that she had really taken the shuttle into town for a little shopping.