LAST NIGHT

We left our friends this morning and after waving goodbye and wiping away our tears, we headed for home. Jim and Kathe couldn't drive all the way home from Las Vegas in one day so we are staying tonight in the Barstow KOA. Oh, what a difference from last night at the Luxury Motor Coach Resort in Vegas.

It's 105 degrees and we are looking out our window at the cars zooming past us on the I-15. Nothing else here but dirt, dessert willows, and dying oleanders. Jim checked the temperature coming out of the cold water faucets and it's 101 degrees, which should make our morning showers fun! 

We have enjoyed two months of exciting adventures in some wonderful places. We traveled all through Idaho, Montana, and Utah, staying in private, State and National campgrounds. Truly an awesome trip, but I think that my favorite place of all had to be Bryce Canyon. I'm getting up there in dog years, so I'm not the explorer that I once was, but I can still chase a bird or chipmunk with the best of them. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end, and tomorrow I'll be back home, dreaming of the adventures I've had this summer and planning for next year.

HIKING IN THE CASINOS

Todays adventure started out late. Remember I told you yesterday about the time change. I did wake Kathe up at 3:00, but we all went back to sleep until 9:00, or maybe it was 10:00 anyway, I didn't get a second breakfast like I hoped. 

Jim and Warren wanted to spend some time at Cabela's, so they all wandered around that store for about an hour. Then they decided that maybe they would go to the Las Vegas Strip for a little gambling. They wanted to go to the Bellagio, to see the floral display. They ended up parking at Cesar's and walking over 7000 steps in 104 degree heat. So, that was sort of like a hike, right? 

There are so many people here in the two hotels, it was crazy. No one felt like staying and gambling, just too crowded. The first NFL game between the Seattle Seahawks and  the Raiders is being held tonight, so we're guessing that's why everyone is here. They must wear a mask, do I hope that helps keep all these people safe.

Tonight my humans are going out for a celebratory last night dinner at Carmines in the Cesar's Palace Forum. Champagne!  Tomorrow we will stay in Barstow at the Calico Ghost town and Warren and Kathy will spend another night here before we all head home.  

 

VIVA LAS VEGAS

We really are on the way home now. Spending the next two nights here at the Las Vegas Motor Coach Resort, and then we will be on our way home.

We said goodbye to the red rocks and drove through the most awesome canyon. The walls of the Virgin River Canyon were so high that Kathe couldn't even get a good picture of it. This picture is Warren and Kathy driving in their motor home front of us through the canyon. It's hard to believe that this canyon was carved by the Virgin River millions of years ago and today it's just a muddy stream.

It's extremely hot here, 114 degrees! The Resort is beautiful, but who cares. Good thing we have 3 air conditioners, because they are all running at once. It's too hot to do anything! This afternoon my humans went on an adventure to the Cesar's Forum Shops. Big Adventure! It was sort of like a hike, only with a million people walking in every direction. Culture shock.

Did I tell you that the time changed too, I think they were trying to starve me, but I kept begging until Kathe finally gave in and made me my dinner on Utah time. I'll have a little surprise for her tomorrow morning, breakfast at 3:30 AM!

TUNNEL TRIP

Zion National Park has become so popular they don't allow private automobiles into the Park. Today Warren decided to take his Jeep up over the canyon and through the two tunnels connecting Zion to Highway 89. In the past, we were able to take the road through this tunnel in our motor home. Now, there are new height and length restrictions make that impossible with our big motor homes. You also need to pay for an escort if they allow you to drive your motor home in the tunnel.

Anyway, with the Jeep they were able to drive  up above Zion and through the tunnels for some spectacular views. Unfortunately, these pictures don't really do justice to the view. But, it was a really fun drive. The internet is not letting Kathe transfer most of the pictures to the I-Pad, but here are a couple that she took with her phone.

After that adventure, they drove up to Kolob Canyon, about 20 miles north on Highway 15 to see the Visitors Center, which turned out to be closed! They continued up the 5 mile scenic drive to the top of the canyon for yet one last view of these fabulous red rock viewpoints.

SECOND TRY

Yesterday everyone was so disappointed at the number of humans here in Zion National Park. I found out that this park has more visitors each year than Yellowstone. Zion is the second most popular park in the system. That's why it was so crowded! My humans almost didn't want to go back there today.

Cooler heads prevailed and they set a plan in motion.  By 1:00 our campground was empty, I guess they all left for home. My humans decided to drive up to the park and see if the crowds had diminished. They lucked out!  They found a parking space at the visitors center and jumped right on the first shuttle.

Of course there were still lots of other people, but not nearly as many as yesterday. At the first shuttle stop, Court of the Patriarchs, they were the only people who walked to the top to take a picture. Due to the recent flooding and Covid, some of the shuttle stops have been eliminated, but they were able to stop at the historic lodge before heading to the Temple of Sinawava and the Riverside Walk. 

Of course the Riverside Walk was very busy, because everyone wants to walk in the river to see the Narrows. I'm very proud of my humans, even though they didn't get into the water, they walked all the way in 104 degree heat to the very end of the Riverside Walk and back. Of course tonight there is a lot of moaning going on, but they had a great afternoon.

ZION ZOO

We had a really great drive today on Utah Scenic Byway 14. It was exciting, climbing up to an altitude of 9910 feet and then zooming down switch backs of grades up to 8%. Kathy T and Jim were driving, they didn't get to see the terrific scenery, but I did. They had to keep their eyes on the road all the time. We drove through the red rocks to the black lava beds and then high basalt cliffs, and the cliffs of Cedar Breaks before we finally reached the smooth Interstate.

We're camping about 13 miles outside Zion National Park at the Zion River RV Resort. We have back in sites that are on the Virgin River. They took a quick trip up to the National Park Visitors Center this afternoon, and boy what a crowd! There were hundreds of people, quite a shock coming from the peace and quiet of Bryce. Since we arrived at 4:00, we're hoping that all those people were just on their way home. Maybe when we get there tomorrow it will be less crowded, keeping my paws crossed!  

It's hot here, burning my paws on the asphalt at 100 degrees. It's supposed to rain tonight and cool things off.

PHOTO DAY

Today was the clearest day yet. Perfect for a day of taking pictures all over the Park. Warren and Jim were determined to take a hike to the bottom of the canyon today, so the couples split up. The Kathies took their cameras and took pictures at every stop from Inspiration Point to Sunset Point. So here are the results!

Tomorrow we will move to Zion National Park for a few more Red Rocks!