While visiting Bryce Canyon, we had stayed at the Paradise RV Park in Panguitch, Utah, but frankly it didn't make us think in any way that we were in Paradise! After three nights there, we moved on to the Munkutuweep RV Park on the East side of Zion National Park. ("Munkutuweep" was the original name of Zion National Park - and we're glad they changed it! ) This RV park was only a slight bit better than "Paradise," but it was adequate for a self-contained coach. As we had at Bryce, we spent two days exploring the park. At Zion there is very little area open to private vehicles, so on our first morning we arrived bright and early to take advantage of a ranger guided ride on the shuttle bus. We got off the shuttle at the end of the tour and took our time returning to the beginning point by taking the regular shuttle back and stopping at all of it's tour stops. The first stop was the most impressive "Temple of Sinawava" where we took the Riverside Walk back into the Zion Canyon...but only as far as our feet stayed dry. The rock formations at Zion are truly awesome. It's hard to conceive that all of the canyons and formations were created by water erosion. Considering how close the Bryce and Zion parks are to each other, it is amazing how different they are. On the second day we drove the eastern part of the park and hiked up the Canyon Overlook Trail where we could see much of the vast park from above it all. Another of the signature features at Zion is a man-made one - the Highway 9 tunnel. It was built in the 20s by the Civilian Conservation Corp and must have been a terrific feat in its time. It is a mile long - and since it was built so many years ago, it is not very tall or wide. So, when you drive your large RV up to the tunnel entrance, they will stop traffic coming from the opposite direction and when it is clear (and you have paid a $15 fee), allow you to straddle the center line as you pass to the other side. And, you'd better do it carefully since there is very little clearance on top and there are no lights, other than your headlights, in the tunnel. When it was our turn, we also had to unhook the car because we exceeded the length limit. Actually the tunnel was not as stressful as the six switchbacks on the ride down the hill on the western side.
Viva, Las Vegas!
After touring the Colorado Plateau national parks, we moved on to "Sin City".....Las Vegas... for a two week stay at the Thousand Trails Preserve on Boulder Highway - about 6 miles east of "the strip." Staying in an RV park off the strip allows you to keep your stay in Las Vegas pretty "down to earth." Our days can be pretty much normal...until we decide to seek adventure in Las Vegas' attractions. During our first week we stuck to a fairly normal routine of doing chores and running errands. Our biggest errand was a search for a new washer door handle as we'd broken ours. At the start of our second week, our good friends from Toledo, Kathy and Dennie Dew, arrived for a visit. Along with the Dews and our Las Vegas friends, Don and Bonnie Wolfe, we became involved in the typical activities of Las Vegas...buffets, card games and slot machines! Kathy was the big winner!!! With the Dews we also took a day trip to visit the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area west of Las Vegas and out "over the hump" to the town of Pahrump. Mary also had a great visit with Las Vegas resident and childhood Toledo friend, Karen Aborn.
Welcome to the desert!
Our time in Las Vegas passed quickly and on September 21 we moved on to the west. We drove I-15 from Las Vegas into California. Our first stop was in Baker, CA to check out the "World's Largest Thermometer." It was a cool 73* when we stopped there. We stopped for the night (and a little shopping) at the outlet mall in Barstow and the next day we continued on to I-215 and I-10 to the Palm Springs area where we parked at the Thousand Trails Preserve. The park had supposedly opened September 1st, but there were hardly any rigs parked here. However, we had quite a time finding a 50amp site and getting parked in between all the date palm trees. Perhaps our stress had something to do with the 108* temperature!! "It's a dry heat." That's what they say, isn't it? Actually, we agree! We have enjoyed the lack of humidity here. It goes up to 20% to 25% at night and is down closer to 10% during the day...a lot different than Ohio. But, it's still hot when it's over 100* every day, and we still appreciate the air-conditioning. We took our walks around the park at dusk when it had dropped into the 90s. When we first arrived, the pool was closed for repairs. But it was full and ready to use after a few days. What does it mean when the air doesn't feel chilly when you climb out of the Jacuzzi?
