To view Journals select “Journals” from the drop-down menu, and select the month and year.

 

HAPPINESS is to have EVERYTHING
you NEED,
NOT the NEED to have EVERYTHING

March/April ITENERARY
March 22nd Las Vegas at Las Vegas TT Campground for 14 nights
April 5th St. George, Utah (119m) x13 nights (119m)
April 19th Kanab, UT at Crazy Horse RVP (80m)x7 nights (80m)
April 26th Salina, UT at RPI RVP(163m) x7 nights (163m)
May 2nd Moab, UT at KOA Campground (159m)x4 nights (159m)
May 6th Heber, UT Mountain Valley RVR (2 overnights) x7n 234m
May 16th Bend, OR TT (Overnights and stays TBD) (654m)(x7n)
June 5th Whaler’s Rest in Newport, OR.
June 26th leave Whaler’s Rest
*****************************************

4.08.2019- Monday- Zion National Park

 

Trip to Zion

 

This is Quail Lake.  As you can see from the wall that confines it, it’s man-made. For an area that does not boast of many lakes, natural or man-made, this one is huge.

 

 

 

Just a few scenic views of the area and the road to Zion. Our first stop will be Zion Lodge.

 

 

 

We are approaching Zion National Park.

 

Zion Lodge and check in center. It takes us about thirty minutes to get here from St. George. We’ll check in with this ranger, who vacations in Orlando, FL, using Carla’s park pass, and make our way to the Visitor’s center.

 

 

National Park Service is working diligently to create a venue very similar to what we saw in the Grand Canyon. It’s work in progress but so much has already been accomplished, especially the roads, walking areas and parking venues.

 

 

 

Work construction going on in preparation for the Summer crowds. The roadways are very well marked as well as walkways and trail ways.  We’re in a double-car shuttle here taking us to our first stop.

 

 

 

Just a very small number of views we experienced on our trip to our first stop.

 

 

 

The grotto will be our first walking tour. Yes, we did a lot walking today.

 

 

The Grotto.

It’s just a place, no lake and no waterfalls. But it’s not next door. No Uber either, foot power only.

 

 

So many vistas. I had over three-hundred pictures but could only use fifty of so.

 

 

 

Every one of these venues are accessible but it’s always an uphill climb to get there. The path began as being very generous, that will change in a few minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above is what the path will turn into. A gravel walkway with stone, roots and narrows to contend with.

 

 

 

I mean to find out the significance of this tree. The bark on this tree has been twisted either by wind or water.

 

 

Move unbelievable vistas. This is all part of the Grotto.

 

 

 

 

A Ranger homestead. There are several in the area. Below is  shuttle bus, just missed it. They come around every 15-20 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From here we’ll look for trail signs for our next venue; Weeping Rock. n the meantime enjoy some of the many mountain views around here until we can figure out where we go next, it’s around here somewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, we found the trail. As always it goes uphill first.

 

 

Weeping Rock Trailhead

 

 

 

 

In the distance you can see our destination, Weeping Rock. It’s about and quarter-mile away and, as always, it will be an uphill climb.

 

 

The National Park Service does such. Great job of making g these venues accessible. No much anyone can do about the uphill climbs. The paths are passable but not always paved. Everyone must pay attention to where they place their feet and a walking stick is always helpful. Above you can see primitive steps and below a state of the art people bridge, to move the millions of visitors along.

 

 

The trail, in sections, is very passable and as you can see below we do get to our destination.

 

 

 

 

 

Looking away from the falls you can appreciate the effort the NPS has gone through to allow large groups of people enjoy these beautiful destinations. Below, however, it’s time for us to turn our attention to going back and catching another shuttle to take us to our car.

 

 

 

The best part of leaving a particular venue, in most cases, is that it is usually a downhill walk. Be mindful, however, walking a steep grade downhill produces its own set of precautions.

 

 

 

Finally we get to that beautiful bridge again and those primitive steps.

 

 

 

We take one last look at Weeping Rock and say good-bye. It’s time to try to find the trail to the Temple of  Sinawava.

 

 

 

 

 

Temple of Sinawava / River Walk

 

 

The above two climbers are climbing the rock mountain shown below. If you  look closely you might see two very small speck at the dead center of the picture; that’s them.

 

 

 

Every hike begins with our trying to find the trail to hike. It’s not generally that difficult but just wanted he text to fit the picture. Below is Sinawava. t looks close but it’s about a very slow quarter-mile hike.

 

 

 

 

Yup, we found our path. Carla takes the first steps. Below is Sinawava also.

 

 

 

This begins with the Riverdale. We’ll be walking along the Virgin River.

 

 

 

 

We cross the Virgin River and yes, Carla is looking a little tired. A great deal of walking today, and we’re feeling it. In the next few pictures are scenes of the mountains we be seeing on our walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lower Emerald Pool

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, is calling to us, 
from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier