Zion National Park

We should be very grateful to those foresighted people that preserved this amazing natural wonder for us to enjoy all these years later.

I first visited Zion National Park in 1973 while on a cross country motorcycle trip with my dad and one of my brothers.  I was blown away by the rock formations, the colors and the size of the mountains.  It is a cherished memory of mine.  One formation that stood out in my memory was called Checkerboard Mountain.  I looked forward to seeing it again.

Marti and I set out in our car this morning to tour the park.  There would be no hikes on the many trails for us because of my back acting up from an old injury from my Coast Guard days that has been getting worse.  That didn't hold us back from seeing the wonders via our car, the road through the park has many easy off, easy on pull offs.  I just wish my camera would capture the wonders exactly as seen by eye.

The park provides shuttles, or you can drive your car, we even saw many motorhomes rolling on the roads.  The entry cost is steep, $30 per car, less if you bike or walk in.  I'm lucky, we entered for free because I have a service connected disability card.  I'm glad to have it, the bad back, not so much.  ;c)

I'll let the pictures tell the story.  I waded through a couple hundred I took to pull these few out, hopefully to give the flavor of this amazing park.

There is a mile long tunnel build by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) is cut through a mountain.  Along the side of a mountain are openings to provide natural light to the tunnel.

Finally, the long awaited Checkerboard Mountain came into view, just as I remembered it.  

The one word that comes to mind visiting Zion is:  Magnificent!

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They Lied

Oops, sorry.  In today's PC culture, they "Misspoke".   About Route 50 in Nevada as being the "Loneliest Highway".  Today's drive took us on Route 93 South which in our opinion dethroned Route 50 from the title.  The proof:

Finally, something to break up the scenery:

Why is it that certain morons have to use highway signs as targets?

Staying at a campground, especially a KOA is a little bit different for us, but it is a good jumping off location.   We're going to drive the car down to Zion National Part tomorrow, we've been told to get an early start because the parking area fills up quickly.  We'll be setting an alarm clock for the first time in a long time.

I just want to clarify what I said in yesterday's post about the mountain roads on Route 50 near Austin, NV.  The roads are completely safe to drive, just require a bit more of caution.  When you are driving a 33,000 pound 40' motorhome towing a car that weighs close to two tons, extra care is the way to drive.  At least it is for me.  Now if I was on my motorcycle, that would be a completely different viewpoint, I'd be looking for roads like that.  YMMV.   :c)

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The Loneliest Highway

I've been waiting for years to check this road off on my Bucket List.  Route 50 across Nevada.  The Loneliest Highway.  Today was the day, we were up early to "pull chocks" and head out to this road.

On the way out of the KOA, we noticed a different type of RV, certainly eye catching.

After a few miles on I-80, we turned on to Route 50.  It did look a bit lonely.

I envisioned it being a long, flat road.  I was wrong.  It had all different kinds of scenery,

as well as mountain roads.  Once we got up into the mountains around the little town of Austin, we hit some of the steepest and twistiest roads we've ever been on.  I took it slow and easy, using the exhaust brake extensively as we crept carefully down the road.  Didn't want to take a trip over the edge of these roads.  No pictures, too busy being careful.  The roads are definitely imprinted in my memory.

What we didn't know was Route 50 is built on the pathway of the Pony Express and Overland Coach road.  There were many signs pointing out stagecoach stops along the way.  People that traveled in a stage coach along what must have been a very bumpy road had to have strong constitutions...and cast iron bladders!

We stopped at one area where a stagecoach/Pony Express station stood.  The foundation of the building still stands, protected by a fence.

It was a nice stop, both scenery and history to take in as we stretched our legs.

Tonight we're blacktop boondocking at a truckstop in Ely, Nevada.  331 miles down.  Tomorrow the plan is to head down to Southern Utah and take in Zion National Park.

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