Day 181 – Zion Canyon Loop and Utah Byways (Part 4)

Day 181 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways


After taking advantage of free wi-fi at the local Starbucks, we began the last portion of our loop drive around Zion National Park.  Highway 14 winds its way between high canyon walls streaked in delicate cascades, beneath sandstone cliffs, along stream filled meadows, past icy blue lakes, and over a 9,000 foot pass blanketed in snow covered lava.

We made a variety of stops along the way to simply take in the views.  A trucker, hauling a huge fork-lift, that had ignored the warning sign for semis to use a different route, helped influence some of my stops as I repeatedly caught up to him and the line of cars trailing him at half the posted speed limit.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
Kodachrome State Park

Day 178 – Bryce Canyon Country (Part 3) and Zion Canyon Loop

Day 178 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I suppose I haven’t mentioned people much in the last few days.  I believe there are more foreigners than Americans in southern Utah.  Germans, French, and Japanese seem to be most drawn to the natural wonders of the world.  If I had to guess, several travel agents sell a package to the Grand Canyon and the National Parks in Utah.

I also met a few fellow Texans from the Austin area at Calf Creek Recreation Area.  They opted not to take the whole hike to the falls, which was probably a good choice.  They were on a three-month sabbatical with their ultimate destination being Alaska, so I’m certain they will find more falls while on their journey.  I ran into them again in Bryce, some sixty miles away and a day later! 

They commented that yesterday was the first hot day in the area and they simply felt tuckered out.  I agreed.  Being Texans we all laughed that a dry eighty degree day felt like a sauna to us.  It is just an amazing reminder of how bodies adjust to conditions over time.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!