Day 13 dawned bright and early on the moon's earth station Tonopah Nevada. A complimentary continental breakfast at the Clown Motel was followed by a refuel at a sub $3.00 petro and the start of the drive across the desert in the middle of Nevada directly north of the Nellis Air Force base. Those who are unfamiliar with this part of the landscape only have to imagine the most desolate, rock strewn, bone dry, barren backside of a location.....and then double it. 3 hours of mind numbing nothingness was only broken by a lone cyclist riding in the other direction at least 70 miles from anything (we are talking 163 miles between servos).....(Lance f**king Armstrong has a lot to answer for!), a lone deer trying to become the one piece of roadkill in this hellhole (thanks to running alongside our car, again in the middle of nowhere), and a lone caravan parked at least 50 miles from the nearest human company on a concrete pad in a furnace of a valley. Incredible!!
Noon arrival in Cedar City and we decided to head to Bryce Canyon for the afternoon. This wonderland of spires and hoodoos and incredible colours of reds, oranges and creams was also home to an array of wildlife which was videoed and photographed until batteries ran dead. We decided against the $200 plus a room that the lodging establishments near the canyon were charging, and headed for Harold's place about 18 mile out from Bryce, which boarded the Male Strahan's in a cabin for $84 inc tax. A 14 mile round trip to a nearby town for dinner being the only negative thanks to a late arrival at 820pm as a result of an ill fated attempt to view Grosvenor Arch at Grand Escalante Staircase....note to all....read the national park literature that says all roads inside GSE are UNPAVED.
Day 14 saw the caravan of discovery head to Zion National Park, the last park on the itinerary. A detour around due to roadworks being undertaken around the east entrance led to a slightly later arrival than planned. As we drove into the park, a wrong turn led us out to the same eastern entrance that we drove 135 miles around to avoid. A traverse through a couple of tunnels and 3 different road closures before we realised we turned the wrong way....a quick 3 point turn and we were heading back to the visitor centre to take the shuttle along the main drag. A leisurely 90 minute drive and we were back to the visitor's centre with a camera and video full of shots. A one pm departure and we headed for BHC via Las Vegas with arrival at 615pm in a balmy 114F. A tupperware party with 12 lovely ladies at Maxine's ensued, ensuring a late but welcome bedtime after a lazy 5387 miles in 14 days.
When there is a bit more petrol in the tank tomorrow, we will post a summation of the roadie, as we prepare for our next adventure........10 days at Walt Disney World in Florida, leaving Sunday morning. Can't wait for 10 days of hanging with the mouse, playing some golf, hitting the parks (both theme and water) and kicking back with NO BLOODY DRIVING.
Trevor says- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAST 14 days- it only seems we left yesterday- but in reality i have to come to terms with the enormity of our journey, the sights we have seen, places we have been and the sheer size, picture perfect sites and of course waynes company. All i can say, a trip to be remembered, my photos and movies will only do some of the parks granduer half the justice they deserve. A trip well worth doing and to see some of the parks at the end of winter has just been put in my bucket list.
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