National Parks with Claire & Phoebe

19 Sept –

We left Flagstaff and followed the I-17 south to Phoenix. There is a difference of 6000ft between Flagstaff and Phoenix so the 188 mile trip was a lot downhill. This also makes a huge difference to the temperatures. We have come out to Lost Dutchman State Park at the foot of the Superstition Mountains. We stayed here just after we picked up “Ernie” 4 years ago. It was a great park in the desert, with nice views and huge saguaro cacti everywhere. We pick up Claire and Phoebe from the Phoenix airport on Thursday and so we will stay here for 3 nights moving to an RV Park closer to the airport on Thursday.  We sat outside in overcast conditions with the temperature 40C+, well over 100F. The air is dry however so it is quite bearable. Into the air-conditioning for dinner but turned the air-con off before bed.

20 Sept –

Last time we were here we walked up into the Superstition Mountains following a great track. As the temperatures have dropped to around 35C we decided to repeat the hike. We climbed 1500ft for 2 miles up the mountain and enjoyed the views before heading back to camp. In the afternoon we spent some time cleaning and prepping “Ernie” for 2 more occupants. It has been much cooler with a lovely sunset and dinner outside.

21 Sept –

There was an electrical storm at night and the day was much hotter. We spent the day getting things organized for Claire and Phoebe’s arrival tomorrow. In the afternoon it went over 100F (40C) so we sat inside read and I even had a sleep. In the cool of the evening we biked around the camp admiring another great sunset.

 

22 Sept –

A lazy start to the day and a bit of cleaning. We drove the 35 miles back into Phoenix stopping for a stock up at Wal-Mart on the way. Our RV Park is only 6 miles from the airport.  Not a great place but very convenient. We booked a taxi to go to the airport to pick up Claire and Phoebe. We think it must have been an Uber as it was a very flash Cadillac. We timed it just right driving thru the arrivals area and there they were. Much excitement! Back to “Ernie” and after showers and a round of mouse traps off to bed.

23 Sept –

Breakfast outside and then off on the busy roads thru Phoenix. Very quiet in the back whether thru fright or tiredness, I am not sure. Eventually we cleared the city and onto the I-17 and the road to Sedona. We planned to go to Bell Rock but ended on a scenic road in the Red Rock State Park. It was a great drive and we eventually ended up at Bell Rock where we had lunch before walking a track around Bell Rock and The Courthouse Butte, a 4 mile walk. In was only a short drive thru the rest of Sedona (an up market tourist town) and up the Oak Creek Canyon to our camp site. The girls lit a camp fire while I cooked dinner which we had outside. It was very cold in the night. We will have to review our night attire!!

24 Sept –

Porridge for breakfast to warm up before driving out of the canyon and up the steep road to the top where we stopped to admire the view. At Flagstaff we stopped at the Wal-Mart for winter PJs (Phoebe) and warm hoodies before continuing on to the Grand Canyon. At the National Park gate we found that it was “National Park day” with free entry. So much for our Annual Parks Pass which we had paid US$80 for!! Our plan was to drive to the visitor’s centre and walk straight to Mather Point and a great view of the Canyon. Unfortunately, because it was free entry, the car parks were full. Eventually we went to plan B and drove to our pre-booked campsite, found our site and walked around the rim walk to the visitor’s centre. It was a beautiful clear day and the lookouts were great, if not a little crowded. We caught a free shuttle to the Bright Angel Trailhead and followed the trail into the canyon for a short distance. We will do a longer walk tomorrow. Another cooler night.

25 Sept –

A late start to the day as the travellers slept in. After breakfast outside we packed our lunch and caught the shuttle to the South Kaibab trailhead and started down into the canyon. It was another lovely clear day. Val and I had done this hike 4 years ago and the views were again spectacular. The trail zig-zags down the first part and then follows down the ridges. We passed a tourist party on horseback and then a mule train carrying their gear. After a rest at Ooh Aah Point we continued on to Cedar Ridge and had our lunch. 1800ft below the rim and a distance of 1 ½ miles.  The hike back up seemed easier than the downhill trip and we were back at the top and on the shuttle after 3 hours. A great walk which everyone enjoyed. Before going back to our camp we had an ice-cream and bought some firewood. We lit a camp fire before dark and cooked kranksies, corn, s’mores and raisin bread.

26 Sept –

We had planned an easy day today with a short 25 mile drive along the canyon rim to the Desert View camp. We got a great “first come – first served” site and after a rest we walked around the rim to the Watch Tower. This is a beautiful stone tower built in the Navajo style with more spectacular views of the Canyon. Back to “Ernie” for more relaxing before again walking to the rim with chairs, drinks and crackers to watch the sunset. Very impressive with the canyon slowly changing colour. We walked home in the dusk and had dinner inside.

27 Sept –

A road trip today. Out of the Grand Canyon and around it until we came to the Navajo Bridge which crosses the Colorado River at the west end of the G.C. We stopped for lunch at a view point before passing the road to the north rim, across the Arizona/Utah border and on to our planned camp in the town of Kanab. It was a trip of 182 miles but with great desert scenery all the way. There was a minimum of sleeping in the back seats! We walked up the town of Kanab and had great burgers and beer at a restaurant.

28 Sept –

With a relatively early start we drove up towards Bryce Canyon National Park. The road went higher ending at the gates of the N.P. at 8000ft. We found a camp site in the park, packed our lunch, and caught the free shuttle the visitor’s centre where we bought a map for the trails. Another shuttle ride to a lookout and the start of a trail into the canyon. It was a bit cloudy but the “hoodoos” were still spectacular. The trail lead down a slot canyon and wound around the “hoodoos”

We sat with a great view and ate our lunch before continuing on passed “Queen Victoria” (a hoodoo which looks like the statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria Square) and thru the Queens Gardens before climbing back out of the canyon and along the rim to our starting point, a 4 mile hike. Back at “Ernie” we sat outside for a while until a cold wind drove us inside. After an early dinner we walked back along the rim for the sunset but clouds spoiled the effect. Still a great last view of Bryce Canyon.

 

29 Sept –

We retraced our route out of Bryce Canyon south towards Kanab turning west towards Zion Canyon National Park. On the way we stopped at one of the many rock shops where Phoebe bought a mixed bag of exotic rocks. We entered Zion Canyon at the east gate and followed down the great scenic drive thru the red rocks and valleys until we reached a long tunnel, paid an over-sized vehicle fee, and drove thru Mt Carmel. Out on the other side we arrived at our pre-booked campsite. Another full camp so it was a good job we booked.

After lunch we walked to visitor’s centre and then caught the free shuttle bus and trailer up the canyon to Weeping Rock trailhead. It was only short walk up to this feature which is a large rock overhang with water cascading down. Great views in all directions. Back on the shuttle for the rest of the canyon and then back to the visitor’s centre. Our plan was for a longer hike to a view point above our camp but heavy rain set in. We filled in ½ hour at the visitor’s centre and the gift shop (dangerous place to fill in time!)
The rain cleared and we set off for our hike with now thick red mud on the track. It was a great climb affording a great view from the top. We saw two tarantula spiders on our walks. On our return Claire and I walked to the shop for firewood. We had a great camp fire and cooked dinner over it. A beautiful night with great views of the red peaks all around.

 

30 Sept –

Pancake breakfast, courtesy of Claire and Phoebe, before driving out of Zion Canyon N.P. and thru the town of Hurricane where we used the internet at the library to confirm bookings at Las Vegas. A great drive thru the Virgin Mountains on the I-15, across the Utah/Arizona/Nevada borders, before turning off and thru to the Valley of Fire State Park. We stayed at this great little park 4 years ago. The red rocks are spectacular. The temperature has climbed as we are only at 1500ft now.

A rest in the heat of the day before a drive to the visitor’s centre and then a scenic drive to the White Domes trailhead for a short walk including a slot canyon. Back at our camp the temperature dropped and we enjoyed a nice sunset with dinner outside. A very short twilight and the stars were brilliant.

1 Oct –

We drove thru the red rock hills out to Lake Mead which is very low. There was a triathlon with cyclists on the road which we had to dodge. At the Hoover Dam we went thru security and parked for a walk on the new bridge with a great view down onto the huge concrete dam.

 At Henderson we stopped for a shop and fuel and then on to Las Vegas. We had booked an RV Park at the back of Circus Circus at the north end of the strip.

There was a welcome swimming pool to cool off in before an early dinner and a taxi ride to the Mirage. Claire had shouted us tickets for Cirque du Soleil, the Beatles “Love”. What a show!!
All the Beatles songs with spectacular lighting and sound. The performance was in the “round” with action below, on and above the stage, aerial acts, VW Beetles, projection and dance, it was a mix of them all. Very hard to describe. Out of the theatre we walked down to The Bellagio for the hourly performance of the famous musical fountain. After an ice-cream served by a hilarious Turkish guy we wandered the strip back to “Ernie” enjoying the sights and sounds which are Las Vegas.

2 Oct –

We all slept in this morning before making some accommodation bookings by phone. The internet was hopeless so we were not able to publish the blog. Washing, laundry and swims at the great pool. After lunch we caught the bus down the strip to the Outlet shops at the other end. The ladies shopped until I dropped!! Back to “Ernie” for drinks and a rest before the bus up the strip to the Freemont Experience. This was the old strip but is now enclosed and has a great atmosphere. The whole roof is a giant superscreen (the largest in the word). Every hour all the neon signs go out and there is a great musical video on the superscreen. There were zip lines overhead and lots of entertainment. We enjoyed the sights before going into a casino for burgers and beers (Phoebe soft drink). Back to “Ernie” after another late night.

                                                 3 Oct –

Cooler in the night. We left Las Vegas and headed south for 230 miles thru the desert to Joshua Tree National Park. Some of this trip was along Route 66. It was sad to see all the abandoned towns along the way. After a quick stop at the visitor’s centre we drove into Indian Cove camp site where we had a great spot among the impressive rocks. We had our last camp fire of the trip under the brilliant stars.