01 May Viva Laughlin NV!
Our quick stop overnight to grab Sara brought us to an over the top, lets cram in as many big rig rv’s as we possibly can, campground in Las Vegas NV. The good thing, probably the only one, was that we were super close to the airport. Sara’s flight was delayed a bit, but I finally got to hug one of my daughters and that made this place tolerable.
Next stop Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Kanab Utah. Getting there from Vegas was interesting. We passed from Nevada, through Utah, than Arizona and back to Utah. Got to share a roadside lunch with Sara, as we often do, in a pretty sweet location. This campground was beautiful. Dunes are pink. Winds can change these mountains and hills of sand as much as 50 feet in a year. Wow! And well ridden by lots of enthusiastic off road vehicle riders. I have had this ongoing conversation with Dave about being surprised that out west here, there are designated lands that people can play hard with their motorized toys. And that environmentalists are ok with it. His take is that if you have specific areas like this, you are actually providing a place for both sides to be satisfied. He definitely has a point.
Dave’s cough has gotten so bad and keeping him up all through the night that we decided to get him to a local hospital. Thirty minutes back into town the three of us make it to Kane County Community Hospital. Medical visit #3. It was funny that when we arrived they called the ER doctor to come to the hospital. She lives nearby. A CAT scan and a couple of hours later we are now told that it probably was the tail end of the flu, with the cough possibly lasting for months. With a touch of Reflux. Diagnosis #3 🙂 And our budget for doctors and medicine as we travel has been blown. Ah well, we will just have to buy less souvenirs I guess. Praying that this will be the beginning of his feeling better and more human.
the patient
We were both sad that Sara had taken time from work and flown to meet us and she gets to visit a hospital. She is a true champ.
Zion National Park was our first National Park we planned on stopping with Sara. By the time we set up camp at Willow Wind RV Park in Hurricane UT and headed off to the park it was close to 1pm. Unbelievable how long the line was just to get into the park. Oh, its spring break around here. And road construction.
traffic into Zion
fun in the truck as we drive thru Zion
The crowds are insane. An hour later we make it past the gate and find there is no place to park. Zion is one of the National Parks that has taken measures to control congestion by having areas only accessible with their buses. Great idea in theory. Instead of waiting for a spot to open up, we drove the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway which takes you through other spectacular areas that include part of Zion. Later that day we managed to find a lone spot to park back at the visitor center and took the bus loop to the top of the park. Vista’s were beautiful and it was nice to learn about what we were seeing as the bus drove along. Unfortunately, between the crowds and Dave’s health which meant hiking was a challenge, we were all kind of left with a less than spectacular visit here.
Closest we could get to the narrows at Zion National Park. They were closed. Good excuse huh! Our real reason is Dave and my current physical status
Zion Bus Tourist
Windy night! That’s all I’m gonna say 🙂
A two hour drive the next day to see Bryce Canyon National Park and the fact that Dave felt a slight bit better, made for a most wonderful day. Snow covered Hoodos everywhere. The largest collection in one place in the world. The majesty of this place, which took us to an elevation over 9000’, was astounding. The smiles we all wore said so much about how we all were moved by what we were seeing at Bryce.
your kids make you smile even when you aren’t feeling great
Bryce Canyon National Park- Breathtaking!
Ahhh Bryce Canyon xo
Yes, water bottle in photo. I like it 🙂
On a side note, my outfit for the day, as seen in the photos here, was intended for keeping warm, as it was cold. My family teased me, in love of course, since Uggs and corduroy jacket, and whatever was going on with my hair, isn’t my usual hiking attire. It was cold! I was warm! Fashion goes out the window. Period.
Yes my attire was all wrong!
Windy night! Again 🙂
Another side note, Dave used to be nicknamed “No Wind Dave” when he went windsurfing a lifetime ago. He’d show up. Wind left. Apparently that curse has been lifted as we bring wind with us wherever we go.
Sadly we had to hit the road to get Sara back to the airport in Vegas. Our campground was interesting to say the least. Lots of long term folk in lots of old campers was the theme to this place. Once again though we look to how it may fit our need at that moment. Close again to the airport. We were able to take Sara to the Hoover Dam and Fremont Street in Las Vegas. Hoover Dam was amazing! Fremont Street is wonderful if you like crowds, casinos and lots of loudness. I personally don’t and don’t have any need to be back in Vegas again, unless I’m picking someone up from the airport 🙂 After a most delicious Thai dinner, we headed back to CR to get a good nights sleep so we all can get up with the chickens to get her to her flight on time.
Our Vegas campground
Hoover Dam
Fremont Street Vegas
Stayed local for a few days, in a place I least liked, but it was good for us both to not be traveling. Got to go to a movie (theatre inside a casino, really), run those necessary errands that life demands, and catch up on FaceTime with our beautiful daughter Emma.
Met a sweet couple in the laundry room (amazing how many people you can meet in a laundry room) who up until this year, lived on a boat for 30 years. Can’t imagine what that must be like. Age and health led them to move onto land. So now, they travel full time on wheels. People do amaze me.
A final day of chilling and our version of business meetings to plan out our next stops. Was good to lay low, but now were both anxious to move on. So on this Good Friday evening we reflected on what this means in our lives and then off to bed so we can say goodbye to Las Vegas.
Adios Vegas!
For Us, It’s Not Abad Day 🙂