An Ambition Achieved

By

Gordon H. Durber.

I flew into Las Vegas merely as a starting point for our main trip. I have been here two or three times but each time seems more amazing. So much to see and do and, (so long as you are not into gambling), incredible value in meals and shows. Spent a couple of days there before picking up the hire car. Set off from Vegas on Saturday lunchtime heading for Utah and all the National Parks.

 

First stop for the night was a place called Kanab, about the nearest point for Zion Park. Headed for Zion the next day and toured the park. Because of congestion you can take a shuttle bus which is free, and you can drop off at various points taking trails etc. Buses run on average every three minutes, so you don’t have to wait very long. Trying to describe Zion would take forever but the scenery is absolutely awesome and your entry ticket lasts for one week.

 

Second day we headed for Bryce Canyon Park. This is entirely different but the formations you see, and you can walk the rim if you wish, words just fail me – just incredible!! Even the journey to it, fantastic scenery, Vermillion cliffs, all red landscapes and that was before you got to the Park. You can, if you have time, go to the bottom of the Amphitheatre and walk right through; I would like to do it sometime. When we left there we got as far as Hankesville and stayed the night.

 

Next morning we set off further north for Arches National Park, another great day. Some of the spans, especially the last one, must be 100’ across, just wonderful, but so many of them. You may have seen them in the Western Movies but to see them real, that’s something else.

When we came out of the park we headed for Moab and that was a very nice place. Oh! I forgot to mention lots of Food and BEERS in between.

 

Left Moab next morning heading for Bridges National Park, stopping off to see what they call Newspaper Rock, which is covered with old drawings. No one seems to know how old or when they were discovered. The Navajo Indians seem to look after it to prevent vandalism these days.

 

After looking at Newspaper Rock we headed for a place called Blanding then on to Bridges National Park. This park was quite small in comparison to the others but just as fascinating. Then we headed for a place called Mexican Hat, (really); there’s a formation there that resembles a Mexican sitting crossed legged wearing a Sombrero, natural but lifelike. We had ‘brunch’ there. After that we headed for a place called Page, travelling through Navajo tribal land. We stayed at Page for two nights so we could see Lake Powell, the Bridge and the Dam. On the second day we took a trip to Antelope Canyon; that was really something and we had a Navajo Indian guide.

 

The following day we set of for the North Rim of Grand Canyon. Passing through Marble Canyon on the way, then stopping at Jacob Lake for breakfast; a beautiful place but unfortunately five miles down the road there was a forest fire, fortunately under control but still some trees were on fire. We had to be escorted with other cars, led by a fire patrol car, through the smoke and then headed for the North Rim. How spectacular that was. I’ve been to the South Rim but the North Rim I think is the best. Anyway we then headed back to Kanab for a second time.

 

Next day we headed for Coral Pink Sand Dunes National Park - very pretty but the main object was Zion National Park for the second time. The intention was to go up river, waist deep in places, to see the narrows where the Virgin River seems to start. That was very enjoyable until my mate fell in complete with digital camera. There are no paths there; you make your own way. After a great day we exited the park and headed for Cedar Springs and Cedar City to stay two nights.

 

The following day we set off east for Cedar Ridge National Monument - another spectacular canyon, then through Dixie National Forest to Panquich and Panquich Lake through to Parowan and back to Cedar City and a few more beers.

 

Next day we headed west on a circular tour via Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness, beautiful scenery, to finish in St George for the night with some food and plenty of beers.

 

The following day, which was the last but one, we set off back to Las Vegas for our eventual departure for the U.K.

 

A really memorable fantastic trip, which I highly recommend. I hope you enjoyed reading about it as much as I enjoyed doing it.

 

 

 

 

 

Written by: Gordon Durber

Submitted: 18th July 2006

Edited by: Brenda Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor