Monday 8th June,2009
Day 87


Phoenix (Almost), Arizona
Phoenix (Almost), AZ
Miles: 15910
N 34.18515°
W 112.13443°



We planned on getting to Phoenix today, a drive of something like 600 miles, but Nina could not resist the temptation of Zion National Park and we had to see some of it on our way.

Continuing down I-15 our first stop was Kolob Canyon, part of Zion Park. We thought this would be a quick side trip down a dead end road to see some spectacular rock. Well thanks to road works in the park and the necessary flag men and waiting for pilot vehicles this turned out to be a one hour exercise. But it was spectacular and gave a good fore taste of Zion. We must come back and spend more time in this area.

We then drove to the main entrance of Zion and as luck would have it found a parking spot at the visitors center. As hard as it might be to believe even this early in the season the place is packed and parking was scarce. Nina wanted to catch the shuttle up Zion Caynon, so off she went. I stayed in the Tiger relaxing and learning a few essential spanish words like Banos , gasoil. On Nina's return we traveled east through Zion marveling at the rock structures.

A few hours later we came to Glen Canyon Dam. This was a surprise as we have not seen it before and really did not know much about it. But spectacular is not enough of a word. I think its even more impressive than Hover.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening was simply covering miles and there were no highlights or excitement, except trying to run out of fuel south of Flagstaff. We were too late to drop in on Richard so we stopped at a rest area just north of Phoenix for the night and slept amid the noise of truck engines. Not the first time and won't be the last.