Legend-ary Cross Country Trip - Day 11 A No Good Awful Day for Kenobi

 



Odometer Reading: 2280 - 2363

Departed: Cannonville, Utah 10 :15 a.m. MDT

Arrived: Zion, Utah 11:30 a.m. MDT

Overnight:  Watchman Campground in Zion National Park


Along the Way

The drive to Zion National Park from Bryce Canyon was a shorter drive even through we were unable to take the famous tunnel drive due to the size of our vehicle. Along the short drive, we stopped in Parowan, Utah and took a photo of Lizzie's Heritage Inn. I watch Sister Wives as does my sister, Shawn. This is the home of Mary Brown, one of the stars of the show.  I thought it might lift my sister’s spirit, if I sent it to her.  She did recognize the home right away.


Wildlife: Lizards, Fire Ants, Deer


Trailer: no issues


Arriving at 11:30 a.m., we prepared ourselves for a long entry line.  Nope, there were only 2 cars ahead of us.  We were staying at the campground within the park, Watchman Campground. This was the stay that we planned the entire trip around.  Reservations are near impossible to get.  I had a window of 4 days we could stay to still have enough time on either end to make the drive to or from Ohio.  When I obtained a site, I did the route planning from that point.


When we arrived it was around 95°, we dropped off the trailer and went to The Visitor Center to plan our stay. We tried hiking the Watchmen Trail but only managed a ½ mile out when I knew I needed to turn around.  So it was a mile in total. It was too hot for me, especially trying to navigate the elevation of the trail.  Rock steps can be a challenge for me on a normal day, but add in the heat and it could be dangerous. Our campsite provided electric and a great view of the sandstone formations the size of mountains and the Virgin River 40 feet behind our trailer. We were thankful for the electricity. Our trailer was working hard but it was still 82° in the trailer. 



Our Campsite View

Our View Behind the Trailer



I was so excited about looking at the big dark skies on our trip, but was limited to only a few days of clear skies. Zion provided one of them. Using my astro-binoculars, we explored the night sky and saw over 13 falling stars through my astro- binoculars.  At least I call them falling stars because they are fast and burn out instead of the hundreds of satellites that are on a steady course and on similar projections as others.


Kenobi Story:   Kenobi was not allowed in the park because entrance was by shuttle only.  He didn't like the campground. He had an upset stomach from the heat and lack of sleep. Later on we figured out it was likely from the switchbacks from Bryce Canyon the day before. He ate fabric from a toy and a blanket and that made it much worse.  When we took him for a walk around the campground, he popped his head up from sniffing the roadside brush and had a huge cactus needle sticking out of his nose. At the end of the exact same walk, he got bit by a fire ant on his paw. He was miserable!  We couldn’t even let him cool off in the river. We received a warning that the river tested positive for Toxic cyanobacteria.  These toxic algae mats are highly lethal to dogs if ingested or licked off their fur, causing rapid shock, seizures, and organ failure. Zion was his worst time of the trip.


                                                              

Reflection: I was feeling a bit down and out on this day. The heat was unbearable.  The crowds in the visitor center were suffocating which was intensified by the lack of cool air flow in the gift shop. This was also the park where we had planned to ride our e-bikes, but with my broken arm that was no longer. Our first day at the park was a full day. That was a rarity on this trip.  I was so frustrated with  my body because it couldn’t do what I wanted it to do - go on a little hike.   This frustration is made worse by watching several people climb the rocky incline with little to no effort while I concentrate on every foot placement and confirm that my legs will not buckle and I can stay upright.  I swear that concentration makes the journey twice as long. My hiking sticks help with the balance, but not with the muscles in my legs. I felt I was banished to sit in the 82 degree trailer with a fan and a cooling cloth. I couldn’t do what I wanted to do and was not dealing with it very well. It was just one of those days.
Location: Zion National Park, Utah, USA

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