USA 2019/2020 Grand Canyon / Horseshoe Bend Antelope Canyon / Zion

From Grand Canyon via Horseshoe then Antelope to Zion

Sunday 5 Jan 2020

Kachina Lodge - Grand Canyon -lets hit the road to
Horseshoe Bend
Antelope  Canyon
Zion

Round the rim
Elevation rises
6000 feet
Driving through a cloud

Horseshoe
Walk 0.75 mile
Horseshoe bend
Impossibly beautiful
Drew in now permanent leather jacket climbs a rock
Photos then quickly to car (not so easy to walk uphill at 5000 feet)

Check in for Antelope Canyon tour

Town of Page seems sad.
We got our colours (bizarrely we were in a different group to  Um-Raj so instead took a trip with a snorty Indian dad and family.  Not much clue re: social norms.  Ummmmm - we don't "hoyk".  Social distancing not yet a thing!

Quick snacks then off with Rico (no diamond) for a little drive (ragged sniffing Indian dude).
A little bit of geology and a lot of photo advice
Antelope is only 160m but quite the most magical place.

Pizza Hut - gross in all countries

Zion

Pretty sure some of the pics are in the wrong place.  which one is angel?  which one is upper emerald?   all beautiful though.


Amazing circuitous switchbacks drive in to Zion.  Deer.  Frozen waterfalls.  Checkerboard Mesa.  Light fading then dark. WiIsh we took pics but cars behind and roads that needed watching.

Amazing super helpful Ryan (girl) at Flannigans inn reception. Most importantly - morning coffee location sorted!

Bags dropped off to “bits and spurs” for dinner, the. Sweet grocery store for snacks - the lady cashier asked if we were from New South Wales.  Even Americans know about the bushfires.

Monday 6
Zion

A little bit of a stroll through the city streets (street!).
Gallery

Some really cool rocks - some petrified.
Too heavy to come home to Oz?  No way.

Laundry time
Zoe art

Dinner at one of the few places open
can't remember the name or the food but do remember the rapid fire dessert response

Tuesday 7 Jan 2020

Coffee at the super lovely deep Creek cafe - now have vacuum mug, birthday jacket and super fond memories.
Bye bye Flannigans Inn and thank you.

Zion to Vegas
But first a little walk.  Grotto. Lower or was it Upper Emerald Lake or was it a river?
Grady - found your glove.  Where's the other one?

And now we drive to Vegas.......
Drive through Virgin but missed ghost town Grafton.
Fuel but no wiper washing top up.  Tap but no hose. Can buy washer fluid!

Lunch in “Hurricane”. Ree and Drew go subway.  L and Z - strip mall bakery "buns of steel" which turns out to be excellent. Laminated define your sandwich menus and cool bathroom with steel bucket sink

But first our first trip to Wal-Mart 

New duffel bag, car lighter USB charger, diet Dr Pepper, hot tomales and other important provisions - check!

And then, after a harrowing bit of freeway and "initiation" to new hotel - see Vegas baby - we knew we were in Vegas