Week 7, Utah, Arizona, Nevada (US)
First of all this.
At the begining of this blog, when i got to know everybody, i made some remarks about certain people as a first impression. I know those people better now and most of those first negative impressions were wrong. So, please, don't be insulted if i mention anything negative has been said that could (i have never used names) apply to you.
And to Kerry's mom: i was not in anyway referring to your daughter when i used the word pretentious. Please don't think that. I consider the both of us good friends!
18/7
Rose ridiculously early (5.20). Packed, breakfasted, said goodbye to Bob (Russ' brother), and on our way to the south entrance of Bryce Canyon.
Did some shoping/coffees at the visitor center (a huge one). No wifi though. Have to postpone next weeks blog update... oh well...
Arrived early at the campdground. Did a 10 K hike with Bijan, Luts and Didi. And it may get boring, but take a look at this scenery.... can you believe it?
Set up tents afterwards and ate something. Now at the visitor center to update and publish week 6 of blog.
Getting tired. Shall i take a nap? Nah!
Went back to install sleeping stuff, showered, washed some cloths and grab a beer. Some others of the group were there, drinking. Left the place at 6.45 for dinner.
Had chili concarne, played some guitar, chatted, then the rest returned. Cookgroup was crazy enough to warm up the food for them. Not ok!
Anyway, went to sleep at 10 (ish). Woke up at midnight by a big thunderstorm. Sensational. Stayed nice a dry in my tent though.
PS: Kerry broke her arm, during hiking. She's on drugs now ...😉
19/7
Slept in til 7! Breakfasted, packed and on the way to the Zion NP.
After a 2 hours drive, the entrance into the park was magnificent ... look ...
Put up our tents, ate a bite, took the shuttle bus to the weeping rock for a short hike ...
Then a long hike to the emerald pools ...
Back at 6.30, just in time for dinner.
The crew had gone to the bar (again) and skipped diner (again). Poor cookgroup. Don't know what to think of that...
Oh well, slept good though.
20/7 (happy birthday mom above)
Rose at 7, breakfasted, packed and on the way to the last canyon, the Grand Canyon. See you there...
Arrived there round noon. Believe it not, but just when you thought you had seen all aspects of canyons, this is something extra... This is the north rim....
Had a nice draft IPA after the hike, went back to the truck to find a suitable campground. And we found one, at the east rim ... take a look at todays backyard. Nice huh ....
Dinner was spicey but good. Big thunderstorm accompanied us while eating.
Think i'll hit the hay early. After all it's one hour earlier here (=Arizona). Perhaps a game of sudoku and an episode of fringe. Anyway, see ya tomorrow.
21/7
Slept like a log, rose at 6.15. Aussie breakfast (beans in tomato sauce, sausages an fried eggs). Love it!
Packed and on the way to the south rim of the grand canyon. Stopped at a bridge over the Colorado river ...
Drove on, had a whopper at Burger Kings, and arrived at the campground on the south rim of the grand canyon. Short hike with Didi. Stunning views as you all know by now...
Had an IPA afterwards and a chat with Leane
Entered the park, put up tents, ate (erwtensoep, can you believe it?, our German fellow travelers made it. Loved it).
Played some guitar (i do that more than at home... well i got a piano there, so...), watched an episode of fringe and slept for 8 hours straight.
22/7
Rose at 6.15, breakfasted, packed and... 3 hours for ourselves, because we have to wait for the 3 (Steph, Bijan and Kareem) to return from their descend into the canyon. So, showered, shaved, a big latte, and lots of wifi and updates.
In the lobby of a local hotel here...
Waiting for the hikers to come back now ... laterz.
At 14.30 we left for our last wildcamp before 3 days in a hotel in Las Vegas. Found a spot 300 K from Vegas (with rattle snakes ... keep your tent closed!).
Slept early, but good.
23/7
Rose at 6.15, packed and on the way to Vegas now. See you there.
Arrived here at 13.00. It was hot (42 °C (> 100 ° F)). After all Vegas is in the desert.
Checked in our rooms, aircon! Oh yeah. Spend the rest of the afternoon in the hotels pool.
At night we strolled the strip (the central street/highway of Vegas). Everything is fake here. Everything! Nice experience though. Pictures say enough i guess.
At 11 i called it a night and slept incredibly good in a real bed!
24/7
Slept like a log and rose at 8.00. Went for pancakes as breakfast, and an extra strong latte after that. Updating blog now. Publish tomorow (hotel has good wifi). After that it's a 3 day drive to Mexico. Wild camping again i think.
The rest of the day was really to hot to do anything, so... that's what i did. Nothing.
In the evening we hadna goodbye dinner for Didi, who will leave us on the 25th. Too bad, since we had a good friendship and our own secret language (dutch) to discus the everyday business.
Dinner was very expensive (90 dollar steak), but delicous.
And after that, we went to a karaoke bar. Now wait a minute, before you judge... Ken and Annette were performing there, so ... we had a great time, good laughs. Worthy goodbye for Didi. Here are the heroes in action....
It all went on until after midnight. So, slept good, but woke up hungover.
See you all next week.
BTW, more than 3000 hits on this blog already...
At the begining of this blog, when i got to know everybody, i made some remarks about certain people as a first impression. I know those people better now and most of those first negative impressions were wrong. So, please, don't be insulted if i mention anything negative has been said that could (i have never used names) apply to you.
And to Kerry's mom: i was not in anyway referring to your daughter when i used the word pretentious. Please don't think that. I consider the both of us good friends!
18/7
Rose ridiculously early (5.20). Packed, breakfasted, said goodbye to Bob (Russ' brother), and on our way to the south entrance of Bryce Canyon.
Did some shoping/coffees at the visitor center (a huge one). No wifi though. Have to postpone next weeks blog update... oh well...
Arrived early at the campdground. Did a 10 K hike with Bijan, Luts and Didi. And it may get boring, but take a look at this scenery.... can you believe it?
Set up tents afterwards and ate something. Now at the visitor center to update and publish week 6 of blog.
Getting tired. Shall i take a nap? Nah!
Went back to install sleeping stuff, showered, washed some cloths and grab a beer. Some others of the group were there, drinking. Left the place at 6.45 for dinner.
Had chili concarne, played some guitar, chatted, then the rest returned. Cookgroup was crazy enough to warm up the food for them. Not ok!
Anyway, went to sleep at 10 (ish). Woke up at midnight by a big thunderstorm. Sensational. Stayed nice a dry in my tent though.
PS: Kerry broke her arm, during hiking. She's on drugs now ...😉
19/7
Slept in til 7! Breakfasted, packed and on the way to the Zion NP.
After a 2 hours drive, the entrance into the park was magnificent ... look ...
Put up our tents, ate a bite, took the shuttle bus to the weeping rock for a short hike ...
Then a long hike to the emerald pools ...
Back at 6.30, just in time for dinner.
The crew had gone to the bar (again) and skipped diner (again). Poor cookgroup. Don't know what to think of that...
Oh well, slept good though.
20/7 (happy birthday mom above)
Rose at 7, breakfasted, packed and on the way to the last canyon, the Grand Canyon. See you there...
Arrived there round noon. Believe it not, but just when you thought you had seen all aspects of canyons, this is something extra... This is the north rim....
Had a nice draft IPA after the hike, went back to the truck to find a suitable campground. And we found one, at the east rim ... take a look at todays backyard. Nice huh ....
Dinner was spicey but good. Big thunderstorm accompanied us while eating.
Think i'll hit the hay early. After all it's one hour earlier here (=Arizona). Perhaps a game of sudoku and an episode of fringe. Anyway, see ya tomorrow.
21/7
Slept like a log, rose at 6.15. Aussie breakfast (beans in tomato sauce, sausages an fried eggs). Love it!
Packed and on the way to the south rim of the grand canyon. Stopped at a bridge over the Colorado river ...
Drove on, had a whopper at Burger Kings, and arrived at the campground on the south rim of the grand canyon. Short hike with Didi. Stunning views as you all know by now...
Had an IPA afterwards and a chat with Leane
Entered the park, put up tents, ate (erwtensoep, can you believe it?, our German fellow travelers made it. Loved it).
Played some guitar (i do that more than at home... well i got a piano there, so...), watched an episode of fringe and slept for 8 hours straight.
22/7
Rose at 6.15, breakfasted, packed and... 3 hours for ourselves, because we have to wait for the 3 (Steph, Bijan and Kareem) to return from their descend into the canyon. So, showered, shaved, a big latte, and lots of wifi and updates.
In the lobby of a local hotel here...
Waiting for the hikers to come back now ... laterz.
At 14.30 we left for our last wildcamp before 3 days in a hotel in Las Vegas. Found a spot 300 K from Vegas (with rattle snakes ... keep your tent closed!).
Slept early, but good.
23/7
Rose at 6.15, packed and on the way to Vegas now. See you there.
Arrived here at 13.00. It was hot (42 °C (> 100 ° F)). After all Vegas is in the desert.
Checked in our rooms, aircon! Oh yeah. Spend the rest of the afternoon in the hotels pool.
At night we strolled the strip (the central street/highway of Vegas). Everything is fake here. Everything! Nice experience though. Pictures say enough i guess.
At 11 i called it a night and slept incredibly good in a real bed!
24/7
Slept like a log and rose at 8.00. Went for pancakes as breakfast, and an extra strong latte after that. Updating blog now. Publish tomorow (hotel has good wifi). After that it's a 3 day drive to Mexico. Wild camping again i think.
The rest of the day was really to hot to do anything, so... that's what i did. Nothing.
In the evening we hadna goodbye dinner for Didi, who will leave us on the 25th. Too bad, since we had a good friendship and our own secret language (dutch) to discus the everyday business.
Dinner was very expensive (90 dollar steak), but delicous.
And after that, we went to a karaoke bar. Now wait a minute, before you judge... Ken and Annette were performing there, so ... we had a great time, good laughs. Worthy goodbye for Didi. Here are the heroes in action....
It all went on until after midnight. So, slept good, but woke up hungover.
See you all next week.
BTW, more than 3000 hits on this blog already...
Hi Jan, So nice to read your updates! You must, by now, be in the overlanding rhythm. Safe travels and enjoy the journey.
ReplyDeleteKind regards from Bali!
Arnout
Are you in Padan Bai by any chance?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteEnjoying your blog Jan as I'm not being kept much up to date by Kerry! Glad to hear she has friends, she will need them with only one arm and a tent to erect every night. On drugs eh? Please keep an eye on her when you get to Mexico then!
ReplyDeleteKerry's Mum
Will do so ... no worries.
Delete