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South West US Parks Trip

September - October 2021
From searing desert floors to cool mountain peaks, our South West US Parks Trip covers it all. Hitting the highlights & getting off the beaten track, exploring gulches, rivers & cliff edges, we're exploring God's creation in this part of His world. Read more
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  • South West US Parks Trip
    21
    Day 1

    Day 1 - Finally Together Again!

    September 11, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 32 °C

    What a long day! Up at 6:20am to get to our 10am flight out of Toronto. Thankfully a direct flight and although luggage drop had a line, security to the US had no lines and went smoothly. With an apple machiatto in hand we marched to the very back of the plane!

    Five hours later we were in Las Vegas! The last 45 min of the flight we were over a lot of the area we are going to be covering over the next few weeks. Very thankful to see it from above. God is good.

    Nomes and I got the car, a white 2021 Rav 4 (for the automotively inclined). My vote is to name it Olaf, in hopes it doesn't melt in the summer heat! Any other suggestions?

    We performed the thoroughly invigorating and adventurous task of grocery shopping and ran some errands, including picking up a second hand vehicle fridge! Olive Garden for dinner (Yum!). The sun sets around 6:30pm, but it was still 36 deg C even in the evening. Even the wind is hot!

    Picking up Cilla we enjoyed a sweet sister reunion. The trio ride again! After a drive up and down the 'strip', (more than enough flashing light stimuli) we are more than ready to finally check our eye lids for holes (oh yeah its 3am in Toronto)

    More photos to come!    Read more

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    Day 2

    Day 2 - Resortlife, Redstone & Lake Mead

    September 12, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    I can honestly say I've never quite looked so much forward to jumping into a body of water. The hotel pool was luxury after a hot morning. We lounged and swam and truly felt like we were winding down and rolling into 'vacation mode'. Super grateful to God we've been able to meet up and spend time together and immerse ourselves in His spectacular creation.

    We headed out towards our camping spot for the night... Somewhere on the Overton arm of lake mead (kidding, when there's a Nomes in the planning process, it's never just 'somewhere... figure out it later' :) More on that later). Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a huge conservation space surrounding the lake created by the Hoover Dam. As we drove through its winding roads we came across a gorgeous stream in the desert and collection of huge red boulders which were begging to be explored...

    Redstone was the name of this delightful landscape, and we turned a 40 minute loop into a 1.5 hr expedition. I mean, when there are arches and holes carved into the side of giant boulders they just need to be crawled through, right? Despite the heat and what felt like an already long day (we only arrived, yesterday, what!!??), we jumped and climbed, meandered and photographed our way around 'Redstone' (oh so imaginatively named) before heading onwards to our camping spot: Stewart's Point.

    Here's where we were grateful for our ever so slightly raised Rav 4 - jolting over boulders and the desert's version of moguls, even encountering sand and loose gravel that made it feel like we were 4wding. I sat out the window while Becky roared along, skillfully swerving around potholes with Cilla spying out potential camping spots. After touring most of the peninsula and much friendly debate, we settled on an overlook beside a steep, rocky hill leading down to the lake. Hangriness began to set in so we whipped up supper as it grew dark, deciding the 35C temp called for a swim afterwards so we'd be cool enough for bed. Thankful for our headlamps and the bright moon, we scrambled and slid down the hill and just about fell into the lake!

    The stars were shining brightly as we floated in the only slighty refreshing waters of lake mead, trying to avoid the squishy mud. It was all worth it to cool down a bit! The milky way was so bright and we enjoyed spotting few shooting stars before scrambling out and back up the hill (avoiding the spiders with their glinting eyes).

    We'd decided to sleep under the stars. No bugs, no bears, no tent, no worries! We floated to sleep (a little restlessly with the intense heat and the occasional donkey braying in nearby homesteads) but blanketed by the stars.
    - Nomes    Read more

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    Day 2

    Day 2 - Hoover Daaaaaammmm

    September 12, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 41 °C

    One of the seven wonders of the modern world, the Hoover Dam was our first stop of the day. We woke early, our bodies still accustomed to eastern time and prepped for a hot day.

    The sharp, red rocky mountains punctured the azure blue sky as heat shimmered in waves across the dry landscape. We wound our way down to the dam's visitor centre, and geeked out with informational panels, interactive tables, informative movies and intelligent tour guides :) I love stats, so... The dam is 660 feet thick at its base (thats more than 2 statues of liberty, lying end to end!), and is built of enough concrete to pave a 4 foot wide pathway around the equator. Also, try this on for some hard work: the labourers were paid $4/day and had 2 days off/year!

    Afterwards we headed out onto the dam itself. Of course Becky 'shriek whistled' while we let off a few cooees into the 1200+ ft wide (and 726 ft high) dam wall. The inviting, turqouise water of lake mead was a stark contrast to the rust coloured canyon walls, but the drop to the water wasn't at all tempting. We're determined to swim in lake mead though, so stay tuned!

    It was hot. Like Nebuchadnezzar's furnace with a side of ghost peppers hot. But it's a nice reminder that underneath this Canadian PR label, I'm still a true blue Aussie because I revelled in the heat. Sure, I melted a little, but some things are worth melting for. Our resident polar bear was keen to walk in the shade and with nary a cloud in the sky and a temp of 43/44 (110 for the Americans among us :P), can't say I really blamed her.

    We drove the dam, crossed the ggggiiiiaant Memorial Bridge, took some pics by random sign posts (why not, we might forget we were here!), marveled at the view and the Creator who made the forces that shaped these canyons and headed back to the hotel. The pool is calling our names!
    - Nomes    Read more

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    Day 3

    Day 3 - Valley of Fire

    September 13, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 44 °C

    After a lovely night under the stars, we awoke to a clear sky: the morning light quickly erasing the brilliance of the stars. Donkeys continued to bray in the background. We took down our meagre camp while the sun slowly peeked over the mountains behind head Lake Mead, and on the road before 7am. Today we are off to the 'Valley of Fire' (VoF). Temperatures were certainly fiery and we hope to beat the heat! After hitting up the fee station, we drove over a short hill and staring us down on the road was our first bighorn sheep: nonplussed and quietly chewing the cud!

    This week has an 'excessive heat' warning. Some of the longer hiking trails including two we were hoping to do were consequently closed. Too dangerous. Even the shorter hikes had posted signs: 'hiking not recommended'. We promptly ignored them, slathered on sunscreen and set off with our packs carrying a combined 8L of water in bladders to stay hydrated.

    Our first hike was called Rainbow Vista. We couldn't find the pot of gold, but we did see some petrified wood, amazing bush cactii, valley views and an awful lot of red sand (still figuring out why sandals were named thus, they're no good for sand at all!) We tried to 'shade - hop' as much as possible, more than happy to pace ourselves and take in the sites in one piece. The most impressive thing on this hike was the view over the red boulders of the valley of fire.

    Our second hike for the day was called white dome. More elevation with this one and a popular spot for commercials, TV shows and movies! Nomes quickly shot up the huge rock, practicing her ibex manoeuvres (Nomes' correction: yellow-footed rock wallaby). The main feature on this hike was aptly called the 'Narrows': our first slot canyon! Every angle was gorgeous, and even better, it was much cooler! Cilla couldn't put her camera down in this section: a photographers dream!

    By this stage it was only 11am but we were hot and past ready for some AC. The rest of our VoF adventures consisted largely of driving tours around this spectacular park (while drying our T-shirts out the windows as we drove 😂). We stopped in at the visitor centre for a water refill and encountered a whole herd of bighorn sheep enjoying some shade. I found a VoF badge to add to my ever expanding collection (yet to choose the backpack I want to attach them all to!). There was a lot of info about early settlers, archeological digs and geological info that we again geeked out over, before we looped around the west end of the park - with strictly phones/ faces and cameras out windows and sun roof...the rest of us was done with heat for the day (yep, even the Aussies :)) Cilla and I did make an exception with an 84 stair climb to see some ancient petroglyphs carved into 'Atlatl Rock' (actually really cool!!). We spotted some other rock structures: arches (teency) and 'beehives' before driving onwards.

    VoF was a truly wonderful and largely underrated park. I'd love to come back in cooler weather. A park ranger said they had hoped to open all hikes by Sept, but but it remained too stinkin' hot. This is the first year they have closed hikes, and also the first year they haven't had any fatalities... a coincidence? Methinks not!

    Off to Kabab, South of Zion National Park for the next two evenings.
    - Becky    Read more

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    Day 4

    Day 4 - Angel's Landing, Part I

    September 14, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Sleep eluded some of us once again, and the alarms went off too early at 4:40am. The race against the sun and the crowds starts early in these popular desert spots. Zion National Park was over an hour away from our AirBnB, hence the extra early morning. Loading up our gear and lunches, we set out under cover of darkness, with only the bright stars and Olaf's headlights giving us an inkling of the wonder we'd see when the sun rose.

    But it was still dark when we entered the outer boundaries of the park 30 minutes later. Here the fun driving really began. Sharp corners, looming black & shadowy mountains soaring either side of the roadway... And then a looooong tunnel that wound through the mountain for over a mile! We could sense we were surrounded by impressive sights but the only things we could see were dim outlines. Descending into the canyon around hairpin bends and switchback turns, I was in my element while Nomes tried (and failed) to catch up on sleep in the back seat.

    We arrived at the visitor center just after 6:30am. As the only place to park, and considered one of the most incredible parks in all of the US, the lot fills up quickly. Already, many rows were completely filled and so many people were walking around!

    From the visitor center everyone boards shuttle buses that mooz (opposite of zoom, but beneficially so, there is so much to see even on the buses!) around the park. As the canyon restricts roadways, Zion's efficient shuttle system maximises visitor circulation, reduces cars and emissions... Win, win, win!

    By the time we arrived at Stop 6 (The Grotto, and starting point for the Angel's Landing hike), the sky was beginning to brighten, but a chill remained in the air. We decided to start out with sweaters on, knowing they likely wouldn't last long. The trail starts off deceptively flat, sandy and meandering along the Virgin River. The views looking up though, are almost indescribable (just check out the pics for 1000 words worth 😉). Before too long though, relaxing is over, the trail gets steeper, and switchbacks up the canyon walls begin. The sweaters come off, the hiking poles come out and we are ascending, on average, about 1.5 feet every 3 steps.

    The sun began to light up the tallest peaks on the opposite canyon wall and already some earlybird hikers are coming down the mountain! They must have started on the trail at 4am! Another lady and gentleman in their late 50's are running up the trail! No excuses. We are getting there.

    After the first set of switchbacks (oh yes, there are more than 1 set), the trail levels out as we cross through an elevated canyon, where trees and undergrowth grow thick and lush. We see signs asking us to hike in silence to avoid disturbing the Mexican owls, and apart from ragged breathing, we try to comply.

    The reprieve feels short lived, as we come to 'Walter's Wiggles', an interestingly named set of tight and steep switchbacks. We're not sure who Walter was, but he sure was wiggly and we (and everyone else on the trail actually) needed lots of breaks. Eventually we make it to Scout's Landing where, impressively, there were some bathrooms perched high up in the mountain.

    Scouts Landing offers amazing views of the last push to Angel's Landing (we're gonna go with 'AL' for ease of typing!) , and is a haven for anyone too tired, wary of heights or just content to not push it on the potentially treacherous last section. This last part which is a single file, occasionally chain-assisted scramble over the stunning sandstone spine.

    Already some bottlenecks had developed in the narrow trail points as even earlier risers were descending from AL. The sheer drops and narrow paths necessitate patience and cooperation with fellow hikers. The consequence for hastiness, slipping, or inattention etc. can be fatal, and has been for 13 unfortunate souls over the years :(
    We set out and climbed the first, steep chained section, arriving at another, even smaller 'landing'. The views were stunning, as was the distance to the canyon floor: 800 feet. This became my resting spot for the next two hours as Nomes is pushing on to AL, and Cilla, surprising even herself, decided to join her!

     Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter 😉
    - Becky    Read more

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    Day 4

    Day 4 Angel's Landing - Part 2

    September 14, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Becky:
    I found a perch on the edge of the cliff and admired the views with the quickly rising sun. I made lots of friends, mostly other who had decided they didn't want to go further, and we waited together for our friends and loved ones to safely return. It was throughly enjoyable and the time melted away even with the increasing temperature. I 'coo-eed' often, but my Australian friends were either too far, or their hands were tightly fastened around a chain and I didn't hear any replies for quite some time.

    Nomes:
    Becky quickly disappeared from sight behind us as we scrambled away on the chain-assisted climb up to Angel's Landing (AL 😉). There were quite a few people coming down the single file trail and this meant a lot of polite negotiating, assisting hands, trust and patience. Actually a lovely parable for our walk to the Kingdom!

    The hike itself was more of a full body climb at times, and our legs were burning by the end, but it was so worth the effort. Cilla and I dubbed ourselves the clowns of the trail, making jokes, poking fun at each other loudly, laughing and chatting with other adventurers. It was a blast. We felt 'in the groove' and our running commentary and banter helped keep our minds off the potentially deadly outcome of a slip. Honestly the scariest parts were watching others climb and scramble!

     We eventually came out to 'The Spine' - a rock ledge that has a 2 foot wide flat section to walk across with sloped sides leading to 950+ feet of nothing. There are no chains here, but the scattered trees and bushes on the top make it seem not so scary. A beehive shaped rocky outcrop rose from the end of the spine, so of course we had to climb that to become the highest people at AL.

    The view from the landing was breathtaking: the brightly coloured Aztec sandstone cliffs stretched away into the distance. The green, snaking Virgin River was no more than a sparkling ribbon winding through the canyon. California Condors swooped and soared, their 6 foot wingspan embracing the thermals as they cruised around us, probably wondering what a crowd of two-legs were doing in their 'heavenly' territory. We certainly felt a little like angels, looking down on a tiny world, empowered by God's stunning creation. It was majestic to stand there and think of the incredible forces that shaped the earth, how small we are, and yet how God has called us all and wants us in His even more awesome Kingdom! Such a blessing.

    We sat for a snack at the edge of the landing (no, Ma, our feet weren't dangling over the edge of the ~1000 foot drop 😊). Cilla's camera lens cap slipped from her fingers at one point and rolled merrily away towards the abyss. We resignedly watched it go, delighted then when it fell into a small crevice. Of course, I scrambled down to retrieve it. We could have stayed up there all day, but our stomachs and knowledge of Becky's waiting eventually turned us towards the relative safety of Scout's Landing.

    I think this will go down in my personal history as my favourite hike of all time. I was so glad Cilla did it with me and although big-sister-scared of her getting 'too near' the edge for photos, I was also 'big-sister-proud' of her courage and fortitude (what a great word 😉). I wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much without her. (Cilla: Not going to lie, I definitely surprised myself by getting to angels landing! When Nomes first sent me the link to this hike I had two thoughts : 1) she's crazy and 2) there is NO way I'm doing that! Let's just say, I'm really glad I did. This will also go down in history as my favourite, most intense and most stunning viewed-hike of all time!)

    We were overjoyed to hear and respond to Becky's 'cooee' as we neared Scout's Landing where she regaled us with her tales of entertaining everyone who passed. On our way back down Walter's Wiggles and the rest of the foot-numbing, knee-jarring trail, she made it her duty to inform every climber of the distance and time to their next stop, while Cilla encouraged them all.

    For the stats lover (i.e.probably just me 😉), we ascended/descended a total of 3000 feet (914 m), and covered 5 miles (8 km), although they all felt vertical. Our step count was a combined 40,500 (prob'ly a few more for Cilla 😜) and we'd spent 6 hours experiencing this jewel in Zion's crown.

    We were exhausted, so after lunch and a wander through the visitor centre, we headed back to our RV home to chill and recover. Tomorrow we are back to Zion, Godwilling to explore The Narrows.    Read more

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    Day 5

    Day 5 - Zion National Park, Part 2

    September 15, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    After a dedicated 'chill' morning, we eventually packed up and left our RV home. This time the day before we had been travelling/hiking for over 2.5 hours! Searching for brunch spots proved almost as challenging as Walter's Wiggles (ok, maybe not, but we did strike out twice - google fail). Eventually we found a place on the outskirts of Zion. The property was 700 acres and employeed many locals. The view was lovely but we were the only people there besides the revolving door of employees rotating in for their lunches. Three delicious local bison burgers later and we hit the road once more for Zion. The gate attendant wasn't optimistic that we would find parking at the visitor center this 'late' in in the day and gave us a few other suggestions. Thankfully we found a spot on our second pass and even better it was in the shade!

    As we were approaching the shuttles we heard some bad news: only an hour or two before, a landslide had caused a road block beyond 6th stop. The Narrows was stop 9 :(. Unfortunately it sounded like some people were injured during the slide, and they weren't sure when it would be open. Thankful to God for keeping us safe this far on the journey. (Later update: a woman had been injured in The Narrows by a minor rockfall. Thankfully non life-threatening injuries, but it had happened only an hour before we had planned to be there)

    And so we headed to the Emerald Pools. Personally, I think Olive might be a more apt name, but they were certainly beautiful, especially contrasted against the red sandstone and green foliage. Pool 1 was situated at the bottom of a vast crescent of sandstone, over which water from Pool 2 drifted in a delightful mist.

    The second pool was up a series of stairs and with our muscles a little tired from AL yesterday, we took it pretty slow. Chains along the cliff edge prevented curious tourists from getting too close to the slick edge where some have tragically fallen.

    Emerald Pool the third was indeed the green jewel its name suggested. Despite the large number of people gathered around its small rocky shore, the sanctity of the place elicited mostly whispers. In fact, it was an ethereal experience sitting among fellow adventurers awed into silence by the beauty and peace of this oasis.
    Swallows flew tirelessly to and fro across the stunning blue sky which was framed by a vast cliff. This was the perfect place to be still and remember our Creator.

    The landslide still hadn't been cleared by the time we returned to the shuttle stop at Zion Lodge. But a large (and very rare) patch of shaded green glass was calling. While resting and starting this blog, five deer (including two fawns) slowly made their way over to graze. They were unperturbed at the tourist paparazzi as they enjoyed their lunch.

    On our way back down the canyon we stopped off at the 'Patriarchs': three peaks (yep, Abraham, Isaac & Jacob) bathed in the setting rays of the sun. On our way back out of Zion, every single turn in the road produced a new wave of wonder. While the sun was setting the canyon walls on fire, the rising moon graced the tops of the distant peaks. This park is indelibly etched in our minds as one of the most stunning places we've experienced.

    Farewell Zion. You represented your namesake well. May we see all of you in the real one soon.
    - Becky & Nomes, with photos from Cilla    Read more

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    Day 6

    Day 6 - Bryce Canyon Driving Tour

    September 16, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We can barely believe it's Day 6! Feels like we've been gone ages and on the other hand, like we just got here.

    The Yurt was a perfect place to spend our morning. Nestled among grey-green salt bush and stunted pines, the only unfortunate fact was its proximity to the highway. The landscape is so different to the places we've come from and actually reminds us of Glenlock (some lovely nostalgia). Thankfully, it's much cooler too, but 10C at night!

    We awoke with the sun, slowly crawling out of our warm sleeping bags and headed to Bryce! Only a 25 min drive through Dixie National Forest and the Red Canyon which were both stunning!

    The town outside of the park is dominated by 'Ruby'-named stores/hotels/restaurants etc. Ruby is the nickname for Reuben someone-or-other, whose family settled in the area in 1919 (not realising the incredible place they had nearby!). When it became a dedicated park, Ruby set up shop to the north, close to where the original homestead existed. Today, it is a remote, classic, western-themed town filled with every adventure or experience you'd wish to do. We wished for nothing but the park, so on we went.

    We toured the visitor centre exhibits and learnt about the formation of the land: such an interesting geological story, which was expounded further by a ranger at Sunset Point. Skip the paragraph below if geology isn't your thing! :)

    Two of the earth's plates collided here: an oceanic and continental plate smashed together and caused a massive upheaval which raised the deposited layers of rock (and there are so many layers!!) high into the sky ... Ergo, the Colorado Plateau (of which Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Capitol Reef and Grand Canyon etc. are all a part). Here at Bryce is the top layer of the sedimentary rock, where pinks, light reds, oranges and whites are exquisitely layered. Because of the hard cap of dolomite on the top of this 'softer rock', the erosion causes vertical splits which is widened by 'ice wedging', forming pillars called 'hoodoos'. The name hoodoos comes from the Paiute Indian term 'oodoo' meaning spirit, who believed they were people frozen in the rock.

    Our lonely planet guidebook suggested we start at the end of the scenic drive and stop at the views on the way back. Stop 1: Rainbow Point (8,924 ft) with far reaching views of the distant Aquarius Plateau that's (another 500ft higher!) and the valley carved out by the Paria River (an offshoot of the Virgin River).

    Each scenic stop revealed its own unique wonders. We even began to experience 'wow fatigue' and felt a little overwhelmed with the epic views. Once we hit the Bryce Point lookout, Nomes and Cilla needed a bit of a break. I decided to scout ahead and see if there was a place we could bring our chairs to quietly enjoy the magnificent vista. Walking along the Rim trail I found the perfect place with less foot traffic and a million dollar view.

    After chilling for a while, it was definitely supper time. Thanks to a friend's recommendation we ate the most amazing bbq (for the Aussies, north american bbq consists of pulled pork, pulled sweet chicken, beef brisket and ribs etc...no sausages or steak in sight, but still great :))

    Then a hustle back up to Bryce to catch the setting sun at Inspiration Point.
    We'll be back in 12 hours for sunrise.
    - Becky & Nomes    Read more

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    Day 7

    Day 7 (am) - Bryce Canyon 'Splorin

    September 17, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    We awoke this morning at 6.30am determined to see the sunrise in Bryce Canyon. As we drove into the park, the night sky was replaced with the soft pink and blue hues of dawn. It was a chilly 3 degrees, quite a contrast to the 43 degree days we'd experienced a little closer to Las Vegas. We were glad for the warmer clothes we'd brought, as we layered up and set off up the short, steep hike to Inspiration Point to watch the sunrise.

    The view from the top did not disappoint. The gentle warmth of the rising sun illuminated the hoodoos and set them aflame. It was a photographer's paradise and I didn't want to leave! Nomes and Bek kindly let me stay while they went down to Bryce City to fetch hot coffees.

    After consuming our coffees and donning our hiking gear, we set off to walk the Navajo Loop Trail. This 1.3 mile hike drops right into the canyon beneath the towering hoodoos that dwarfed us, (and provided so many photo opportunities that it took us much longer than 30 minutes to reach the canyon floor!)

    We passed Thor's Hammer, the park's most famous rock formation (seriously impressive) and Two Bridges, a pair of small water carved arches. We met so many friendly fellow-hikers and exchanged tales on where we had been, where we were going and what we'd recommend. The return loop of the hike took us up via "Wall Street" a narrow canyon which features 100ft walls which block most of the sunlight, keeping it cool and revealing only a sliver of sky above. Towering between the walls are Douglas Fir trees, some of which are 750 years old! We welcomed the shade as we climbed 30 steep switchbacks which led to the rim.

    By the time we reached the top, we were in a small race against time to get back to our airbnb Yurt and pack up before checkout. Team work makes the dream work, and we were out only 15 minutes late. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch stop at Ruby's Motel & RV park, where we also made use of their laundry and hot showers - delightful after two days of camping! This afternoon promises tocbe an adventure too as we head into the more remote Grand Staircase regions, stay tuned!
    - Cilla    Read more

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    Day 7

    Day 7 (pm) - Singing Canyon

    September 17, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    The afternoon plan was to visit the singing canyon in Grand Staircase Escalante before free camping for the night. We meandered along the Burr Trail and were absolutely in awe of the brilliant red canyon walls towering on either side of the road. We felt like we'd stumbled apon a hidden gem that was arguably as beautiful as the other more popular national parks. It was about 5pm by the time we located the singing canyon and our excitement grew as we heard strains of a tune coming from below. It was everything we'd hoped for and more! The acoustics of the towering red rock walls were some of the best we'd ever heard and apart from one friendly stranger and his dog, we had the canyon to ourselves. We sung everything we could think of from "Lead me Lord" to "I dreamed a dream" and everything in between.

    We were soon joined by a sweet couple from Colorado who were thrilled with a free concert and the husband Peter even contributed an Irish song of his own.

    A few other locals meandered through while we were there - most notable was Troy, a local hippie (self-proclaimed) who gave us a recommendation for the best free camping site. We also met Loretta who was visiting from Negril, Jamaica and knew Bro Ray Arthurs from the Golden Sunset Hotel close to where Tuck and I had spent the majority of our mission trip in Jamaica (what a small world!)

    We reluctantly left the singing canyon (& proceeded to sing all the way to the campsite Troy had recommended). The views continued to impress us, and we found the perfect campsite off the beaten track that had a 365° view of the valley in front of us and the mountains behind. Nomes and Becky did their expert tent-set-up routine, while I goggled at and photographed the sunset. After a quick camping dinner of eggs on toast and salad (for Bek & I) and cereal and salad for Nomes, we all sat in various places watching the stars and the 3/4 moon which was so bright it cast shadows on the ground. The stars came out brightly, despite the shining moon, and I wished I'd brought my tripod for some astrophotography. Thanks to Bek, we found the perfect makeshift tripod - a sawn off tree at the perfect height! I've attached a few phone photos of the night sky, can't wait to get the real ones off my camera to share!
    - Cilla    Read more

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