2016 Trip -16) Beaver, UT to Virgin, UT

Thur. 7/21… (Beaver, UT)    Not much going on today so we slept in, had breakfast, walked Bailey and then took off about 11:00am, and drove to Cache Valley Cheese,

 

located just up the street from our campground.  We were there looking forward to the tour.  Problem was they gave no tour! We walked around the store for a bit and sampled some of their cheeses and bought small chunks of baby swiss and gouda.  We took them back to the rig and then headed out to Shopko, again just up the street.  This is like a Kmart and was really clean.  We found some 40% off items and bought a few things we couldn’t pass up. We came back and went in the rig and when I went out to empty the trash, the motorhome door wouldn’t open!  I had to call Rick over to open it from the outside. I took the inside latch apart and found a broken link clip.  Good luck finding that!  Rick and I went to Napa Auto and guess what! I found some! I was able to get it all put back together and spray lubed so it actually works better now.  Plus I have extras just in case!  Lydia had fixed a pasta salad earlier this morning and I cooked cube steaks on the grill and we had steak sandwiches.  Very good and an easy meal.  Later, I walked Bailey, or actually she walked me, past the goat/chicken pen so she could visit her new little buddy!

  

 

We settled in and caught up on America’s Got Talent except that it started late due to the GOP convention running long.  So we didn’t see the results.  We’re hoping they will show it again on Friday. Tomorrow we leave for the next stop!       

 

Fri. 7/22…  (Virgin, UT)    This morning we had another really short drive so we decided to go to breakfast first.  The park owner recommended El Bambi’s as the best so we headed there around 8:30am.  The food was really good and we were glad we went.  After that we broke camp and drove the 109 miles to Zion River Resort RV Park (tl$60x3) in Virgin, UT. 

 

 

Now this park is nice!  Not worth the high rates they charge but close.  We are here for three days.  We had stayed in this area back in 2002 when we went to the St Paul national square dance convention. Our plans are to go out tomorrow to Bryce and then to Zion on Sunday. So today we gathered up info and planned for those day trips.  We have to be careful because we have the dogs to consider. Okay – revised plan – our park has a shuttle ($7ea) that will take us to Zion.  But they only drop you off.  We have to get info on the tram tour within the park.  We rested awhile and I walked Bailey and found the Zion River just a few yards from the campground (they even had a nice little path), and Bailey wasted no time.  Did I mention it was hot! 

 

 

Temps topped out today at 106°!  I know its hot today at home but we’re over 5,000 ft here so I expected it to be cooler!  Oh well, the water was comfortable and warmer than I expected.  Later, Janie had prepared beef stroganoff which was very tasty.  We talked a bit and then headed back to the river for Bailey and then came back and hit the pool and spa for us. 

We talked about tomorrow.  The shuttle leaves at 9:00am but the first one back doesn’t leave until 3:00pm. We decided to just drive there ourselves and leave around 8:30am.  We found out you park and then board the tram which takes you through the park.  You can get off at various stops for mini hikes or food and drink and whatever.  We don’t plan on many hikes so we will leave early and see what that does for our day.  We think we can get back before the shuttle so that way we won’t be leaving the dogs at home all day. 

 

Sat. 7/23…  (Virgin, UT)  We ate in and left for Zion about 8:30 as planned. We did the 20 mile drive and enjoyed the scenery very much.  Our national senior park passes got us in for free (yaay!). We drove in and thru the park, going through the tunnel, which was fun!  We continued all the way to the east entrance and through it!  We realized we missed the visitor center which was the first right after the west entrance!  But we got some great pictures…

 

and saw these bighorn sheep!

 

 

We stopped at the museum, which is the second stop on the tram and easily parked right across the street and caught one on the way back to stop #1.  Good thing.  It was just starting to warm up plus it was Saturday so there was a crowd there early.  The line at the visitor center was super long and we were already parked and on the tram!  We made our way all the way to stop #9 and got out there for a really short walk down the trail.  Most folks were headed back to the visitor center all the way on the trail. We took some pics

 

and then boarded the tram for the ride back to stop #2.  By then they were waiting for parking spots. So we lucked out.  We drove back to camp and kicked back for the afternoon. We decided to go out to dinner but couldn’t decide whether to stay in the park for their luau chicken or go back to The Fort for ribs. 

We chose the ribs. They were just ok. Not a place I’d go back to.  We watched tv and I walked Bailey one last time before we went to bed.