Day 9 of 16 - Zion National Park
Breakfast was Freedom (French) Toast with a great fruit
salad including mangos and pineapple. The bus toss required me to organize the
placement of suitcases on one tarp, sleeping bags and tents on another, pads
from inside the bus on another, and everything else loose cleared from inside
the bus and placed on a tarp for someone to claim. Passengers going the whole
16 days loaded their stuff in the back, and the passengers leaving after 9 days
load their stuff in the front. We took off for Zion NP and met the other
Tortoise bus just finishing up the Western Trails tour down the California
Coast (and some new passengers jumping on for the second half of our tour now
called Canyons of the Southwest). Everyone went on a hike into Zion, and I
opted for the most difficult hike for some reason, Angel’s Landing. This
entailed walking straight up for 3 miles in 106 degree heat and no shade. Why
am I doing this in August? I think there were far more foreigners here than
Americans, because we would visit this in the winter, I think! I kept walking
and probably drank a gallon of water from my camel pack. When I finally reached
the summit I poured most of the rest of the water on my head. But it was worth
the hike--the views were amazing, and the last bit was challenging requiring holding on to chains to keep from falling off
the rock—all sandstone.
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I stayed with a group from our bus up top for awhile while
they did more steep stuff beyond the summit, then departed for camp to help
make dinner. I was really hoping for a
swim in the river at the bottom, but there was no time left and I actually had
to run downhill part of the way. This is a place to visit more later for sure.
Just hearing about the other parts of the park from our passengers made me
jealous I didn’t go to the places you get wet or see bizarre formations or see
the visitor’s center. Anyway, I caught the shuttle, drained the rest of my
water, and 45 minutes later was at the park entrance looking for the bus. When
I finally arrived at the dinner spot I collapsed in a heap and Dave helpfully suggested
I soak my burning feet in the creek before we started making dinner. This time it was just the four drivers cooking,
and while cutting up onions and other veggies, we had some great conversations
about the trips they’ve taken and their personal lives beyond the Tortoise.
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Finally we were
feeding 60 for dinner, which was stir fry indian and waldorf salad. After
dinner, we made our parting goodbyes to the 15 or so passengers leaving, and they gave us a nice card and envelope with
tips for Dave and myself. That was unexpected and very sweet!!
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