Pages

Thursday, August 16, 2012

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.
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.








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!!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.