Tour day 1
Met in hotel lobby.
13 on tour from USA, England and Geelong
Finally left at 8.30 driving out of Las Vegas leaving the tall buildings and the lure of the pokies, and the dazzle dazzle behind into the desert. A busy highway with 2 or 3 lanes in each direction.

Briefly into Arizona then Utah - dry state, stop at a state sponsored liquor store for 100% alcohol. Remainder of state by law is dry although some stores will sell 25%. Mormon state with some women wearing traditional long dresses. Beautiful scenery passing though deep gorges will towing peaks. The rocky outcrops and harsh desert surrounds are quite amazing. Some small cactus plants along the roadie. We are at about 3000 feet.

On to the town of Hurricane where we stopped at a Walmart - now think k mart then upscale by about 100%. Walmart sells supermarket lines, hardware, gardening and a pharmacy. Almost like a Coles, K Mart, Bunnings and large pharmacy all in the one store. Our guide said if Walmart don't sell it it is not needed. On his advice we purchased hiking sandals and we all had to share the shopping for snacks and food for lunch.

Interestingly, although named Hurricane the guide doesn't think that the town has actually ever had one.

We passed some very quaint western towns before arriving at Zion National Park and our hotel in Springdale at the Pioneer Lodge Motel, about 10 minutes from the main park entrance. This is a lovely little town with accommodation, bars, restaurants and shops. Our hotel, the Pioneer Lodge, is rustic looking but very comfortable.

We all caught the first of two free shuttle busses to the park entrance, then the second to the beginning of our hike to The Narrows. The huge sandstone mountains towering all around us, and in the distance we set off along a good path. Our guide was concerned about flash flooding which can strand hikers in the valleys, or worse sweep you away. The park rangers have notified a 20% chance of a flash flood, so, our guide was anxious to get to The Narrows and out again. The trail ended and it was time to trying our new river walking shoes. We entered the flowing river and walked upstream. As we did the river became a little faster and at times narrower. The sandstone mountains towering above us, with their reds, browns and black streaks where water falls from up high. The sides of the mountains come vey close together at The Narrows, and after admiring a little waterfall our guide decided it was safest to return now. It was lightly raining and our focus was on the river for an increase in flow or a sudden noise upstream.

The vista was stunningly beautiful made more so as you looked up to the patches of clear sky amidst the broken cloud of the distant thunderstorm. It was lightly raining and we were pleased when we exited the river to the safety of the trail back to the shuttle bus.

Zion would be a great place to come for a few days. The shuttle bus stops at various locations, camping spots, cabins for rent, a couple of motels in the park and many many places to hike to with various degrees of difficulty.

Back into Springdale for dinner at Willies Wild Horse Saloon, where I had a Special Willies Burger - bar b q sauce is the speciality in Utah, and the burger was almost swimming in it. Soft drinks are called soda, so I had Pepsi. Unknown to me but you get free refills. Well the size of the drink was huge - I called it a large jam jar as a glass.

Back to our room for an early night - 11pm! We have a 5.45 departure to trek to Angels Landing. This is supposed to be magnificent, but treacherous at the same time with narrow ledges, a drop of over 1000 feet on one side and 500 feet on the other and the need to hold chains in places to make it across.

Can't wait. It's good night from Zion - Utah.