North bound on Interstate 15, approaching Primm, Nevada
We’re not living in 1972 anymore…
…nor the Summer of ’78.
It’s September of 2023 and we are embarking upon our first real retirement trip. The romance of the road is still exciting, but not the same as it was in the 70s. Nowadays you are battling crowds and climate change/extreme weather. You need back up plans to your back up plans. For instance, originally we were going to boondock at the Hurricane Cliffs Recreation Area. Instead, because of temps in the 90s we are at good ol’ WillowWind RV Park in Hurricane, Utah cranking the AC. We had visions of being footloose and fancy free. We thought our only reservations the entire trip would be at the very popular Kodachrome State Park. I mean it’s post Labor Day, what the heck? A week before leaving, we thought just for fun, we would check availability at our first few stops. That was a wake up call. We grabbed what we could, then looked at Goblin Valley State Park, for October, only to find it completely booked.
When are we going back home to San Diego? Don’t know! Can’t say! Thankfully we have wonderful house sitters manning the fort while we are gone.
Speaking of extreme weather, yes that was water in the first pic. Here’s an up close view of the remnants of Hilary outside of Primm.
If you follow the blog you’ve already seen tons of pics of us riding the rock in the surrounding area of Hurricane. So just one pic this time of the incredible Gooseberry Mesa.
What a pleasant surprise! There were flowers everywhere, especially these sunflowers. Apparently the heavy rainfall the last few weeks spurred on the bloom.
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant
Yellow Bee Plant
A beautiful field of Hoary Tansy Asters and Lacy Tansy Asters
Yellow Columbine
Scarlet Gilia
The Highlight of this stop was the Taylor Creek Hike in the Kolob Canyons area of Zion National Park. To sum it up in a word: WOW!
The early bird gets the worm!
Looks like Zion rock to me.
The kids are calling this forest bathing. We call it an absolutely delightful uncrowded experience in the great outdoors.
Lucky us! We saw a Utah Milk Snake.
You should really put Taylor Creek hike on your list.
Spectacular
The bottom of the Double Arch Alcove
Top of the Double Arch Alcove
End of the trail video 😳 Wow! 😍
Beautiful! Taylor Creek Hike is now on our list! 😊
👏👏
Wow! That’s what being retired looks like! Sign me up! :). We’ll have to check out Taylor Creek – looks amazing. Miss you Amy Harris!
Another great blog!!!
Yay, so happy y’all are road tripping! In a word, these pics are amazing..keep the posts coming 👏🏼🤠
Will do cousin!
Wow! Congrats on retirement and taking your first long, long, retirement trip. The pictures are spectacular!!! And fun seeing a pic of your book. I really enjoyed reading it and it shares my bookcase with books worthy of saving!
Thanks Sharon! It warms my heart and puts a huge smile on my face knowing my book is on your bookcase!!!