Getting it done

So our last full day in the Zion area was spent heading over to Bryce Canyon.  It was about a 2-hour drive from where we spent the night, which is just a short cruise for us at this point. The coolest part of the trip was going through the Mt Carmel tunnel.  It was built in 1930 and is 1.1 miles long with no lights.  It is 13ft in the center and 11ft on the side.  We had to get a pass that shut the road down and allowed us to drive down the center in order not to hit the top.  Needless to say, it was a very strange feeling pulling into a completely dark, super tight tunnel and going for over a mile.  Definitely a unique experience.  We eventually arrived at Bryce and readied ourselves for another day of hiking.  We chose a 4-mile loop that went from the top of the canyon to the bottom and back up.  It was truly an unbelievable sight.  The colors and shapes caused us to say “wow”, and “how pretty”, so many times.  To the bottom was easy, and we soon realized that every step we took down we would have to take a step up eventually.  When we got to the last quarter mile we were spent, totally gassed out.  It took a couple of water and snack breaks to get to the end, but we made it.   

The next day was when we put it in gear and super toured some sites.  Up and breakfast and in the Minnie on the way to the Grand Canyon.  2 and half hours later we were pulling up and ready to see this hole in the ground.  OMG…that hole is HUGE!!  I never would have guessed just how massive it is.  As far as you can see, Grand Canyon.  Just amazing.  We set out for yet another hike but with different results this time.  We were walking a trail that had no guard rails or barrier to stop you from taking a mile long fall to the bottom.  As I looked out, I suddenly was having trouble walking down the 6ft wide path.  It felt more like 6 inches.  The height and massive scale of it had my legs not working as good as they should of.  I felt like I was on a balance beam 5000ft up.  We survived and ate lunch at the lodge.  It was then back to the Minnie and heading to Horse Shoe Bend and Lake Powell.  Horse Shoe Bend was diceveing.  What looked like a short hike turned out to be down a half mile hill in the middle of the Arizona desert, which meant we would eventually have to hike back up.  By now you would think we would be professional hikers, but it still felt like about 10 miles straight up.  Back in the Minnie and pedal down headed to Monument Valley where we had reservations for a camping in the middle of now where.  Smack-dab on the Arizona – Utah State line in the desert.  We pulled in about 9:30 and it was pitch black.  Pitch black in the desert is a lot darker than pitch black in McCaryville.  We parked Minnie for the day after 400+ hard miles and 3 big items checked off.  Is was a full day for sure. 3250 miles checked off so far.