Come to Zion, Come to Zion (Day One)

The Hastings invited me to spend part of their spring break with them at Zion National Park, and I was game. So on Wednesday, 23 March, we headed south in two cars (because they were going on to Arizona) and left Kris alone in a very quiet house. Our first stop was in Cedar City for lunch before entering Kolob Canyon in the northwest quadrant of the park. We continued on to Toquerville, La Verkin, Virgin, Rockville, and Springdale. We entered the park again through the south entrance and proceeded up the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, through the tunnel, and on to Checkerboard Mesa with a stop for a hike to the Canyon Overlook. A near mishap with the cars keys on a high ledge left us weak in the knees, but all else went swimmingly. A lovely walk from the Human History Museum toward the Visitor Center was spectacular because of the late afternoon sun back lighting the new spring green leaves of the trees along the Virgin River.

Lunch at Cafe Rio in Cedar City

Kolob Canyon on a cold and blustery day

Photos just can't do justice to the imense scale of these stone canyons

Tri-color landscape

Jolly band of travelers

I just can't pass this poser up

At the end of the trail you can see clear to Arizona

Sillies

These guys are well-seasoned treckers

On the trail to the Canyon Overlook

Tentative, acrophobic hiker

They never met a boulder they didn't like

View from the Canyon Overlook

It's hard for an acrophobe to pose here

I like to stay away from the edge

Checkerboard Mesa

This girl!

Group photo courtesy of a friendly tourist

Beautiful white cliffs

Towers of the Virgin on a beautiful spring afternoon

The Watchman through the spring green

Treckers

With my peeps


Looking at an arch way up on the cliff

On the banks of the Virgin River

We spent the night in the Inn at St. George, which was not to everyone's liking, but sufficient for our needs. We had a really good dinner at Cappeletti's near the Tabernacle and next to a second-hand clothing shop.  That shop later proved to be a boon to Lucy Jane. That's all for now, but stay tuned.