WEEK 2
James took Wesley to camp with him at Lake Mead Thursday and Friday, while I enjoyed the heck out of some “me” time at The Palazzo (and won my second jackpot, pictured here). Other than that, I had a great time at the spa and also lounging around my hotel suite in a bathrobe eating room service. Really.
We spent the rest of the week in Springdale, Utah exploring Zion National Park—it was AMAZING. I reserved four days at Zion Canyon Campground, just outside the park, and ended up staying a total of six. It was there, though, that we decided to head north through Salt Lake City and into Wyoming after leaving Zion. Cooler temperatures were calling us northward. Even so, it wasn’t an easy decision to make. I would have loved to continue eastward through Utah into Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante, and Moab. I could spend untold amounts of time in this state.
Yet I don’t feel that I’m missing out by preparing to move on earlier than I may have liked. This used to be a problem for me. And not that it’s totally non-existent these days, but it exists in a much lesser degree. I know that something else is waiting for me right around the corner. In this case I imagine that it’s something just as great as what I’m experiencing now. But however I judge it – better, worse, or equal – it doesn’t matter. It just IS. It’s exactly as it is meant to be. And I am exactly where I am meant to be. Whether that is in the national parks of Utah, wild forests of Wyoming, or an apartment in Dallas, Texas. I started to understand this a couple of months ago, and yes, it does seem easier while on an entirely unstructured RV trip with no (conventional) obligations, but what I guess I’m trying to note here is that it’s all the same wherever I am.
HIGHLIGHTS
-The campground and the shuttles
I really appreciated the Springdale shuttle. This made it easy for me to get to the park, grocery store, and restaurants without a car or without having to unhook and do it in the RV. A separate park shuttle operates within the park itself, making it quick and easy to get wherever you want to go. This really was the perfect setup for not having a toad. The campground has full or partial hookups, a swimming pool, and a playground that we visited each night. Lots of families with young children were there, so lots of socializing for Wesley!
-The hiking
We hiked up the lower emerald pools trail and down the kayneta trail with Wesley. We also took him on the Riverside Walk, which is the gateway to hiking The Narrows. James did just that a few days later while I stayed back with Wes. I hiked The Watchman Trail and Observation Point, both of which were incredible.
LOWLIGHTS
-Campground costs. (To list anything else would be a stretch.) This was a fantastic week, but the campground fees were steep. You can find a much cheaper spot in the national park if you make reservation far enough in advance or luck into finding an open first-come-first serve spot.
RV COSTS
Fuel: $140 gas
Camping/Parking Fees: $332
Maintenance/Repairs: $0
WEELY TOTAL: $472
TRIP TOTAL: $987.50