Zion

9am in Springdale we found a bike hire shop. After a short road section we were on a track then on the traffic free road leading up zion gorge. There was a chilly breeze but views stunning . Short walks off the bikes to the Weeping stones and Temple of Sinawave. There was an option to go further up the gorge but wellies were required and there was warnings about 12 foot flash floods. Next we set off for the North Rim GC leaving Zion by the spectacular east entrance.  The last town before the road to the rim was 50 miles away, vast, was mentioned again.
It was late afternoon when we arrived and as most of the facilities had closed for the season , it was very quiet.  A stroll to Bright Angel point and lots of pics, fantastic. Another 50 mile to exit the park then luckily we found accommodation at Jacobs Lake ,still nearly 8000 feet up.

Escalante

Seemed like the middle of nowhere, but had a great cafe in an Outfitters which provided evening meal and a cool breakfast. Dave had eggs in a basket and I had baked oatmeal with hot milk. Got up early and had the Petrified forest walk to ourselves. Then off to Bryce Canyon, perhaps the most impressive canyon so far. A geological wonder with fins, balanced stones and hoodoos! The trail walk was challenging, then we decided to cover the final miles to Zion and stay in the town next to the park.

South west

Capitol reef was our first stop at Fruit.  A naf coffee and delicious peach pie then down to the bottom of the gorge to have a walk up to the Tanks. Down a cliff sided river bed,  past the petroglyphs from Mormon pioneers. Amazing drive on route 12, a 9000 feet plus, mountain ridge with stunning views both sides. Ending in Escalanta we booked into a basic motel.

Double O

A more leisurely start, into town for a few provisions then into arches NP. A lovely temp to take on a longer walk to the Double O, cool in the shade,  warm in the sun. After sharing our butties with chipmunks and a blue bird we walked the Primative route back. Struggling to find the route occasionally we had a lovely 3hrs walk. A bit of a chill at our Super 8 then a stroll and bite in Moab, a lot less stressful than yesterday.

Arches

We were certainly indulged at the Torch House Inn! Breakfast this morning, cooked by the Scottish fiancé of the American owner was amazing! Then, on the road again towards the National Parks of South Utah. The Arches was a fantastic geological phenomena getting us ready for the Grand Canyon. Dave insisted on staying until sunset to get some good pics. Arriving late in Moab on a Friday without a hotel was a bit wreckless, but we were confident of getting something....it's a long story. Off for tea....got overcharged for some very ropey side salads, then to finish the evening we returned to the car to find a $40 find for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant! Tomorrow is another day! We return to The Arches to do a 5 mile hike around one of its star features, after some shopping for hats...temps now getting into the 70's.

Salt lake

Once again, engaging with Americans along the way (Dave's favourite pastime) pays off. We left the Bear River Bird Refuge and enjoyed tea and cake in this 1920's cafe in Brigham City ( really a one horse town), followed by a great night's stay in Layton, right next to Antelope Island, a wildlife area across a causeway into Salt Lake itself. The morning was spent hiking around the shore, with warnings about the bison. Again, a great chat to a campervan couple from the area yielded some great ideas. When we arrived back, a few hours later, they had jotted down suggestions for our visit to Salt Lake City and beyond and left them on our windscreen! At first we thought we'd received a parking fine(typically British) Shorts weather again, we spent the afternoon in the heart of the city, soaking up the amazing temples and State building. Then a drive into the mountains and a stay in a very up market ski resort called Park City. We splashed out on a very stylish room overlooking the resort-a very modern version of a Wild West town. Coffee and chocolate cake was a real indulgence! But Dave is worth it. Tomorrow, off to a couple of Utahs best National parks, The Arches and Zion, with a couple of pit stops in between. Still rumours of 🐻 around at Bryce so a wide birth there.

Bear River

No. It's not Nicki skinny dipping. It's Bear River migratory bird refuge on the Great Salt Lake.  Even though we've moved south, we're still above 4000 feet above SL. The weather was in the mid teens and the shorts came out. We stretched our legs on their short walk option but had to drive to see the full site, it must have been 30 miles.  There were thousands of american birds and a few we recognised, lots of birds of prey (trying to forget about the insects ). It was good to know that the birds have a refuge that only allows duck shooting Oct to Jan.
Still don't understand the road numbering system,  today's was interstate 15, 84 and 372,  and another. The junctions are not incremental but by milage!
Booked in at Layton for the night,  it had an indoor pool and hot tub, so a relaxing end to the day.

Jackson Hole

On Tue, 24 Oct 2017 at 17:24, D Magnier <A@magnier.co.uk> wrote:
Finished breakfast and on the road for 7am, in the dark, minus 7, safari. We'd had several places suggested to us and we were out wildlife watching.  A gorgeous dawn lit up the Tetons and we spotted 4 moose right next to the road. Nicki was out like a shot, until the male Moose headed across the road towards the car. Onwards, we saw buffalo, elk and pronghorn. At the visitor centre nicki saw a muskrat. A Bit of a chill at ' The Range' in the sun on the balcony of our room, ' then cake and latte  in the sun baked town. A very exclusive place where nicki could have purchased some 560 dollar boots if we had space on our return flight. Dropping a bit south tomorrow so filled the car,  about 60 pence / litre.

Moving south

Gardiner is at a altitude of 6000 feet and we woke to a lovely sunny day,  still around zero degrees.  The ranger on YS entrance told us that the road was ok to Jackson, so off we set. We took an hours stroll around Norris basin to take in the sulphur steam, then south. The road from Madison leading to West thumb assented   and so did the packed snow on the road.  By the time we were at 8600 feet, traveling was slow and scary. The downhills being the issue on ice. But we dropped out of the park to find the route snow free. Yellowstone leads straight into Teton NP, but before the official entrance a big bear ran over the road. Stopping I managed to get the photo below, glad we're sitting in the car.
Down the valley to Jackson with great views of the snow covered mountains.  It's been decided a steady day wildlife watching from the car tomorrow.

Yellowstone 2

Leisurely wake up this morning then a mosey into town for our bagel breakfast. Gardiner is on the entrance to the park then up to Mammoth Springs. It has taken us a day to realise that we don't want to meet a bear, so it's walks where there are lots of people or local to the car. It was warmer today and no snow on the top road so we drove over to Pebble Creek for our picnic in the car ( it was raining ) . There were lots of elk and bison, the latter stopping us in the road and getting far too close. Boiling River -Nicki decided to wash her feet being not as brave as other dippers. Dined at Cowboys,  pork, mash, beans and nicki tucked into a burger. Great day. What next? The Tetons...more bears! Nickis got a guided sunset tour lined up!

Yellowstone

What a day! Had a really good night in Rexburg and woke to grey skies but no more snow...very optimistic at this point, but the trip to West Yellowstone produced more. By the time we got there icy roads, freezing conditions and snow showers. What had we done? Got into Yellowstone, but conditions on the roads grim. Went past a coach which had literally just tumbled off the road. Dave's safe driving got us to The entrance and we discovered the south roads were virtually sheet ice! Spent few hours around Old Faithful which was amazing before heading north to Mamouth Springs. Very different terrain. Picnicked in the car with temps down to minus 3. Decided to do a 5 mile circular trail to Beaver Ponds...relatively easy trail, bear warnings and a bit spooky as no one else seemed to be doing it. Fortunately, a family from Utah came to our rescue when we got disorientated and we arrived back as the light was fading. We like wildlife...but not that much! Made it to Gardiner, small 'wild west' style town at the north exit and have ended up in a very strange hotel with very quirky, but great room.

Cold wind

Up very early. ..6am. On road for 7am in the rain! Shock horror we got to Wells, snow and sleet! Did a quick Web Cam check at Yellowstone and all looked good so onwards north into Idaho.American geog really  improving. Headed for halfway trip to Craters of the Moon national park. LONG straight road flanked by rolling shrub and mountain backdrop.  Weather brightened! Cayote wandered across the highway unperturbed by 70 mph vehicles..few though there were. It had been windy in Elko but we filled the car again in Shoshone, 4 degrees and what a wind.
C of the M was very stark (see photo), but again the wind was perishing with flurries of snow. Rolled onto Rexburg watching the storms roll over the vast terrain. Quality Inn for the night,  and a warm in their hot tub and indoor pool. Will we have enough layers? MIght feel need to go shopping.

Big Travel Day

7.30am on the road checking at the fuel station before our first fill up. Unleaded 87 into the hyunda automatic.
We were driving over the Tiagra road, the high road pass through Yosemite. The 60 mile  road was built in 1961 and goes over a height of 9000 feet. It gets upto 30 feet of snow which they start to clear in April and finish May/June.
At the top of the pass we stopped at Olmsted point, then Tenaya lake.  We had a short walk to take in the stunning scenery  and also to appreciate how cold it gets over night. It was 9.30 and there was still frost on the grass. I can now see why the road is closed soon, not for the snow but because of frost.
We dropped out of the hills heading for Lake Tahoe, a beautiful drive overlooked by the Sierra Nevadas. We climbed over 6000 feet again to reach the lake. We made for Taylor Creek where we watched the salmon attempting to asend the river, also spotting a white headed woodpecker. On the trip we had spotted a bald eagle.
While tucking into some cinnamon twists, we  decided that a big drive would set us up well. So interstate 80 east we trekked to Elko, Nevada,  tomtom saying next turning 280 miles. Chatting to an American reconstruction surgeon on the plane, I'd been told about the website Hot Wire which deals in rooms in really good hotels at knockdown prices. So we tried it so that we had a bed for the night before we got to Elko. At $50 including breakfast we got something better than the first motel at twice the price. Will be using this again.