Bryce Canyon National Park

10-26-12
It was cold last night. When I woke up it was 38 degrees F. in the motorhome. Frank told me that it was 24 degrees F. outside. This is not normal for this time of the year.
We took our time driving the 40 miles to Kodachrome Basin State Park, near Cannonville.
The ranger at the park told us that he had two sites with full hook-ups. One site was next to the Visitor Center, and is normally used by the Visitor Center Host. The other site is at the campground and is the campground host site. First I did not want to be over a mile away from Rhonda and Frank. I was willing to take a site without hook-ups next to them. But when we were told that it was 19 degrees F. here last night I changed my mind. I have a big catalytic heater but electricity for an electric heater is better. Telephones do not work here. We use walkie talkies to communicate.
I also do not get television and no radio stations.
After setting up the motorhomes we drove to the Chimney Rock.

Then we hiked to the Shakespeare Arch. It was a 1.75 mile loop. The trail to the arch was easy. The brochure said that after the arch the trail was moderate to strenuous. It was mostly strenuous.
The hike felt more like five miles. I am surprised how well I am doing on those hikes. Walking every morning in Camino Hills prepared me for it.

At one point a rock formation looked like a West Highland Terrier. The image is at the right side of the formation.

The trail went up and down, and sometimes we felt like sliding down on our butt.

The best pictures are taken in late afternoon. Unfortunately we can’t do this here. The sun is too low and other high rock formation block out the sun.
The weather is perfect for hiking during the day.
The Geographic Society, with the permission from the Kodak Company, named Kodachrome Basin.
Nearly 70 monolithic spires, ranging from six to 170 feet in height, jut up from the valley floor or protrude from the sandstone.

10-27-12
This was another cold night. I ran the electric heater all night and when I woke up it was 50 degrees F. in the motorhome.
I also turned on the catalytic heater for a while.
Early morning I walked the Nature Trail in the campground. There are many spires.

At 9:00 AM we left by car for Bryce Canyon. The blue sky and the colorful rock formation were a sight to see.

At Sunset Point we went down the canyon on the Navajo Loop Trail. This was a mistake. The trail was too difficult for Rhonda. Our second mistake was not to follow the guide booklet. We should have started in clockwise direction and gone down the steep slope. We took the easy way down and then had to come up the 800 feet on switch backs.
We came by the windows.

Here is a balanced rock, called Thors Hammer.

There were two dark slot canyons we had to come through.

From the top the trail appears to be easy.

Those rock formations are called Hoodoos.

After lunch and a rest we continued driving the rim road, and stopped at different points.
Here is the Natural Bridge. It is actually an arch.

Sometimes it is nice to go down memory lane. In 1991 Hanna and I spent Christmas in Bryce Canyon.
We had our cross country skis with us and Ruby’s Inn made us tracks every morning so we could ski on the rim.
We also hiked on the trails.
Bryce Canyon National Park is a beautiful place all year.

10-28-12
This was driving and taking a rest day.
It took us about two hours to get to Kanab. Somehow I am not 100 per cent with the program. I had forgotten on which side the utility hook ups are. Frank had to direct me to the correct side.
This RV Park closes for the season on Thursday. That is when we are leaving anyway.
The weather has improved. I was warmer last night than the two nights before.
This afternoon we wore shorts. Rhonda took us out for pizza at Pizza Hut.