Driving, driving, driving

So today we farewelled Salt Lake City and Utah and drove almost all the way across Nevada.

The weather was cooler and the skies greyer so driving was much more enjoyable. We didn't stop as much to take photos though as there were never stopping places quite where the scenery was.

We stopped at the Casino just over the border for coffee - just as it started to rain. Actual rain. I don't think it had been forecast for that far north so early in the day but it was a nice surprise. Also don't laugh - we did stop for coffee, they have a Starbucks there. We also made 50 cents on a pokie machine while we were waiting - a good result.

We made a couple more stops for food and petrol and arrived at Carson City about 5pm after a quick detour to the drugstore (pharmacy) for cold remedies for me. Our arrival here was greeted  with thunder and heavy rain. Someone was VERY happy with this development. Now we are all checked in, washing done and dinner eaten.

Here are the pics from the two photo stops we did have today. Also I think there are salt pans in Nevada as well ? Some research will need to be done to confim this I feel.

Food and some sightseeing

Before I begin, my previous post was #100 - woo-hoo. Just felt it needed to be noted.

Anyway, back to it now. 

There has been a lot of anticipation about coming to Utah. For me, I wanted to see where the newly discovered rellies had lived, what sort of country they had settled, and where they had made their lives. I actually phoned a distant cousin before we left Kanab, to say hello. It was her birthday though (better remember to add that to the family tree) so we decided to forgo trying to meet up, and we will write to each other once I am back home.

This morning we wandered through the city centre and Temple Square and soaked up the atmosphere. Next time I am going to make sure I have a few spare hours or days to immerse myself in the records at the Family History Library. We had a bit of a drive around Ogden as well, where some people lived - and may still - and to check out the locations seen in a favourite movie.

But mostly, we have had GREAT food. A list of recommendations had been collected from some recent posts on welltraveledwife blog. Everything we have tried has been d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s !

When we were in Kanab, we found shaved ice, being sold from a caravan over the road from the hotel. Just what was needed on a hot hot afternoon.

Later the staff at our hotel recommended eating at Houstons Trail End and specifically that we should have pie. Sadly we forgot about portion sizes and didn't have enough room for the deliciousness that was on offer.

So, pie was added to the list of must haves. 

On our detour to Bryce Canyon we found a diner, which turned out to be more of a hamburger/hotdog joint - but it was lunch, although it didn't really rate that well. Had to be done though.

#merica

Fortunately I missed a turn off a little later on our trip north to Salt Lake and we ended up going through Salina where Mom's Cafe serves up delicious pie and pretty good coffee too.

Then last night we ate at Cafe Rio a mexican grill where everything is fresh from the farm to the table including the tortillas made right in front of you. They're a bit of a chain, but feel so much better than all those run of the mill ones we have.

Needless to say we were pretty full, by the time we had eaten all of these things in one day. And all had offered excellent vegetarian options as well which was a lovely surprise. Many offered gluten free as well.

This morning, the next places on the list were added to our itinerary.

Breakfast at The Protein Foundry in Cottonwoods. So delicious, what a way to start the day - we are even going back tomorrow for smoothies to go, as there was just so much to choose from on the menu.

I have to say too, just as an aside, I LOVE the granola you get here. So much nicer than ours back home. Anyway, off the the next places. We went shopping in downtown - but mostly window-shopping and then the plan was to walk to Even Stevens for lunch. Which we did after grabbing a drink from Starbucks (as you do) and which has so many more choices than those on offer back home.

The folk at Even Stevens have a great initiative, where for every sandwich bought they donate a sandwich to a non-profit organisation working with people requiring shelter and food. There are many businesses here who have great initiatives like this. A real community feel, where humans actually care about and respect each other. (Pickles and chips as a side - was a bit reminiscent of England I thought)

We made a visit to RubySnap - if you are ever in Salt Lake you need to check out the deliciousness of these cookies. We had a great chat to the staff there, SO friendly and one of whom had spent some time in New Zealand and wanted to share her experiences, and for us to share ours.

Then tonight after thinking we might try something from In n Out, we discovered they are just like the other well known chains and don't offer anything vegetarian. So we went to Zao - another of the eateries recommended on the welltraveledwife blog. It as delicious as well - although we were both unable to finish because of all the other goodies we had eaten through the day.

All of the staff we have met, including the retail staff who just bend over backwards to help, and who really take an interest in who you are and what you are looking for, have been amazing.

Ooh, I almost forgot - I bought some shoes today. TOMS. Another great little business with a giving back to the community initiative. For every pair of shoes sold they help a person in need. It started with shoes and it has expanded now to water, sight, safe births and preventing bullying.

...don't go thinking I have forgotten the pictures of the kitty cats at Best Friends the other day either. I'm still working on that.

Utah, you are so pretty and welcoming !

So, yesterday we drove from Kanab, north to Salt Lake City - with a few a little stops on the way - and time got away on us, so there was no time to write this last night.

As it turns out, this was a good thing.

We left Kanab after breakfast, and started northward. We decided to have a short detour to Bryce Canyon National Park so followed the Scenic Byway there through Red Canyon. Omigosh. Amazing. Every one of these oversized landscapes is so different to the next.

When we got Bryce, we came first to Bryce Canyon City which looks very new, and caters to the thousands of visitors these parks seem to have everyday, every season. We went into the park, but decided not to go adventuring too much in case it just delayed our arrival further north. So no photos of Bryce this time, I will have to go again another time.

So we set off again northward. Through teeny but thriving communities. Why can't we do this as well as the UK and US, New Zealand ? Every town we have been in, or stopped at passing though has notices in windows, advertising vacancies. True they may not be wonder jobs, paying great money - but they are jobs, and lots of businesses are obviously growing and looking to grow their staff numbers as well. It has to be good, doesn't it ?

The other thing which has surprised me has been the greenness, in Arizona and in Utah. Not always pasture, and not the same green we have in NZ, but trees and scrubby - maybe alpine/tundra - type grasses and shrubs. And always with majestic mountain ranges framing the scene.

As it turned out, our photo stops did effect our arrival time. Rush hour in Salt Lake isn't not so bad as LA, but it is up there with Auckland - but with more lanes, and more route options. Finding our hotel took a bit longer than planned as we changed midstream when the booked one gave us a non-smoking room which actually smelled smoky. Not good for allergies and asthma. Anyway we had a great dinner (see the next blog) and eventually found our way to a slightly better situated hotel - and definitely ready to hit the hay !

A different sort of day today,

We were up just after sunrise this morning, and on the road by 6am - why you ask ? Because we had a schedule to meet, and Arizona does not observe daylight saving, but just a bit north - Utah does.

 So anyway, we headed north to Page, past some incredible rock formations and stopped at the summit to admire the view. 

Just past Page is the Glen Canyon Dam on Lake Powell, so that was a photo stop too.

Anyway, like I said we had a schedule to follow and couldn't afford to dilly dally too much. Just before lunch (as planned) we arrived at Kanab which seems to be a lovely town just over the border in Utah. There are so many National Parks & Forests as well as State Parks and more in the area that visitors and locals are spoilt for choice.

Our activity for the afternoon was at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary just north of Kanab near Angel Canyon. We followed the signs to the visitor centre and were then directed up the road (to the other side of the sanctuary) where we could get lunch for $5. Best lunch we have had since leaving Santa Monica, and because it is an animal focused organisation - completely vegan or vegetarian. Very tasty. Then back to the visitor centre for our orientation and we were off. We spent the entire afternoon playing with cats in one of the houses they live in at the sanctuary. They run tours throughout the day for those who aren't able to volunteer and have two shifts for volunteers each day. We registered, and picked our day and time ages ago, and have been looking forward to the experience ever since.There are dogs, cats, birds, horses, pigs - all sorts, and you can specify your choice of animal and experience. It was lovely and relaxing after all the racing about we have done. Chillin' with the kitties, some of whom seek out attention and others who are still a bit unsure about humans - but all benefit from the socialisation, even if they wont come too close. (There would be many many photos, but icloud isn't being nice and uploading everything as quickly as I would like)

After our shift was over, we made our way back to Kanab and found our hotel for the night. We went for a walk to find dinner but weren't very successful. So we came back to the hotel and asked for recommendations. That done we found it and enjoyed our meal.

After dinner we went for a drive to Zion National Park. Another jaw dropping experience. Your eyes just don't know where to look - and remember that mine should also be looking at the road. There are no words to describe these places - and we still have so much more to see !

Take it Easy

There is a song for you to get inside your heads.

Taking it easy, isn't what we have been doing. We've been really busy today. First we drove further east and made a stop to see the Meteor crater - appropriately down Meteor Crater Rd !! It is jawdropping ! SO much larger than I had thought it was going to be - and so much busier too,

There is a wildfire somewhere near by and the smoke was hanging about making the air hazy and visibility not as great as it could have been. Never mind, the breeze was starting to blow by the time we left though so maybe it improved later in the day.

We jumped back in the car and headed for our next destination. Winslow, Arizona. This should be on the bucket list of every Eagles fan - and actually any music buff. What a cool wee town it is. We strolled about a bit, posed in the appropriate places and then had some lunch at the Sipp Shop, complete with proper sodas.

Sing it !! You know you want to...

"Well, I'm a standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona 

and such a fine sight to see. 

It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford 

slowin' down to take a look at me"

And then back in the car, back to where we had started the day and then further northwest. We climbed to 8000ft above sea level as we crossed over part of Humphrey's Peak - which is just a teeny bit higher than Aoraki, Mt Cook. We came across the second wildfire of the day, this one though was actually relatively close to the road, but not a danger.

We joined the hundreds of other visitors to Grand Canyon National Park and eventually found a park - thanks to a couple of girls who were just leaving and offered us theirs. We wandered around the visitor centre and then walked to the Mather Point outlook. 

This too was so much to comprehend, SO much wider and deeper than I had imagined it would be. We couldn't believe the people who climbed over barriers and walked (untethered) to rocky outcrops !! Most people though stayed on the right side of the barriers appreciated the view like us.

  (was a teeny bit breezy there too - near the rim)

On our way back to Flagstaff we stopped at this gorgeous wee building we had spotted on the way over. 

And then it was time to think about dinner, washing and whether we were going to have time to try and do some astro-photography while we were in a dark sky city. But, we have an early morning tomorrow, so we might have to try that somewhere else, and hope the lights aren't too bright.

Sun, Deserts, Cars..

So this morning we packed up our things which seem to have multiplied in the last three days, and collected our rental car.

All went well there, and we managed to navigate our way the few blocks to the freeway. I-10 East. We were on our way from Santa Monica to Flagstaff. It is a l-o-n-g way. We made a stop early on to get food before we ravenous, as that is a mistake we ALWAYS make, There was some debate about which was the best route, but we decided in the end to stay on I-10 past Palm Springs and then take the 95 north to Needles as that was a place on the list. We probably should have taken a slightly different route because we missed the town sign that said "Needles". Never mind. We stopped at a gas station at the same time and almost melted when we got out of the car ! The temp on the dashboard was telling us 109F. What IS that in celsius ?? I'm sure it must be well over 40, and it certainly felt like it while we stood there like dumbos trying to work out how their self serve, pay at the pump, pump worked. Thankfully someone came to our aid !

So then we were off again this time on the I-40. I found driving not so bad at all, once we had navigated the multiple lanes on the freeway out of LA. That is one BIG city. Most of the rest of the roads are at least two lanes in either direction and the two directions are sensibly separated by at least 100 metres of land, often more. (just like a lot of roads in the UK) NZTA could learn a lot from other roading agencies around the world.

Just outside Flagstaff (our destination for the next couple of days) an Elk casually strolled across an exit lane and our two high speed lanes in front of us and a bus. We had seen signs about Elk for miles and miles with no signs of any potential wanderers anywhere and thought maybe they were just for show, like they seemed to be at home. But no, it would seem not. no casualties though, thanks to great brakes and a sudden spurt of urgency on the Elk's behalf.

So, then we found our hotel and some dinner, and have sat down and been lazy in front of the tv for the evening. What's on the agenda for tomorrow ? You will have to wait and see.