We need a new word for awesome.

The original plan for Utah was for Arches National Park. But the original plan was also that the plan would be flexible and adapt to unforeseen elements along the way. In this case, our stay in CA being a little shorter than first envisaged and wishing to meet friends Simon and Lottie, who were doing their own Route 66 Road Trip adventure at the some point. Simon is a lifelong friend. We would often share family holidays back in the day. The original plan for rondevouz was Vegas but as we were through there early we instead agreed on liaising in Kanab UT and shifting from Arches on the western half of the State, to the double attractions of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.

So we can not speak for Arches as a spectacle. I have no doubt it is stunning but we certainly have no regrets on the late change of plan. Bryce Canyon and Zion are each truly magnificent. Put together in one day of touring – driven swiftly between by Simon (thanks Sims) in their rental as a Trans Am is hardly suitable for 4, it was an almost overwhelming rush for the senses.

The pictures will not do either Park justice as scale is so difficult to register in 2D, but they will do far better than text so I shall let them do the talking with the merest of added description. There will be a bunch more to see at on the Photo’s and Video’s page.

The road entry in Bryce Canyon is a sign of things to come.

Scale is hard to represent but scenery speaks for itself.

Simon and Tim – Bryce Canyon Overlook.

Zion National Park

Ahh…

If I was forced to make a choice on which of the parks I preferred I would have to pitch for Zion. At the risk of repeating myself the scale is something you can’t get across in a photograph. At least not one that I am capable of taking, you have to see it. Dione and I took a second trip into the park the next day to see some of the areas you have to take a shuttle bus too. We stuck a GoPro on the roof of the Trans Am and shortened version of the full 15 minute drive is below:

As a side note we almost lost the majority of the pictures I had taken. In taking images later that evening, one of which is used as featured image for this post, I had placed my phone on the roof of the car to act as a base for Simons camera, whilst we took a timed picture. Needless to say I did not take it off again. Only before leaving for dinner did I realize it and we made a dash back to the location. Simon spotted the phone on the side of the road. Miraculously having flown off the roof of the car it had been saved by the protective case and was both unharmed and undiscovered by a passing motorist. Simon was gracious enough to accept part of the blame for failing to remove my phone when he did the camera. But that did not stop him enjoying his “disasterville” story one more time. Things don’t change when we get together it seems, even in middle age.

The two Urks. Recreating a moment our parents have been telling the story of for 35 years.

Tim, June 10th, 2015