The day before we picked Laurie up

After we left Cedar Breaks, we had one day until I picked Laurie up from Las Vegas. We used it wisely, finding things to do as we edged closer to Sin City. On the way down the highway, a small piece of Zion National Park is very close to the exit. We went there for a couple of hours doing a really neat hike.

The hike that we did was to a what is called Double Arch Alcove. Basically, in a million years the side of a mountain is going to crumble leaving a double arch. Since we are in the present, we just had to imagine the final outcome. However, it was really neat seeing this geological feature. On the way to the alcove, is an old cabin that settlers lived in a hundred plus years ago. Also, DJ almost stepped on a five foot long king snake. It scared the hell out of him because we were in rattlesnake country.

Double Arch Alcove

                                      View of a box canyon

After we left we headed further south. Th highway follows the Virgin River for many miles through the desert canyon.

We slept about 50 miles outside of Vegas. I planned it this way staying at a place called Joshua Tree Natural Area. A small piece of the Mojave Desert reaches southwest Utah. Another bucket list thing for me was seeing Joshua Trees that live in the desert. It was hot. Although they say the desert cools quickly after dark. It didn't that night. It was still easily 90 degrees at 11 pm. We were so used to 65-70 degree days in the mountains, that we did not adjust well to the heat.

Two highlights besides seeing the Joshua Trees were: we saw a roadrunner. More important and very amazing was our view of the Milky Way Galaxy. The stars put on an amazing show in the desert.

                                           Up close and personal