Utah, Arizona, Nevada

Mission Launched!  Joey and I, left Heber right on time around 3ish AM, we arrived Bryce Canyon right as the sun was rising.   What great mental pics taken of red rock scenery all around us.   The morning drive was quick, Joey slept almost the entire way of our first leg.   We checked out some amazing vistas, first one being ‘Inspiration Point’ and then later found a cool trail named Sheep Creek and Swamp Valley (not sure why it was called that as it was dry as a bone!).   What we thought would be a short 3 mile loop, turned out to be 1.1 mile in (totally downhill) and 1.1 mile back (totally uphill) and took us MUCH longer than we anticipated.   It was pretty cool to see the formations from below instead of from atop, so it was totally worth the adventure.

The Grand Canyon is ah inspiring.  We drove by some lookout points, visited the ‘Visitor Center’ which by the way, have MANY visitors.   Joey and I were ready to bow out and just leave, yet I told Joey we should try to find some places in the area without so many people, and we did.  Good thing we stayed, as the highlight of the day was Joey running into a Japanese couple who he spoke to and was excited to have a quick conversation with them.

On our way out of the Grand Canyon, we got off the main freeway and drove into a town to find some dinner.  Little did we know, the town was part of the original ‘Route 66’, and was all decked out with vintage stores; neon lights; etc.   Felt like we had drove into Radiator Springs of the Cars movie!  Favorite pic of the week is this one Joey took of a shop on Route 66 as the sun set!

We just checked into the Best Western in Boulder City, home of the Hoover Dam.  It’s almost 11PM, PST, and I’m SOO glad Joey talked me out of camping at Boulder Beach at Lake Mead.  I was able to take a quick shower and hopefully be able to sleep like a baby.  It was a great first day and I’m so thankful for being able to drive our first day, almost 1000 miles, safe and sound.   3 states visited in one day!  45 to go!  Woo Hoo, we’re Looking forward to tomorrow!