Just about as cold last night, right around freezing... luckily it's time to drop a few thousand feet of elevation to the warmer desert climate in Zion. Said my goodbyes to Ken & Rilla, although I hope to run into them again at Zion where they'll arrive a day after me. Meeting them and making a great friendship in only a few days around the campsites has really been a highlight of my trip thus far. These guys are those all-too-rare folks you feel like you've known for years after just a few hours.
I had to hit the road early hoping to make the long journey to Zion in one day. Headwinds again, like every riding day so far. Although Zion is a whopping 4000ft lower than Bryce, several grinding climbs separate the two Natl Parks. Between the distance and strong wind it was a grueling day indeed, but the long gentle descents were appreciated!
Red Canyon, just west of Bryce, has a fantastic bike path along almost the entire stretch of road out to HW89:
What satisfaction to finally make it Zion and roll past features like this towards campgrounds in the valley:
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| Checkerboard Mesa |
Hitched a ride in the bed of a pickup through Zion Tunnel (too narrow for bikes amongst cars) and popped out to this view on the west side of the tunnel. The road to the bottom of the canyon is a series of hairpin switchbacks that drops about 1300ft in only a couple miles, and you feel like these massive walls are growing up around you as you float down between them.
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| my first glimpse into Zion Canyon |
I scored a "walk-in" site at the (otherwise full) campgrounds, and it is the perfect setup for bike touring. Nestled away from cars but close to water & bathrooms, it even has a large bear-box to store food & gear.
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| my cozy home for the next 3 nights, Watchman Campground |
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