On the road to another USA national park
Life has been a little unpredictable lately. We’re still camping and most of the recent campgrounds haven’t had internet. One had no amenities at all—no electricity, no running water, no toilets—but the most gorgeous setting imaginable. More about that place soon. Another had its internet knocked out by a bush fire in the area. Yet another simply didn’t work.
But the scenery has been amazing every which way that we looked. So I thought that until I have a better and more stable connection, I’d share some of the incredible and diverse views we saw as we drove from Death Valley to Zion National Park.
As an aside, it took me almost an hour to get this posted. Life on the road can be challenging and rewarding. It took me about the same amount of time to take all these pics.
Where to next? 
Great pictures. I have to check out that spot
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It’s a beautiful drive. Take a camera. 🙂
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Εnjoy this magic moments and you will have time to share them in future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Yes, I’ll make time in the future.
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Wonderful views. What amazing National Parks the U.S. has. I’m enjoying every minute (aka post) of your journey.
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Thanks Vicki. Lots more to come when internet permits.
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Those mountain ranges and the canyons are just glorious. The name tells me that settlers were reminded of the Old Testament descriptions of the wilderness.
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Yes, I can see the inspiration for the names.
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You are literally in the Dead Zone – or, put another way – you’ve traveled back in time to when the land was tender. Enjoy.
I know you were at Yosemite very recently. Not sure if you’ve heard that two climbers fell to their deaths a few hours ago. Climbing the face of Half Dome is every bit as difficult and dangerous as it looks. Very sad for their families.
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We heard about those tragic deaths on the news. Heartbreaking for the families.
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I would love to dwell there for a week or so. Great pictures.
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Thanks so much. I reckon a week wouldn’t be enough for a proper explore.
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It looks just like a great spot to shoot a movie. They probably have.
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They’ve probably shot quite a few!
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It was worth all your effort Peggy. These photos are stupendous. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks so very much
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Zion was one of my favourites on my national parks holiday in 1995.
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Yes, Zion is fantastic.
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Reblogged this on Blue Dragon Journal and commented:
Gorgeous!
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Thanks so much Eliza. I really appreciate your support of my blog.
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Great landscapes
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So glad you like them too.
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Thanks for taking the time and effort to share the photos, Peggy. It looks magnificent.
But no toilets? I hope they gave you a shovel? 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oh wait, I exaggerated. There were compost toilets.
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Ah. I know someone (from blogging) who has those in his house! 🙂
I haven’t had to use them, as he resides in Poland, so I have never visited.
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Actually, compost toilets work extremely well.
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I just caught up with your trip posts. What a whirlwind you are on! I’m impressed that you have the time to blog at all. Looks like a wonderful trip. Enjoy.
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Thanks Brenda. Blogging is a challenge. I’ve decided to do what I can.
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beautiful pictures!
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Thanks so much. Hard to take a bad pic in these places.
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So true!
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The scenery there is to die for. Enjoy your time traveling and relish all the lovely magic that’s being made with these photos. Thank you for sharing with us!
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My pleasure, trE. I couldn’t keep these all to myself.
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I’m glad that you did not! 🙂
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🙂
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Star Wars and Twilight Zone – a couple of movies shot there.
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Thanks for that Phyllis.
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https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g143021-i2027-k5027646-Death_Valley_movies_of_interest_to_visitors-Death_Valley_National_Park_California.html
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And thanks for the link too! You’re a champ.
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The sound of the amenities missing is disconcerting, to say the least, but oh the views, they give alright, Peggy. xx
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I exaggerated. The first campsite had compost toilets. Very efficient and clean.
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Reblogged this on dreamweaver333.
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Thanks so much. Most appreciated.
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On our first trip across the country in 2000 with a trailer [caravan], we learned that most National Parks had “dry” camping. But the settings could not be beat. We gave up the trailer a long time ago, but among the things we still miss are the campgrounds, their views and the people we met in them.
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Oh yes, campgrounds have a lot going for them. We’re in a tent, which is not quite so communal. We’re tucked back out of the way.
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Must have been huge earth movements to create those layered cliffs. Living in earthquake country of NZ it is scary to think about. The last photo looks like a big dinosaur neck with a puff of steam coming out his nostril. Have you found Puff the magic dragon.
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Puff has eluded us so far. Everywhere we go has been sculpted by either water or wind or both. Ice plays a part too.
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wonderful scenery indeed!
Peta
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We’re enjoying scenery overload!
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Love the adventure and the scenery is WONDERFUL! Enjoy!
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We are enjoying—everything!
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Nice pictures, and interesting rock formations!!
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The rock formations are fascinating. Lots more to come. Stay tuned.
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How appropriate. Thanks.
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Very envious! Looks marvellous.
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It’s been so wonderful.
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It looks fantastic,I’m so jealous.dont forget to take the camera wen you move on the road
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Thanks. The camera almost always goes everywhere with me.
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And we enjoy it😉
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The pictures are stunning and we can wait for you to have the time, the place and the energy to spare for posting the words. I know they will be worth any time it takes 🙂
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Thanks Osyth. We’re in a motel tomorrow night, so maybe something then.
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Who cares about the internet with views like that, Peggy? Fantastic! In Alabama, I declined to use the filthiest composting toilet I have ever smelt in a remote area but the views were great!
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The composting toilets we’ve encountered have been great and very odourless.
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Maybe it was the humidity…
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The toilets we used said along the lines of ‘Only you can control the smell here! Close the lid!’
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When I see your recent/colorful photos, the first thing that comes to mind is… Indians, Cowboys, Mexican Ban-didoes, Horses, Wagons, Stage Coaches… that is, Western Movies/TV shows.
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So far we haven’t seen any cowboys or Indians sweeping across the landscape.
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Happy to hear you’re safe and well despite amenity issues. The photos are, of course, gorgeous. Godspeed to you on the adventures to come, my friend! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Thanks Jean. Every time I see a car with a Wisconsin license plate, I look to see if it’s you!
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LOL! Oh it’ll be a few years before I dare a road trip with MY brood. 😉 (And when we do, it’ll be to Mt Rushmore–we promised the kids!)
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We haven’t been there, so when we go I’ll look for you there too! No idea when that will be.
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Never been there. Looks fantastic! You can always share your beautiful photos after the trip. Enjoy every moment.
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Thanks. We are taking our time to enjoy everything.
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So very different to our Australian landscapes. These seem reminscent of every Western/ Cowboy movie I’ve ever seen!
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We’ve been through some lush landscapes too, but they never seem to make it into the western movies! 🙂
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Thank You showing photos of this park. We have not been there, but twice in Yosemite. Once we visted Muir Woods.
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You are most welcome. I’d love to visit Muir Woods.
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Peggy and I took a year once to visit America’s National Parks from Alaska to the Everglades. Our goal was to see all of them. And we came close to making it. So much beauty! I am really enjoying your reminders, Peggy. Wish I had more time to follow along. –Curt
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Curt, I know you have your own adventures coming up and I look forward to following those. I can imagine a year wouldn’t be enough to see all the parks, but maybe Poor John and I can give it a shot someday.
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Amazing what can be seen in a year. 🙂 We even threw in backpacking and kayaking trips! Serious count down on my thousand-mile backpack trip. It starts in seven days, Peggy. –Curt
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Oh wow, Curt, so excited for you as your trip nears. I’m glad I’m back in the land of internet so I’ll be able to follow along.
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Forget the internet. The people who lived here before the invasion were in tune to the planet. Time for some cosmic radio and a break from the hive. No place like the Sierrasa or the Rockies or the Sangre de Cristo to tell you their tales in years and time frames beyond our grasp. Mother Earth gives up her stories with an almost incomprehensible granduer. Stop, and think about watching a mountain come to be, watching it erode for eons, the valley floor expanding at a snails pace…and realize you aren;t the only person who had to poop here, without plumbing, and won’t be the last.
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It’s so humbling to be surrounded by the grandeur of Mother Earth in all her forms. It’s breathtaking to realise how wise, ingenious, intuitive, and creative those who came before us really were. They’re never given enough credit.
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Hello LeggyPeggy,
Great that you and John have visited many National Parks in the Southwestern part of America. Two days here and there really limits yourself in seeing each one at length.. but that is your schedule. My guess is that when you get to spend (have already gone, to date) two full weeks in the Rockies and not on an organized tour, it will be just as rewarding and had the time to take in all its beauty.
To bad some of the parks you visited had limited toilets, showers, electrical connections (power up devices, flashlights, computers, radio etc). New York State has some good camping areas in their parks (thinking of the Adirondacks). However, If you ever venture up to Canada and camp out, their campgrounds are second to none, FANTASTIC; and each campsite is spacious, plus of course toilets, showers, etc).
Thanks for all your photos and comments… interesting, even without Indians and Cowboys.
Sy S
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Wow Sy, thanks for the advice about Canadian campgrounds. But I have to confess about limited amenities. Our first night on the road in Colorado was in the most basic of all campgrounds, but the setting was so amazing we returned and stayed another night—two nights ago.
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Looking forward to the full account when technology allows. Gorgeous country. Hope you haven’t had too many campsites without the basics. Composting toilets are fine, as long you have fresh water to brush your teeth, and some fresh water and means to heat it for a good wash down, But a decent shower is great at least every few days.
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I think we’ll have better access now. The camping has finished. But we’re catching up with so many old friends that I wonder how much blogging I can fit in. 🙂
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Enjoy your catch ups.
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Glad to read that you are not camping any longer in Colorado…. it must have been hot and the area dry, a recipe for fires? On the weather channel there was a commentary June 8th, Friday; “Officials order new evacuations as Colorado wildfires rage on,” Scary!
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Fires have affected some of our plans, but the most heartbreaking thing is the land, animals, people and homes being destroyed or threatened.
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Great post! Love the pics!
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Thanks so much.
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Welcome!
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So amazing to be able to see these gorgeous views in this age of technology! So surprised you have any service.
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Service has been very patchy, but okay. The views are amazing.
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Yes they are stunning! Thanks for sharing ❤️
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Spectacular photos.
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Thanks Miriam.
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What a picturesque road trip!
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Thanks, it sure was.
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The landscapes are fabulous. They are dreamy. Your adventure is truly incredible wherever you look. Imagine that I am surrounded by the sea on all four sides. Your photos make us enjoy the most. Greetings and a good weekend
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Thanks so much. I enjoy sharing our travels.
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Great blog. We love that area of the country. There is something about the rock formations there… cheers!
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Cheers to you too. Thanks so much for stopping by and for commenting.
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Reminds me of my comment in the Everest Region: ‘Just another mountain.’ I’m surprised you looked out the window. Spectacular photos!
Tony
http://breadtagsagas.com/
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Thanks Tony. For me it’s never ‘just’ another view.
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