Day 5: Las Vegas to Zion National Park

Las Vegas was warm and sunny during the day, but it was chilly and sunny this morning. Brenda says that the average temperature in July is 105 degrees, cooling to 104 degrees in August. Houses are stucco with tile roofs and tile is very popular for flooring because it stays cool. Brenda and her husband are remodeling and using a tile that looks like wood. It is very pretty. She says that wood floors do not last long in Las Vegas because it is so dry. Folks here do not pay much for heat in the winter, but the air conditioner bills in summer are another story.

Water is very important here--no new development without new water. There is a huge project underway to pump water out of rural Nevada north of Las Vegas and pipeline it to the city. Brenda is also an amateur photographer and gave us some good suggestions of sites along our path. I've got my hiking shoes and camera vest at the ready.

After a good visit, Teresa and I took off about 11 am, armed with written directions to get onto I-15 north out of town. Teresa also programmed her GPS. Once again we had a clash as we followed the GPS directions onto Highway 95. Our written instructions said north 95, and we noticed the GPS had just routed us onto south 95. Quickly consulting the map (old technology) we discovered the GPS was taking us into the heart of downtown. We got off at the next exit and used old technology to get onto Nevada 215 -- the bypass. Neither of us like big city traffic.

Nevada 215 is a strange road. It is a freeway with stoplights. We had run into one of these near Barstow, but this was a little different. Right before the light, the highway veered off to the right. Then after the light, the road veered left -- as if we were going on on/off ramps. This in- and-out freeway continued to I-15. We were releaved to be on a regular freeway. We waved goodbye to Las Vegas in the distance and headed north to Arizona.

The Nevada countryside was dry and desolate. At the border, we came to the Nevada town of Mesquite (population: 9,389; elevation: 1601) In the distance we saw Virgin Peak and a small, half dry river (the Virgin River) ran through town. This was the first water we had seen since we entered Nevada. Mesquite has seven destination golf courses and the tour book says it is "nestled in a lush valley." There were palm trees around the hotel/casino, some green grass on the ball fields and golf course -- but LUSH??? Teresa's new mantra is, "Everything is relative." This certainly applies to Mesquite.

Suddenly we were in Arizona. As if to let us know we were no longer in Nevada, we soon entered the Virgin River Canyon. Hello Arizona! The canyon was beautiful and the Virgin River was running. After we were in Arizona for about 20 miles, we ran into some vibrant colors, mountains and mesas. Hello Utah!

We went through St. George and took the exit for Hurricane, Virgin, and Springdale. The scenery just got better and better. What a difference a little water makes.

When we got to Zion National Park, I flashed my Golden Pass. You can get one for $10 if you are 62 and it gets you into all National Parks, Monuments, etc. When I traveled with Jim (he is 5 years older), he was always the designated senior. We got the golden pass, senior price for ferries, etc. as long as he was along. I was actually excited to get my own Golden Pass. But now that I am the designated senior (Teresa is 8 years younger), I'm not sure I like the idea -- but I'll get over it.

We checked in to the Lodge in the park. Cell phones don't work here, but the Internet does. We are staying until Thursday, so we have all of tomorrow to explore.