Montana to Maryland Sept- Nov 2021

Natural Arch at Bryce Canyon NP

Shortly before we left Helena, Pat fell off her bike while avoiding a car. She fractured a bone in her right foot and had to wear a boot for a month. Also, the planned completion of Pat’s tub was delayed due to delivery of the wrong side panels. Months later we are still waiting for the replacement, most likely stuck on a cargo ship off the coast of CA. 

Bryce Canyon

On Sept 27 we started our trip south. Our first layover was near Salt Lake City, where we had our RV levelers repaired again. We got to Bryce NP and really enjoyed the park. Pat could enjoy most of the park from the lookouts along the park road. I did a couple solo hikes. The Park was impressive plus we visited nearby Red Rock Canyon and Kodachrome Basin SP.

Navajo Trail BCNP

Zion NP

Next, we went to Zion NP and it was a complexly different experience. Even a month after Labor Day, the park is very crowded. To get to the park you take a city shuttle bus from your campground to the Visitor Center, due to inadequate parking facilities there. Then you can board a NP shuttle bus that takes you into the canyon to one of five designated stops. We took the NP shuttle to the last stop and I hiked a bit and Pat took a shorter walk. We took the bus back to the Lodge stop and I did a hike while Pat waited for me. We were about to load back on the bus when we noticed the busses stopped moving. No one in the know was sharing info, but we heard rumors that there was a car accident near the park entrance, possibly a fatality. The order was to shelter in place. After sitting on the bus for about 40 min. we found out that there was an active shooter in a nearby town. Eventually the busses started moving and we returned to the Visitor Center. 

Big Horn Sheep ZNP

We waited awhile for the city shuttle bus but soon realized they were not operating. We started to walk back to our campground but found that the police had closed off all access to that part of the town.  We decided to get dinner at the only available restaurant, a Thai restaurant. (Yes, someone has to get shot before Pat will go to a Chinees or Thai restaurant). We were not the only ones who decided that this was the best way to kill some time.  After a 40 min wait, we got seated.  During our meal we noticed things were starting to get moving and after our meal, we were able to catch a shuttle bus back to the campground. 

Canyon Overlook ZNP

Later we found out the details of the Active Shooter Incident. A 55 yr. old local male threaten a couple with a knife. When the police approached, he took off in his car hitting speeds in excess of 100 mph while shooting at 10 passing cars. None of the people in the cars were hurt. The police flattened one of his tires which forced him to stop and run away. Eventually a large manhunt tracked him down and then he shot himself in the head with his shotgun. Later he died. Not too many tears were shed by the thousands that were inconvenienced for hours by his reckless actions.

Odyssey Aquarium, Phoenix

The next day we skipped the busses and drove to other areas of the park for sightseeing and hiking. Pat’s foot was bothering her due to all the running around in the campgrounds and parks so we adjusted our schedule and left Zion a few days early and skipped the Grand Canyon (which we have rafted and visited before). We managed to get a last-minute timeshare in Scottsdale AZ for a week before our timeshare week in Sedona. 

Sedona

On our way to Scottsdale, we had a quick visit with Phil and Connie and saw their beautiful new house in Kingman AZ. Scottsdale is much nicer than Phoenix. The best place we visited was the Musical Instrument Museum. Their displays included a minimum of four video from every country, featuring music played on locally made instruments.

Bluebird

Sunset in Sedona

Sedona was great as always, except for the crowds and difficulty finding parking. I got a hike in everyday and Pat did some crafts at the resort. She also took a Boynton Canyon trolley tour and learned a few things. We also took a day trip to historic Jerome and toured the nearby Gold Mine and Ghost Town in Haynes.

Gold Mine

Sedona

Collared Lizard

Confused Saguaro, Sweetwater Preserve, AZ

Sitting on a very large rock core sample for the building of TVA's Douglas Dam

From Sedona we returned to Phoenix on Saturday and waited until we could get the RV into the Ford Dealer on Monday to fix the door lock. We went to the AZ Science Museum which was a disappointment. We drove to Fort Davis, TX and toured the Ft Davis NHS, which was an Indian Wars' frontier military post, and then the McDonald Observatory which was interesting and easily accessible. In Tennessee, we camped near Douglas Dam, which was built in record time, one year, in order to provide electricity for aluminum production during WWII. We stopped in Lewisburg to organize our stuff in preparation of a move next Spring. We met Bill and Shirley for lunch in Harrisonburg, VA and meet up with Pat’s aunts and cousins in Buckeystown, MD. We ended our cross-country trip at an RV park in College Park.

McDonald Observatory

Aunt Janice and Aunt Ann