Day 7 - Grand Junction to Zion

Miles traveled:

By Car - 407mi

By Foot/Paw/Other - 4.0 mi

Car Entertainment - A real poo poo platter.   About two hours more of the audiobook Lamb, Conan podcast, and Chris Cornell's Songbook.  No rhyme, no reason.

We left Grand Junction about 6:30AM in hopes of getting to Sand Hollow State Park early afternoon in time to enjoy it before finishing the drive to Zion.  Sand Hollow State Park | Utah State Parks.  

The drive was really beautiful once again.  Mostly similar terrain the whole way with large rock formations and canyons everywhere.   Different than Colorado.  My theory is that something was really angry at earth and came down on it with massive force causing destruction and craters in Utah. While just the opposite in Colorado where it looks like the earth was really angry at something (perhaps from the thing that came down on it with massive destruction) and revolted out through the core and up through the ground. 

Hey, I'm an engineer not a geologist...but that's my theory.

We did make it to Sand Hollow around noon.  It was really beautiful with red sand, blue water and great views.

It was about 97 degrees and there was almost no shade.  The red sand leading up to the water was scorching hot, and we moved as fast as we could through it to get to the cooler sand.

Once we made it to the water, R&C were very happy and ran right in.  Still not all the way to swimming yet...still thinking about it.

This was the first time either of them had seen waves.  I don't think Rhino even noticed them, but Charlie thought they were trying to attack her.

I could quickly tell (because they were telling me) that it was way too hot for them out there, so we didn't stay very long.  

After less than an hour, we packed up and headed off to Zion.  I am pretty sure I will never get all that red sand out of my car!

We arrived at Zion early afternoon so we got settled in and checked out the hotel area and walked along the paved trail in the small town.  

This is the view from the porch of our hotel.  If this is any indication of what i have in store for me over the next two days, I will be completely blown away.

They also had no problems making themselves comfortable on the front hotel lawn.

Tomorrow morning R&C will go to an open kennel boarding for 2 days since dogs are not welcome at Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.