When I planned this trip, I had no idea the timing coincided that closely with my trip last year. I chose week 2 of August 2024 which is a year after the trip in 2023. Ironically, part of the 2024 trip took me on the same path as the 2023 trip. Okay, onto the deets (details)
So, this year there were two primary options, both involving National Parks
a. Previous trips have taken me past Capitol Reef National Park (Utah), but I have never been into the National Park.
b. A trip focused on Grand Canyon National Park. But, also picking up other nearby attractions (Sedona, London Bridge (the olde one), etc)
I ended up deciding on option a., which meant the first two or three days were very similar to last year.
Drive from home in Central Valley CA southbound on Hwy 99 to Hwy 58, and then head in a South-East bound direction to Las Vegas, and then onto Mesquite, Nevada. As noted previously, some of the Mesquite hotel properties don’t charge the pesky resort fees and I don’t feel too deprived. So I stay at a Mesquite hotel/casino and make a contribution to the Mesquite local economy - via the casino, local purchases at the grocery store, gas station, etc. The Smith’s is one of Kroger’s grocery store brands, and has a decent offering of grocery, bakery and produce options. The affiliated gas station has a convenience store with a nice coffee or soda deal. I visited a NV WalMart. Unlike a typical CA WalMart, fewer items in locked cases. Less time finding and/or waiting for a WalMart associate to open one or more cases means a speedier WalMart visit. I appreciated that.
Okay, onto the different element. Well, I guess part of this is the same. Leave Mesquite, get on Hwy 15 East, a few minutes later one is in Arizona, and 15 - 20 min later, one is in Utah, five or six exits and one hits the St George, Utah exits. That’s the common part, last year I used one of the St George exits to connect with one UT State highway, that lead to another State highway, that led to a third State highway, that eventually led to Highway 6 (NV). A different kind of drive.
This year, I stayed on I-15, all the way to an exit just past Cedar City. Just a driving break. Stopped at a DQ (Dairy Queen)- got a meal (and they throw in a sundae as part of the deal). Then back onto I-15, and all the way to an exit (99, I believe) that connects one with UT hwy-20. Downhill, meandering highway - very pleasant drive. A few small towns on the drive - including a town with an out-of-place restaurant (more on this later). More small towns and onto Capitol Reef NP.
Capitol Reef NP has no gate. Is there an entrance fee - not to the park. Yes, if one is camping. On the way to the campground, I discover that one of the attraction - a scenic drive in the park, is closed. Stop at the campground, and note that there are unoccupied sites with tags that say “See campground host”. I walk over to the campground host’s site and ask about one of the unoccupied sites. He informs me that I can reserve one of the sites, but it has to be done online. I ask him, “is there internet onsite?” He tells me, there is WiFi connectivity at the visitor’s center - about two miles up-the-road, at the park’s entrance. I head to the park entrance, and arrive to discover the WiFi is down. Aaargh! Not good. Ok, now what? No Capital Reef NP camping admission. Option B - Leave the park. I doubled back, quite a ways - about 35 - 40 miles, all the way to Bicknell. What’s in Bicknall? Some homes and small businesses, including this unusual establishment - the first of six locations
https://www.currypizzaonline.com/bicknell
I really, really should have tried a Curry Pizza - the location had multiple options. The concept is to have an Indian sauce base substitute for the tomato base of a typical pizza. As denoted by a 5 - 10 min video on constant replay, the business has its fans, including a certain Guy Fieri.
https://www.currypizzaonline.com/about
Okay, dinner has been decided. Accommodations? Well, it is South-Central Utah, and it turns out there are options. I ended up staying at a Forestry Service campground called Sunglow - about 9 or 10 campsites partially surrounded by giant natural red rock “walls”. Basic campsites, most with some shade, a picnic bench, a grilling areas and access to a flush toilet and water. About three or four sites occupied - rv class B, two vans, a short-base box truck, and moi, the tent camper. Elevated area, so slightly colder night. Morning - not too cold. But I have a butane stove, so I warmed myself with a cup of hot cocoa and breakfast treats. Cost of the stay - Zero, Zip. See, that wasn’t so bad. Packed up my tent and stuff, and headed out.
So far
Lodging - abt $110
Food - abt $45 (I had packed some food and snacks from home)
Fuel - slightly less than $100, and an almost full tank of gas.
TBC
HohumYNWA