July, 14 2006

Here we are again. Tonight we are in Kanab, Utah.

We left Vancouver in a torrential downpour on Wed. Got to the border and encountered the most unpleasant American border guard ever. I think they must have any shred of pleasant personality surgically removed at the same time they are given their guns!

Got to Bellingham airport in good time and flew Allegiant Air to Las Vegas. Wonderful airline, really friendly staff and tons of legroom. Got into the airport at 10:40 PM, found our luggage and stepped out into a 105 degree night! That is HOT! Caught a cab to our hotel. Asked the driver to take us past the MGM Grand and then down the strip so the girls could see the lights at night. He said that there was construction and it would be really slow, so he would take us to our hotel a different way. Hmmm thought I, an old cabbies trick is afoot, but no, as we drove past the road that we would have gone on, it was very obvious that there really was some serious construction and traffic was at a standstill! Well, this guy drove like a maniac and got us to our hotel in record time. The whole thing was great, because Vegas taxis charge for time and mileage, so being stuck in traffic would have done nothing but cost us. The guy really did us a favour.

Circus Circus checkin was a breeze, despite dire reviews on Trip Advisor. The room was perfectly fine as well, so I don’t know what people are complaining about. $55/night, can you really complain?

Checked out this morning and picked up our car. Super convenient, right in the hotel. The clerk was a super nice guy who upgraded us from our Magnum to a Pacifica. We went from a pimped looking station wagon to a three rows of seating, dvd player in the ceiling, all-wheel drive, leather seats, power everything classy SUV that Dianna Crall drives! And for no extra money! What a cool car this is.

Got outta Vegas and headed north. Drove along Lake Mead and watched as the temperatures climbed. Found a place for the girls to swim for a while. The lake was warm, the air warmer – now 110.

Carried on to Valley of Fire. AWESOME. Rock formations and colours that are unearthly. No wonder Star Trek filmed there. Hard to believe anything like that is real. .Hit 113 degrees. Now, that is really, really hot. Our really, really cool car stayed nice and cool though.

Next was Zion National Park. This is a cross between the Valley of Fire and the Highway to the Sky in Glacier Park. It is indescribable, and pictures just don’t cut it. Suffice to say, these two places are something you should se before you die. I had no idea how stunning it was going to be.

Now we are in Kanab, in the Perry Lodge. This is a place where zillions of movie stars stayed (and millions of movies made) over the past 50 years. It is really nice, clean and friendly. A pool for the kids and nice beds for us. Great all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet for $1.50/kids and $3.50/adults. Can it get better?

Off to pink sand dunes, the largest animal shelter in the US (1800 animals) and then on to some ghost towns and tonight in Marble Canyon.

More later.