I joined the Green Tortoise bus for a second time for their Canyons of the West trip - 11 days with minimal showering opportunities hmmmm
We got picked up at the LA USA hostel by Sully and Kevin and headed to Joshua tree national park. Our first stop was a scramble and hike at skull rock - it was hot hot hot!
We then headed for a view point and Hidden Valley where rumour had it that rustlers used to hide the stolen cattle before rebranding, it had stunning rock formations.
Obviously we saw lots of Joshua trees too! These aren't actually trees but are part of the Yucca family - they grow as tall as trees hence the name - however I don't think the hairy 'trunk' would fool people for long....
That night we slept out under the stars in a secluded campsite - with just the ants for company (luckily I wasn't bitten), but it was worth it for the view:
Day 2 - given the lack of facilities at the campsite (long drop toilet was it!) a swim in the Colorado river was in order to cool off - it must have been 100 degrees F by then - the temperature drop in the river was very welcome and really refreshing.
Then it was off to Vegas baby! That night we had to stay in a hostel and it here was a freak rain and lightening storm - so we didn't get much done, just a jaunt down the strip to see the welcome to Vegas sign.
Day 3 - up and on the bus early on route 66 to head to Zion national park where we met another Green Tortoise bus.
After an aborted hike to the Narrows (big thunderstorm above making it not ideal to hike in the river in a restricted canyon - they get flash floads there frequently...) we cooled off in the muddy river and then caught up for a joint bus dinner.
We said goodbye to those heading back to LA and San Francisco that night and found a local wedding the other side of the river to mask our party that night on the beach/in the river!
A serious game of mafia in hand... We slept there that night!
The next day Slyvia and I went up the Watchman trail followed by muddy river swim to cool off, ive discoverd that i dont agree with c100 degree heat that well!
After Zion we headed for Bryce Canyon. It had started raining when we got there and it was lovely!!! A true Brit appreciates some rain after the heat and sun lol! We hiked the Queens Garden / Navajo trail - which took us into the amazing rock formations.
We slept overnight on the bus as it headed up to Arches national park waking up to a beautiful sunrise
We walked a very hot march around the primitive loop trail - we saw Landscape arch, Partition, Navajo and Double O arches, before walking back to car park with half the trail in sand in my shoes!
Our treat at the campsite that ght was a swim in the Colorado river aka chocolate milk river, we had bought floaties so we could float down the river with the current - however the catfish hidden the chocolate milk freaked me out when they brushed against me!
That night Christy and Oui Oui entertained us with their guitars in the Tunnel Concert - the acoustics were prefect for singing and playing and the corrugated pipe created a stripey ceiling - a very funky exclusive club for us.
Day 7 we hung out in Moab - washing clothes, grabbing a shower and cooling down in air con before camping at Gooseneck national park, where we were almost the only people there.
Bus camp
The valley was carved by the San Juan river.
That night we saw some amazing lightning storms all the way over Moument Valley (just on the horizon in the pic above) Truly stunning when you're about 100 miles away lol! Although it did rain on us there was no lightning over the campsite and the cloud patterns after the rain were beautiful - you get to see a lot sleeping outside!
Next stop was Monument Valley - also the place where Forrest stops running in the film!
We did a jeep (or should that be yeep?!) tour of some of the more interesting rock formations.
Next we had a chance to swim in glorious lake Powell!! It was clear and cool unlike the previous lake - a perfect shower replacement.
That night we got steak and drinks in Page then and then slept on the bus on the way to the Grand Canyon!
The first day at the Grand Canyon I walked down to Ooh Ah point with the girls - we oohed and ahhed and took lots of photos.
Day10 - I took the red route all the way out along the Canyon rim. The walk was Pinyon pine scented in the sun. Photos of the Canyon just weren't capturing everything so I finally I got to use my sketch book (thanks Sarah!)
The last couple of miles was a race to miss the storm and flooding...
Final night we had a party at the campsite and got busted by the rangers for being too loud after hours - oops ;)
Next day was the hamgover on the bus to Vegas and the end of my tour :(
I had a great time and the trip was definitely made by everyone on the bus, thanks Green Tortoise!
