Zion National Park
Favorite Moment- I think I can speak for both of is when we say that our favorite thing about Zion was just. slowing. down. Up till now we had been staying for about a day and a half in each place we were at. When we hit Zion, we got to park, use the public shuttles and just relax. The kids did better with a little more routine, and we did better with a few more slow mornings exploring local restaurants and coffee shops. We hung out in the warm river and campsites with the kids and our newfound camp-ground friends Karmen and Eric (hello Karmen!...if you ever found us!)
For me, this was a time of re-connecting with my loves. I re-connected with my sense of adventure and nature by going out alone on long runs in new places and hiking the Narrows. I reconnected with my independance and stregnth by running some tough trails by myself and feeling great as I was doing it, then being rewarded with the awesome sights Zion has to offer. Ryan got to re-connect with his younger, stronger, river romping self by hiking far up into the Narrows at the break of dawn by himself. He was alone in the canyon and was able to hike fast over the river rocks carrying only his backpack and a light jacket. He enjoyed relaxing at the campsite and scored some great views on a few bike rides up and out of Zion Canyon.
Least Favorite Moment: By far, my least favorite moment was precidented by the fact that we did not make reservations in Zion National Park ahead of time. We arrived in Zion mid-day and aggressively (sprinting from the car to the front desk in front of other campers pulling in the parking lot), snagged the last tent spot in a terrible campground that resembled a dirt parking lot with about 5 feet of "camping space." Fortunately Zion has a "first come first serve" campground, so I got out at the break of dawn, biked in and patrolled the campground for an open spot like a shark circling a wounded seal. It was crazy. I was crazy. They were crazy.
Competing campers avoided eye contact as they scoped out potential spots. One car nearly ran me off the road. I stalked the poor college kids who were innocently sleeping under the stars because their campsite tag said they were leaving that day.
I can't say I'm proud of my aggressive transformation but oh well. It worked. We got an awesome spot close to the river with perfect access to the bike trail and shuttle. Even Ryan said it was worth it.
Dance Party in the car on our LONG drive home.
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