Beautiful beautiful Zion

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23rd May 2007

I'm sitting here watching the sun set over the mountains at Zion National Park.  If I could freeze time I would.  It's beautiful.  I've also been to Zion National Park 4 times, the same as Bryce.  But Zion holds a special place in my heart, I just love the peacefulness and tranquility of it here.  It is described as an oasis in a desert, and it's very true.  The elevation drops down to 3000 feet in the valley, so its a much warmer climate than Bryce.  It's also lush with trees and wildlife, yesterday I sat outside the RV watching 2 deer wandering around the campsite, today we ate lunch with a mole digging around near our table!

We are parked up on the "Watchman" campground which is next door to the visitor centre, in the heart of the park.  This is probably the first time I have thought that being in a RV is better than a hotel when travelling in America.  The campsite is superb, with enough space between the vans to ensure some privacy.  Last night we had our first wood fire of the trip.  Everyone seems to have these fires, usually in fire rings, but in our case there is a metal fire area on the site. It was lovely.  Matthew enjoyed seeing us make the fire, his first real fire of his life.  He was quite sensible aswell, not getting too close, and obeying our instructions.  He helped collect some leaves to get it going, yes, all in all, it was good fun.

Today we played around with the kids in the morning, then put Matthew to sleep after lunch.  Once he woke up we headed to the Visitor centre and got the shuttle bus into the other part of the park. We then went on a bit of a hike (2 miles or so) upto a place called "Emerald Pools", then onto the "Grotto". It was fabulous, I've not done this walk before so was something new.  I carried Matthew in my Ellaroo Wrap (Which is basically a long length of cloth), Steve carried Lloyd and the nappies!  We climbed up maybe 100 or so feet, following a track alongside the cliff edge.  You could tell some people were scared of the height as I was hogging the inside edge because of carrying Matthew and some of them just wouldnt move over!  The height never scared me, needs to get a bit higher before I start getting worried.

It was nice to be able to walk around like 2 individuals.  Yes the kids were there, but they were not a hinderance, and me and Steve were able to enjoy ourselves as adults.

Zion is a fabulous place, and well worth the short hop from Las Vegas if you are in the states.  They run a shuttle bus into the park, you cant drive, and its fab to sit there and look at the sights.  They are very eco-friendly in the parks, using environmentally friendly fuels for the buses, and relying on solar panels and the like in the visitor centres.  Hopefully one day the rest of america will catch up with these places.  The buildings are also well hidden and done from local stone and wood, so dont intrude on the landscape.

The last 2 times I was in Zion I trekked a hike called "the Narrows".  Its a walk up the Virgin River along a narrow canyon, with the mountains rising up either side, sometimes with just a few feet gap to get through.  It was great.  Me and Steve wonder when we will next get the opportunity to do it, wont be until the kids are much older as far too dangerous for them.  Its a shame, but at least I have done it before...

Re the kids - Quite a few people have said to us "they wont remember it you know", or "they are too young for it".  Not just in America, but throughout our journey.  I think these people are missing the point of our trip.  Primarily it has been a holiday for myself and Steve, not for our children.  They are with us because they have to be with us.  No, they wont remember this holiday, but the experience of it will certainly shape Matthew for the rest of his life.  He would have been a different child but for this holiday.  Today for example, he wanted to hug the mole.  A few months ago he would have screamed when he saw it.  He had ants crawling over his feet when he had no shoes on and he just carried on playing.  When we were in Australia he was petrified of my aunt's dog.  The other day he was able to have a dog right up by his face before he started getting worried.  Lloyd, well I'm not sure how this will affect him, how can you say what his personality was like before this holiday.  But I know he is a happy secure baby, this trip has certainly done him no damage.  And his immune system is probably better than most babies (it has had to be!).

For our part we would never have had the opportunity to do this journey but for the kids.  It is only because I am on maternity leave that we could afford the time for this holiday.  Yes, we could have done it years ago as students, but we didnt. Yes, its been hard work, we will go home more tired than when we set off.  But I have so many memories, not just of places and scenery, but of my family, and of the people I have met along the way.  I have changed in my outlook towards the world and my life aswell. I have realised that if you want to see bad in the world you will see bad, but if you want to see good you will see good.  Nowhere is perfect, life is how you make it, and whatever you put in you will get back out.  I have also become a lot more aware of things like the impact we have on our environment, on the importance of relationships between both friends and strangers. 

Its interesting but Matthew has all but stopped saying hallo and Bula to people now, his experience in Fiji becoming a memory.  Its a shame that we dont all talk to each other in the same friendly warm manner that the Fijians did, but a fact of life I suppose.  It would seem a little weird if everyone suddenly became really friendly!  But its still a shame, and a shame for Matthew who at the beginning of life is finding out the harsh realities of society.  Some people do still talk to him mind you, but as he is now talking less so those people are harder to find.