Day 23 Bicknell to Mesquite

Last nights hand washing had not dried. Imagine the delight as I opened the motel curtains to see this view. All thoughts of the van having to be clad out as the world's fastest moving air drier vanished along with fears of "Well Sheriff..I can only apologise for the pants departing the vehicle".

In for a look and I discover these machines are actually very easy to use. Pop a coin and press one of three buttons. My kind of appliance. Preconception No 187 "Laundry no use" now dismissed.


Whilst waiting for the tumble drier I sat outside and enjoyed the company of Steve Hoffman, History Teacher, Pensilvaniya and his dogs Suzie and Beasley who incidentally said very little. Steve was waiting on his car being returned by a local mechanic and told me how his daughter had phoned him this week to say her recent holiday to Scotland was a wash out. particularly an island called Skye where it rained and rained. There was little I could say except it is great without the rain.

I had a long drive ahead today to get to Zion and taking the advice of the hotel owners I opted for the scenic route 12. What they failed to disclose was a ridge top drive (think vertical drop both sides of van) along the Grande escalante Staircase Monument. I'd seen the note on the map but did not realise the monument was infact the stomach churning drive itself.


By mid afternoon I was glad to see Clarkes diner appear o the horizon and after a hearty meal I noticed a display looking to support local lad Clate Durfey who is undergoing hospital treatment at the moment. Pictured above is Ellen rom the resteraunt who was happy to accept my bike for the cause. She told me Clate is looking forward to coming home from his treatment for thanksgiving.

Onto Zion National Park for a far too brief look around the rock formations but a not too brief trip through the Carmel Tunnel (think Channel tunnel without the train and a wee bit shorter) - claustraphobia eveyone?

Light was fading as I took this picture at Zion but jou can see the wavy lined rock. Morag and Edd...you will appreciate this technical geologists term I've used here!

The plan was to stop off in St George tonight but as I ran into darkness I over shot the exit lane and ended up in Mesquite. Concious that cheap hotels and casinos go hand in hand I had the pleasure of the confusingly named "Eureka" hotel. How the word thats used to express triumph on finding or discovering something came to be used for a hotel is infact cute. As I drove along the interstate and saw the hotel similar words came to mind. I liked this hotel. They have free chocolate chip cookies at reception.