October 4: We're Ready to Go Home!

This morning, after a freezing cold night, we crept out of our warm sleeping bags and got ready to break camp.  We were very anxious to be in our own bed tonight. After some hot coffee to thaw out our bones, we took a short walk and then packed up.   After a short stop for some deli sandwiches "to go" in Ely, Nevada, we headed west on Highway 50. We stopped and ate our sandwiches for lunch at Bob Scott Summit near Austin, Nevada in the Toiyabe Range.
We were home by 5:00 that night. It had been a very long, yet wonderful trip!
 

 

Highway 50 - The Loneliest Highway

We're home!

Almost 8000 miles of bugs on the car!

October 3: Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park

We decided to take a tour of the Lehman Caves which are really not caves but a single cavern that is about a quarter mile long. It extends into the lime and marble that is the base of the Snake Range in Nevada. We saw many beautiful formations of stalactites, stalagmites, columns and "draperies".

 

October 3: Beaver, Utah and Great Basin National Park, Nevada

After leaving Zion via the South Entrance, we proceeded north on I-15 to Beaver, Utah. It is a very neat little town first settled by the Mormons. Our friend Steve has family ties there. His father grew up in this town. They have an incredibly good bakery right on Main Street (can't remember the name of it). Also, Beaver is the home of Philo Farnsworth, the man who invented the television.

 

After a short visit, we headed west for Ely, Nevada and the Great Basin National Park.
We had such a beautiful campsite at the Lower Lehman Campground  (#8), and the autumn colors were amazing. Even though the nights were very cold,  we had a fun time. This was our last camp out of the trip, and if it wasn't for our anxiousness to get home and the freezing temps at night, we could have easily stayed a few more days. We really love the camping!

Cocktail time.

Brrrr... very cold morning!

Wild turkey visitor

October 2: Zion National Park, Utah

We camped at Watchman Campground along the Virgin River. We entered near Checkerboard Mesa on the East Entrance and proceeded through some spectacular areas.

Checkerboard Mesa 6670 ft.

Zion = Mount Carmel Highway

Approaching Tunnel

Views from side tunnel openings

Visitors at Watchman Campground

Camping Under Watchman Mountain

October 2: Utah and Arches National Park

What can I say? The pictures say it all. I love Utah!

We decided to camp at Big Bend Camp which is along the Colorado River

This was the highlight of Utah