June 12 2025 Day Seven

June 12, 2025 – St George Utah – Day 7

 

Sitting in the One and Only bar in St George Utah and I don’t know why or how I got here and where to from here. It was one of those days that I had planned in my head that I’d be at least 2 nights in the National Parks that I was visiting that it was overplanning and I could see most of what I want to see in a day. Once I got thru Zion Park on the only roads, they allow vehicles to travel, I’m at the Zion Visitor Center trying to figure out what I’m going to do and all the campgrounds are full, but the ranger did tell me checking out some website to find roadside camping, that now what do I do. I gave Shelley a call and was trying to figure out whether I should head to Bryce Canyon even though I’d have to take th road I just rode into Zion on or another location and she suggested Beaver. Yep, around on the freeway to Bryce Canyon, but I’d be back tracking to Beaver and hotel prices weren’t cheap. Then she sends a suggestion that St George is where I should go on my way to Las Vegas and blow days that I need to there. Ok, I kind of have a plan, but checked out a number of maps on where I should go. 

 

Ok, to finish up last night after having a great dinner with Pat and Terry, I spent my time in the Saloon working on my stories until they kicked us out that I was heading to my hotel room when I realized it was a full moon night and I never did get a view of the Grand Canyon under a full moon. I made my way to my motel room and dropped off my laptop and headed back to the lodge for a view. It was spectacular and even though I tried getting a picture I don’t think it turned out too bad. I was watching what was going on on the South Rim and I could see the lights, but did notice a number of red lights pulsing that I asked someone and they said it’s the same lodge lights that the South sees of the North Rim.

 

So tonight, I met Russell and Cassie who happened to buy me a beer and right now I’m sitting next to Cassie, same spelling, but a boy named Sue. He said his mom had to change his name to Bobby, closer to his middle name Robert, but he was still fighting Cassie. Now I totally get what Johnny Cash was saying about a boy named Sue.

 

Sorry, but in the middle of writing and talking with the locals’ things get out of Wack a bit, but I can tell you, thank you Shelley for the suggesting for St Georges cuz I’ve met some great people and am having a great time. I might have a stop back here in a couple of days for Cassie’s ribs. 

 

Ok, back to how to today started. I figured I could push later than 9 to get up, but it was pretty close to that time that I did get myself out of bed. I had already packed my clothes the night before since it was a start of a new pair of jeans and shirt that I’ll be good to go with any camping coming up, yep, I expected a day early. It was no problem getting the bike packed and I got my shower in to start a new day with new jeans and a new shirt. After getting ready I headed to the lodge and all I had to do was drop off my keys, so they’d reimburse me the charge on my card in case I trashed the room. Me, doing something like that, no way.

I started out my day with the jacket, but it didn’t take long before it came off. Made a stop at the place on the way into the park to get my Mt Dew to start the day and once again I appreciated how cold their drinks were. 

 

Made great time on my ride and I did fortunately get a pic on my GoPro of entering the state of Utah, but I was so surprised on how much time I had lost with an early start from the North Rim. Yep, Arizona with no time change that now I guess I’m back into Mountain time that it sure seemed different to what I was expecting

 

Some more detail that I’ll work on later cuz the beers are getting to me. The other happenings was thru Zion with a great drive and my GoPro captured it all, to the Zion visitor center where a call to Shelley put me on the right track to here. At the visitor center I did ask about camping, but when the ranger suggested a website to visit I wasn’t interested in checking it out.

 

I did make a stop at a local state park on my way thru Springdale and thought it’d be a great place for a swim since the tempt was well over 100 degrees but for 30 bucks for non-Utah residence, I think I’ll swim somewhere else. Per the bookings app I found the cheap hotels off from exit 8 to checked them out. Still feeling early, I checked out the local Harley shop and there’s one 7 miles back, Zion HD that I might as well make a trip there and get some help. I checked the place out and was going to get an oil and filter change since I’m due, but at first, I wasn’t sure if they had time, but then when I scheduled one and the lady told me the tech might want me to remove my packing on the bike for a test ride I said just skip it. She said she was trying to work with me but felt pushback so I just skipped it and said I have to move on. 

Ok, now I have to say this guy Cassie, the boy named sue is quite the character.