Route 66 – 2017/2018:
December 31 to January 9, 2018
Well, all good things come to an end and this is our final week. Well, a week and a few days actually. It has been an amazing journey.
We start the week, New Year’s Eve on Las Vegas Boulevard. “The Strip”. It was a crazy scene to witness. But I think the pictures made it worth the effort.
A day at Valley of Fire State Park (gorgeous), another day on “The Strip” and take in “Beatles – Love” at the Mirage then on the road home.
The road home includes Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. WOW!!
Click on the photo for each day to view that day's photos.
Day 78 - dec. 31, 2017
New Year's Eve. We spent the daylight hours with a drive to Hoover Dam. It was lined up to get into but I was able to walk up and get a short, but fun, helicopter ride over the dam.
Then, against all better judgement, I went down to The Strip for the New Year's Eve celebration and fireworks. Nuts! They estimate over 300,000 people and I don't doubt that. I managed to get a front row spot by the Bellagio Fountains (by being 2.5 hours early) and just watch. I didn't take pictures of the crowd and words can't describe it.
Once the fireworks display was over I was in a crowd that makes a busy day at the Stampede look like a ghost town. It took 30 minutes to walk 100 yards, inch by inch. Anyway I got the shots I came for and can honestly say I survived New Years on The Strip in Vegas.
Happy New Year, Las Vegas, NV (2018)
Day 81 - jan. 3, 2018
Well, after taking January 1st and 2nd off, we were back at it on the 3rd.
Valley of Fire State Park is a beautiful place. Red Rock Canyon National park is advertised all over here in Vegas, but Valley of Fire is, hands down, more impressive. We spent the daylight hours there and then went to Fremont Street for the evening entertainment.
Valley of Fire State Park, NV
Day 83 - jan. 5, 2018
Last day in Las Vegas after another day off yesterday. Rode the "High Roller" which is basically a giant, very slow Ferris Wheel. Then a short walk around the strip on the way to see Cirque du Soleil, Beatles "Love". Absolutely fabulous show!
Las Vegas, NV
Day 84- jan. 6, 2018
Zion National Park. Very rugged and beautiful. We even saw three Bighorn Sheep just hanging out by the roadside.
After touring Zion we headed to our hotel for the night in Panguitch Utah, only to find it had closed for the winter in November. So much for pre-booking. It was dark and had started so snow. The first we had seen all trip. We managed to get a room at Bryce Canyon City which turned out to be a blessing.
Zion National Park, UT
Day 85 - jan. 7, 2018
Woke up this morning to about an inch of fresh snow. The car was covered in ice but the snow made the journey and the canyon incredibly beautiful.
It really doesn't matter how good a picture is, it simply cannot compete with the real thing. But we try. This is Bryce Canyon National Park. Originally it was not on our "to-do" list but we are so glad we added it. I ran out of adjectives to describe the beauty we have seen a long time ago, so I will just let the pictures do the talking.
We spent the morning in the canyon, then off to Idaho Falls for the night.
Bryce Canyon, UT
Day 86 - jan. 8, 2018
Not much here. Just a few shots as we drove from Idaho Falls to Lethbridge, Alberta.
Welcome to Alberta
Day 87 - jan. 9, 2018
We then came home on the 9th (the scheduled day) but didn't take a single picture. Of course we arrived back to several days of -30 weather. Can't complain. We had 86 days of virtually perfect weather. Outside of a few days of rain around Chicago at the start of the trip, we had mostly sunshine and above average temperatures.
It's good to get home. Now to start planning the next adventure!!
