That's just about all I guess

Since it was already dark when I returned to the van the night before I figured the Visitor Center parking lot was as good a place as any for Casa Montana for the night. Day 17, up at first light & off to Towers of the Virgin. At least a dozen other photographers there, it's a popular early spot.
A little falls I learned about from a shuttle driver on my last visit to Zion. A popular spot for weddings apparently, has a few staged decks. Just up from Big Bend.

This would be a great spot on a hot day... shady & green.

Court of the Patriarchs, North Fork of the Virgin River in the foreground.

Off to a wash Jerry had pointed out the day before with petroglyphs of backpackers. Officially known as Petroglyph Canyon.
The 'backpackers'.

Most of the rest of the petroglyphs are of sheep though.
I figured I had until one p.m. at the latest to spend in Zion. The last thing I did was wander some of galleries & drool on the professional prints made with large format cameras. The David J. West gallery among others in Springdale have some outstanding work. The one I particularly wanted to see was the Fatali Gallery but it was closed! Who closes on a Saturday! I left grimy nose prints all over their windows... this is the sort of work I aspire to but my photos only look like his in my mind. Truly amazing work.

The sun was warm, shirt sleeve weather again in Zion... reluctantly I point the van at the interstate. I have 2100km to cover to get home by Sunday night.

By 11 p.m. I had reached the town of West Yellowstone, my plan was to deek through Yellowstone National Park past the Norris geysers & visit the travertine pools in Mammoth on my way to Bozeman to buy a pair of boots at Schnees, they open 11 a.m. on Sunday. I had been told "The Park" was still open. Pretty dead town, I didn't know what to expect with it being Halloween. I got directions to Bakers Hole... a forestry campground. Gates locked; it was a good enough place for Casa Montana. Maybe a foot of snow in the trees, it was a cool night.

Day 18. Up early & the gal manning the gate at Yellowstone is cheerful enough. "Where are you headed?" "Into the park...It's open right?" "That depends on where you're headed." Turns out I could only go down to Old Faithful & back, the other roads already closed. Damn. Turn around & cut up the West edge of the park on hwy 89, kill some time in Bozeman before Schnee's opened. It might seem weird to go so far out of my way for boots but for fit, price, service & selection I have very good luck there. Notice the lack of photos... ick, snow & brown... the scenery is beautiful enough but I don't feel like stopping.

"the roads get better every time I cross north of forty nine
well I tip my hat and it's good to be back across the medicine line..."

"...& that’s just about all I guess" Corb Lund