Day 14: Salt Lake City, UT to Zion National Park, UT

Total Miles Driven - 3,295

Today’s Miles - 310

Tuesday, June 7th

I had a pleasant ride driving south in Utah towards Zion National Park, detouring a little to take in Bryce Canyon National Park. I am glad that I took the extra time to see the rock spires and brilliant colors of the canyon. The weather was good, but I can feel it getting warmer. Furthermore, the scenery is dramatically changing from that of the cooler, wetter North. It is beginning to look more desert like as I drive south. I passed through several “old west” feeling towns with a single pump gas station and general store. The landscape is littered with old cars and machinery. I also passed a lot of horse and cattle ranches.

I ended up finding a roadside motel 25-miles outside of Zion National Park. It is a unique place with its treehouse themed room. There is a big carved out log to get up onto the raised bed, and there were tree branches protruding from the walls. However, it was clean and cheap. 

The trip is beginning to take a physical and mental toll on me. Today’s ride was lonely, and I felt vulnerable in the sense that I was completely at the mercy of my Vespa and nature. If either decided to give me problems, I would be stuck. Physically, my body is tired, and my shoulders are hurting. It's most noticeable when I dismount my Vespa and put it on the center stand. I nearly dropped it a few times. All that to say, I am glad that I am coming up on the end of my trip. I have three more days to go.