West USA Road Trip August 2022 (page 3 of 4)

We're leaving Moab with a bit of regret, it's true. While the town itself isn't all that interesting, as mentioned earlier, I feel like I didn't quite finish exploring Arches National Park. It was too hot and too crowded. For the heat, you just need to pick a different season, but for the crowds, you have to accept that others will be there too.

Maybe I'll come back one of these days.

We're now heading down to Monument Valley. Along the way, we stop in the charming town of Bluff. The main attraction is a reconstructed historic site. Back during the Wild West era, Bluff was a key passage for those trying to find a way through the hills while avoiding the local Native Americans.

A good hour of visiting and that’s about it.

We’re arriving at Monument Valley via Route 163, which passes by the Forrest Gump Point!

It’s a bit crowded, but manageable for photos.

Haha! My T-shirt today ;)



I love the little fort in Bluff that I discovered thanks to Statesetmoi, especially for their lemon cookies and the bread that reminds me a bit of our French sandwich bread. Not to mention their pineapple ice cream... yum! Every time I stop by, I clean them out... 😄

For the joke about Bluff. You know there are cabins and by pressing the button in French, you get the explanation of the place.

So, I press the button in French and suddenly, I felt like I was in Aunt Rachel’s cafeteria!! A Pied-Noir accent to die laughing! You must know Antibes! 😎 And like an idiot, I forgot to record the sound with my phone! But what a laugh! The truth!! 😎

😏 Excellent. I don’t remember having an accent! If I go back, I’ll give it a try! 😏

😏 Excellent. I don’t remember having an accent! If I go back, I’ll give it a try! 😏

When you enter the park, it’s the very first cabin. You’ll see—it’s hilarious! 😎

We’re arriving at Monument Valley, where we present our private reservation because, as everyone knows, the America the Beautiful Pass isn’t accepted in parks run by tribal organizations.

Crowds, so many crowds. We’re definitely in the middle of mass tourism. A packed Visitor Center with a long line just for the ladies’ restrooms. 😎

We soak up the views, drive down into the Valley on the SUV-friendly track, and get a kick out of the horse rental for that iconic John Ford Point photo.

I’ll skip the negative details since there are plenty during peak vacation season. I can imagine the place being much quieter outside of these times. We’re staying at a hotel in Kayenta with an Indian dinner at the hotel. Here too, it’s busy—a closed pool, but nothing major. Some tourists climb over the high barriers to take a quick dip. Don’t worry, they’re not French.

Just one night in Kayenta, then off to Williams. The Grand Canyon is waiting for us.

The road is beautiful, and we arrive in Flagstaff during a good storm. We pick up Route 66. A stop to stretch our legs in town, grab a few supplies, have a drink at a local bar, and hit the road again in the rain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcXIL4Ve_NI&t=37s

We arrive in Williams, do some quick shopping, check into a really nice hotel, and take a stroll through town on the historic Route 66.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9h35LJc-kU

We’re hitting the road super early to get to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. The parking lot is almost empty—guess the tourists are sleeping in. Not that I mind!

Once we’re settled, we head toward the gap between the trees to reach the Rim Trail. Wow, just wow! The site is absolutely stunning!!

We take a great walk and snap tons of photos along the Rim as we head west toward Mather Point. Stop by the Visitor Center, then head back to Williams under a downpour that’s *next-level* intense.

Got back under a massive storm, so we spent the evening in Williams—checking out the shops, the historical reenactment, and wrapping up with an Italian restaurant. Nothing out of the ordinary. My legs are tired, so tonight’s sleep will be restorative.

Leaving Williams to head to Bryce Canyon, going back through the Grand Canyon on the east side, then Page—I missed Horseshoe Bend like an idiot, stopped at Lake Powell, and hit the road, my friend.

We hit the road again to head to Bryce Canyon. The drive is beautiful and pleasant with a few stops for photos.

Once we arrived, the crowd of tourists was definitely there. It was like a factory. The room was okay in a building separate from the main one, but the pool was so busy that I skipped swimming. The souvenir shops had everything a tourist could want—at US prices.

The only upside was a liquor store where I picked up a bottle of Prosecco for my wife’s birthday. Breakfast was also a real obstacle course. Oh well, everyone deserves a vacation.

The next day, we explored Bryce Canyon. The trick is to get up early, grab breakfast, and head to the Sunset Point parking lot. It’s super easy to find a spot if you get up early and eat quickly.

Once there, it was definitely the highlight of the trip. After some thought, we decided to go down into the canyon despite my lack of athletic training—we took the Navajo Trail and came back up via Wall Street. The sun wasn’t too strong yet, and everything went smoothly. The climb back up was a bit tougher for me, but it was manageable. On the way up, we saw some tourists doing dumb stuff, like that cute Asian girl hiking the trail in flip-flops. Pretty dangerous, if you ask me.

After that, we did the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point.

When we got back to the car, the parking lot was packed. A park ranger told us it’s best to come very early in the morning or late in the afternoon to find a spot. We took his advice and came back in the afternoon to visit Bryce Point.

Bryce Canyon really stole our hearts.

Left Bryce with a bit of regret to rejoin civilization—Las Vegas.

Hotel on the Strip with guaranteed parking.

I’ll be clear from the start: I really didn’t like Las Vegas. It’s maybe worth seeing once, but otherwise, it’s a city unfortunately filled with homeless people, constant smells of weed, exhibitionism, noise—everything I don’t enjoy, actually.

Our first day in Vegas was dedicated to renewing our wedding vows (exactly 50 years!) at the Elvis Chapel! They pick you up and drop you off in a limousine. Everything’s taken care of! The King’s lookalike is almost perfect, and the officiant was great (a former crew member from the *France* ocean liner). The only slight downside was the total cost of the evening. With dinner at Mon Ami Gabi, we were close to 1000 € all included! Well, once every 50 years, it’s acceptable.

Nighttime stroll on the Strip and back to the hotel. The next day, we visited some casinos and air-conditioned shopping centers, then took a taxi to Fremont Street. For those of us who, like me, suffer from misophonia, this is definitely not a place to recommend. It’s an ultra-noisy mess. A zipline in a covered shopping street—I still don’t get the point. Too many homeless people, unfortunately. Not to mention the dancers and everything else. In short, I wouldn’t recommend spending an entire evening there.

Took a taxi back to the Strip at night before heading to bed.

On this beautiful August morning, we left Las Vegas without any regrets.

Heading toward Death Valley and beyond to Mammoth Lake. Except—well, due to the heavy storms in Death Valley, all the roads were closed. So, we had to take a longer route between the park entrance and Mammoth Lake. I checked the road conditions daily on the park’s app, but nothing changed. They were still closed.

And of course, I didn’t check on the day of departure. Was I being silly? Yep! The road had just opened.

Once at the Area 51 gift shop in Amargosa Valley, I took the wrong turn without realizing it. Next thing I knew, I was on a road heading north through Death Valley to reach Mammoth Lake. Long story short, a bit of a hassle, but nothing too difficult. The road was beautiful, and the landscapes were amazing. What can I say?

After arriving at Mammoth Lake and checking into the hotel (meh), we relaxed by the pool, had dinner at a restaurant, and called it a night!

We had to adjust our plans, though. We weren’t about to miss Death Valley after all. And the next day, Sunday, we drove 600 kilometers round trip just to visit Furnace Creek. Turns out, it was a really nice day out.

We set off after a good night’s recovery for Tioga Road and Yosemite. That was actually the original plan. Given the schedule changes, we’re heading up to Bodie this morning before diving onto Tioga Road.

A quick stop by Mono Lake and the Clint Eastwood movie landscapes, and we arrive at the abandoned mining village. The place is nice, and the morning walk puts us in a great mood.

Bodie is such a cool village. Not too many tourists this morning. There were adults exploring and teens who couldn’t care less, just sitting on the steps of the buildings, eyes and fingers glued to their smartphones. 😎

We hit the road again for Tioga Road. It’s true—it’s a pretty remarkable drive. Our next stop is Mariposa. A small town near Mariposa Grove, which I decided to visit without going any farther. Too much driving to get to Sequoia Park.

So, Tioga Road!

Tioga Road is absolutely stunning. I just can’t resist sharing a little more about it.

We arrive in Mariposa after skipping Yosemite Valley.

Time to settle in, a dip in the pool, and a light meal on-site. Breakfast will be the same as what was served in all the hotels we’ve stayed at so far—getting a bit tired of it, I’d say.

The next day, up early as usual for breakfast, then heading to the Mariposa Grove parking lot. Good thing we got there early—on the way back from exploring, it was packed. We caught one of the first shuttles before reaching Mariposa Grove.

Once there, we let everyone else go ahead while my wife headed to the restroom (classic) and I chatted with the rangers about the wildfires that had swept through the area. By the time we returned, the shuttle was much busier.

One last series from Mariposa Grove for fun!

Back to the hotel for a short nap interrupted by fire truck sirens.

When I open the curtains in my room, I see a thick dark brown plume of smoke—a sign of a good fire developing. I grab my Panasonic and head over there. I’m stopped by the Police and explain that I’m a Veteran! In the States, the word "Veteran" is an absolute free pass.

We chat with the police officer, who, between blocking vehicles, tells me about her job and shows me her car with the onboard camera and all the gear.

A great moment.