Sublime, ridiculous, sublime again

We left the coast and headed slowly for Death Valley and places east.  Spent a day walking in the mountains just above the valley, at about 8,000 feet which made us realise what a big hole in the ground it is.  Then drove across to spend the night in a small town called Beatty before heading back down to walk among the badlands at Zabriski Point.  It really is quite a scary place - don't know how the early settlers managed to cross it.

and then to the lowest (geographicallly) point in North America (-282 feet).  

Had got in early to avoid the heat so had time to drive to the other lowest point (culturally) - Las Vegas!

One nigt here was spent walking the Strip, watching free extravaganzas like the pirate ship battle at Treasure Island casino,

 and watching the mugs lose their money.  An experience we wouldn't have missed, but...

After Vegas we went to see lots of rocks - Utah is just amazing with jaw-dropping scenery wherever you go.  We spent 3 nights at a place called Cedar City and began to realise how high most of Utah is: it seem to start at about 5,000 feet and go up from there.  Zion Canyon was magnificent.  We climbed up to Observation Point at the head of the canyon with jaw dropping views all round,

 over 2,000 feet above the valley floor.  But there were chipmunks


and flowers everywhere, 

except the vertical rock faces. 


Had warning lights on the hire car on the way back so next day we had to change it which took us about 100 miles out of our way (to the next town)(but got an upgrade)  then walked the amazing Bryce Canyon, famed for its weird rock formations, or hoodoos.

  Here we started at 8,000 feet and walked down.

Next was a long and stunning drive along scenic highway 12, stopping at Kodachrome Basin to see the rock chimneys,

 then Calf Creek to admire more flowers and rocks, with a waterfall at the end.
 
A bit further along the scenery changes to bare rock, almost as far as the eye can see.  

Spent the night in a camping cabin (more like a shed but it did have a heater) in a very cold park.

Continued along highway 12 stopping to admire more rocks in 'The Narrows' at Capitol Reef where we watched a pair of peregrine falcons playing above us.

Need to post this because we're off to more stunning scenery tomorrow and we don't want to get confused about what was where!  The colours and formations have been out of this world - would recommend a visit any time.