You really can't take anything away from the American Southwest as one of the most beautiful places on earth. I had a spectacular albeit chilly day riding around the northeast end of the Grand Canyon.

Highway 89A from Sedona to Flagstaff was a delightful twisty jaunt along the Red Rocks. Early in the morning the skies were blue bird clear and the air was crisp. I had to stop in Flagstaff to warm up and thaw my fingertips. A bit further north, I again branched off onto 89A to ride along the Vermillion Cliffs, crossing the Colorado River at Marble Canyon. Then up and over a 8000 foot snowy pass to see an amazing view of the Grand Staircase. The cold air offered stunningly clear long distance views.

The highlight of the day was riding through Zion National Park. I had intended to camp there but again the online registration system does not allow for any spontaneity. The campgrounds are fully booked many weeks in advance. Even the campgrounds outside of the park were full. It was a little warmer down in the canyon so I took an hour and half hike to enjoy the views. Unforgettable!

By the end of the day I was cold and tired so I decided on a cheap hotel in Cedar City over wild camping for the night. The hot shower felt sooo good!