Utah!

I finally made it out of Arizona! Utah has spectacular roads! Compared to the coolness of the Grand Canyon, southern Utah was hot. Around 80 degrees, windy and dusty.

First stop was Paria Ghost Town. It was supposed to have been rebuilt into a movie set for some famous western movies, but it was burnt down by some low life. The BLM rebuilt it again in a more accessible location and it, too, was burned to the ground probably by the same low life. I thought there would be something left. The ghost town was at the end of a dusty dirt 6 mile road, past the day use area, past the cemetery, and ending at the trailhead which was deep in sand. I walked another 2 miles, across a river (not a dried one either!), through bushes...I had no idea where I was going as the trail ended at the river. I finally found a couple debilitated stone buildings and a scattering of metal equipment pieces I assume from the mining operations in the 1800s. I was rather disappointed. But the scenery was spectacular deep down in the canyon surrounded by rock formations.

Camping anywhere in this park is free. I initially found a spot at the bottom of the canyon not far from the river, but there was no cell service or internet. I moved to a higher elevation that wasn't as pretty, but internet friendly. The dry, hot, desert dust blowing violently around the van all night caused me to awaken multiple times in the van unable to breathe! This desert dust is destroying my sinuses!