St George gift trip

I have a Friend who called and said, "Tell me when you are going to use my condo in St George. I'm not joking. When are you going?" I have wonderful, generous friends. And that is how we found ourselves in St George on the first vacation we've had since before covid.

Steve wanted to try something new and suggested we go to the Valley of Fire. The day we went the temperature was mid-80s. Holy Hannah. It was hot. There were warnings all through the park not to enter because you will suffer from the heat. They were not kidding. Hot. Hot. Hot. After checking for water we went on the longest one mile hike we have ever undertaken. The trail meandered through sand, over stone, and into a tiny slot canyon...at least that is what the map showed. In real life it was somewhat difficult to focus on the beauty; it was all you could do to focus on putting one foot in front of the other because the heat was all encompassing.

There was no wind blowing, just heat radiating off rocks.The rocks, while insanely hot, were some of the most beautiful we had ever seen. Pink, white, yellow striations undulated everywhere we looked. We were halfway through and M and J were ready to call it quits. D and C wanted to keep going. I told M and J I would walk back to the car with them but then Steve and D and C walked 50 more feet and found themselves in a small slot canyon. There was no wind but at least there was shade. We rested there for a very long time before making our way to the car. We rested another very long time in the shade of another rock. It is mid-May. I cannot even imagine mid-July or August.

The Elephant

Resting in the hot shade.

Pressure and heat fused rocks millennia ago.

Everyone was parched when we returned to the car. We made a short stop at the grocery store for cool beverages. Steve took the kids in while I called Tuacahn to see why we had not received our tickets to Wonderland. The show was supposed to start in a few hours. The box office gave the startling news that the show had been canceled due to extra weeks of chilly weather and wind that had damaged the set. I was completely and totally bummed and sadly mentioned the only reason we had come to St George that particular week was to see that show. I was placed on a brief hold and when he returned he said that he would like to offer us an invitation to attend the dress rehearsal that evening in addition to a full refund. Yes! Yes! Yes! Such an amazing day! And that is how we found ourselves in Tuacahn on the second row with no one in front of us and very few people around us watching a Broadway quality show for free!