This morning we woke up at 5am in order to get ready and drive down to the start of the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon. The race started in Bryce Canyon and, after one right turn, was basically a straight shot to the finish line in the town of Cannonville. The race started at 6am before the sun was even up. We learned the hard way that it can get pretty cold at night in Utah, so at the start of the race it was in the 50’s. They had fire pits at the start line also. When the race started everyone was cheering and they set off some fire works.
It started to warm up as the sun came out and the morning sky here is beautiful. Races are always so much fun when you have awesome scenery to destract you from the fact you are running 13 miles. Here are a few pictures snapped mid-race.
Somewhere between mile 10-11 it started to rain. And lightening. Which we should have known considering the weather we have had lately in Utah with unpredictable rain storms. We got nice and soaked and then wouldn’t you know the sun started to come up again by the time Danielle reached the finish line. This was her 13th half marathon and 7th one this year alone. Here are some pictures from the finish line.
We stopped for a quick breakfast and back to the campground to shower. We said how good it would be to just go to a movie or sit down in a restaurant with AC. The difference between Bryce Canyon and Moab, is that Bryce doesn’t really have much of a town. There is a restaurant/tourist/tour business called “Ruby’s” that seems to own pretty much everything in town. We looked up the closest Movie Theatre/Starbucks/Town and it was Cedar City, Utah about an hour away. It was only about 10 am (the nice part about a race starting so early you are ready for the day even earlier!). So we started driving to Cedar City along scenic byway 12.
And then we saw a sign for Las Vegas. “Wonder how far it is to Vegas?” We both said in unison. One quick google map search and we made up our minds. We are going to Vegas. This spontaneous sojourn was made quick easy. We reserved a room at the Tropicana, right on the strip, and since it is technically a Hilton-Double Tree, we used hotel points and made the reservation for free.
So we left Utah. We spent a week there and it was a perfect amount of time to get to all 5 parks. We stopped at a walmart- subway to eat and get gas as soon as we crossed over into Nevada and the Pacific time zone. We picked up some Doritos that we have never seen before.
By 3:30 pm we were standing in the lobby of the Tropicana. We went to check in but our room was not ready. The lady also told us that she wasn’t sure why we were able to make the online reservation because the hotel was sold out for the night. The only room available, which they usually always hold for Hilton Diamond Members just in case they walk in, was a junior suite. We’ll take it!! We had to wait about an hour for the room to be ready so we walked around the casino, checked out the pool outside (it was beautiful) and got a beverage.
Once the room was ready we got ready to go out. The hotel is right there on the strip so we just planned to walk down one side and back the other. Saturday night in Las Vegas and it was packed! So many visitors, street performers, etc. our first stop was the Bellagio for “The Buffet”. We had to wait in a short line but we really enjoyed the buffet! John ate his weight in gourmet meat, and Danielle in desserts respectfully. Here are a few pictures but the food disappeared faster than I could take a picture.
After dinner we walked around The Bellagio and then out to Cesar’s Palace (insert an endless stream of ‘The Hangover’ jokes).
We gambled a little there and at the Mirage. We spent the rest of the evening just walking (it ended up being about 8 miles total) and looking at the fountain water shower, Paris, Bugsy Segal’s Flamingo Casino, planet Hollywood where Elvis and Priscilla got married, MGM grand, and the Luxor. Here are a few pictures.
Everything was bright and huge and loud. We found a quiet spot at Sin city Brewery where we were actually able to sit down and order the first reasonable prices beer all night.
We made it back to the hotel sometime after midnight and crashes. It was so good to sleep in a King size bed after camping for about a week and a half. The shower was hot, free, limitless, and even had a seat in it. It was weird not to have to wear shower shoes! Our hotel room also provided a sweet view of the morning sky (disregard the mesh wire and the Hooters).
Las Vegas was an awesome side trip that we are so happy we did. One night was defiantly plenty for now, but it was be awesome to come back and see a show and relax by the pool. Maybe a long weekend sometime? Tomorrow we will get to see the Hoover Dam en route to the Grand Canyon. Have we mentioned lately how awesome this country of ours is?!
Dietz Summer Road Trip 