ZR-1 Corvette Road Trip to the Southwest and San Diego

[QB93Z]

Here are some more pictures Lyndi took in Bryce Canyon National Park:









This little Prairie Dog crossed the road in front of us, then realized that it was a ZR-1, so he came back onto the road to check it out. I stopped to avoid a Prairie Dog catastrophe and Lyndi got his picture:



I highly recommend visiting Bryce Canyon National Park. The facilities are in excellent condition. There are plenty of hiking trails that offer diverse views of the rock formations.


Jim

[QB93Z]

We have been getting many nice comments about the ZR-1.


On the hike out to Hickman's Bridge, a man stopped us on the trail and asked if we were driving the ZR-1 in the parking lot. He told us that in 1990, his brother won a red 1990 ZR-1 in a raffle. In my garage I have a poster that the National Council of Corvette Clubs advertised a national raffle giving away a new ZR-1. The man was from Minnesota, and he said that his brother kept the ZR-1 for a while and then sold it for $37,000 to buy a new truck.


In Bryce Canyon NP, a man stopped us in the lodge because he saw the LT5 on my Registry T-shirt. He told us that his brother built and still owns a Cobra Kit car that he put an LT5 in. I gave him my card and asked him to contact me so I can write an article for the Heart of the Beast news letter.


Jim

[QB93Z]

Day 13 is a special day for me. Our arrival at the North Rim Lodge in Grand Canyon National Park is the culmination of 18 months of planning. The North Rim was high on my Bucket List for a long time and I planned this trip so that I could make reservations 12 months in advance. About a week before our departure from Maryland, I got a notice that my reservation at the North Rim Lodge was cancelled because the NPS had to schedule a closure to replace the water pipes. I made a quick itinerary change to stay in Kanab, UT. We would have to make the 160-mile round trip to visit the North Rim. I was disappointed to miss my chance to stay at the North Rim Lodge, but I would at least get to visit the Park.


After we were underway for the road trip, I got an email from the lodge that the repairs had been completed and I could have my original reservation if I wanted to stay. I made another quick change and now here I am; at the North Rim Lodge on my birthday. What a great present!


We left Bryce, UT and headed south on US-89, a US Scenic ByWay



After driving through Kanab, UT, we crossed into Arizona:



The Grand Canyon is part of the Kaibab Plateau and is in the Kaibab National Forest:



The road across the plateau had little traffic and was a nice drive:





The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is 500 feet higher than the south rim. The climate is cooler and gets a lot more snow. Some snow was still present in shady areas:




to be continued....

[QB93Z]

Here are some views of the Grand Canyon from the north rim in the evening light:




As the sun set, the shapes and shadows seemed to change:









The Purple Z with the Canyon behind it:





The North Rim Lodge has a very nice comfortable feel to it. We spent some time each day in the lounge which had a great view of the canyon and was the only place that had cellular service: to




be continued.....

[QB93Z]

We drove out to Cape Royal Point which is about 20 miles east of the North Rim Lodge. The views looking to the east were stunning:





The rock formation at the point was very interesting:





From the North Rim there are not many places where the Colorado River is visible:










Here is a view from the Lodge looking west with the morning sun on the cliffs:







One of the many chipmunks that inhabit the Canyon Rim:







Jim

[BlackSheepz]

Happy Birthday Jim! So great you got to be on a trip with Lyndi and check off a bucket list item on that day!


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[efnfast]

Just wow. And happy birthday.

[Paul Workman]

Bryce Canyon - and the whole South West, for that matter, is a geologist's dream! Those stunning pictures are really lighting a fire under me to explore the possibility of a MR-WEST!

It would be grand if it could be arranged. Ami and I may have to do a little scouting trip - a forehand. Could really use your input (and would hope you would join us!).

Just thinking out loud....

[Arctic91]

Paul,


Jim's pictures are pretty motivational. If a MR West event was organized, and if it's after I move back to the states next year, I'd 100% join in on that - especially if we could get a caravan of ZR-1s from the east coast and the midwest put together. Better yet, if it was over the summer, I'd drag my 15 year old along for an extended road trip.


Scott

[XfireZ51]

I'm in for a West side tour.