Three States in a day

Utah
This getting an early start is becoming the way of things. This morning we were packed up and parked at the Visitor Centre in time to get, with some serious hikers, the first (7am) bus out into the Park. We stopped at a couple of places along the drive, looked, wandered and took photos. Very different from yesterday – snow on the highest peaks, mist lifting, waterfalls full from the rain. So I could have blipped another Zion picture, but the Wild Turkey who wandered by took the limelight. (see extra)

Arizona
Then it was breakfast and away. Through Utah and crossing a corner of Arizona.

Nevada
Finally we entered Nevada again. We managed to bypass Las Vegas and get onto the right road with out any help this time, and then it was 100 miles on a very straight road through the desert – the open road. Until eventually we reached Beatty where we are staying the night – Gateway to Death Valley.

Hardly had we got into our room at the motel in Beatty, when we found a museum across the road, which was about to close. Well, we had to go didn’t we. A strange community run place, totally unorganised, but an awful lot of things being valued and cared for. This got us interested in a place Gordon had had his eye on – Rhyolite, an old ghost town. So we drove the 4 miles out of Beatty and came to a fascinating place.
 
A town that sprung up in 1905, when gold was found, it grew rapidly, until by 1907 there were 8,000 – 10,000 residents and streets full of houses, stores etc. However, the only mine did not make a profit and by 1911 the town had been abandoned. It is quite eerie now to walk down the main street and see the ruins of buildings – just left to nature and the elements. The other extra picture shows what it once was. And here is what was the impressive three-story building in the old photo – Cook Bank built in 1909, abandoned in 1911. Definitely derelict – a sad reminder of what once was.