And the camping trip begins! First stop - Wal-Mart, for supplies. :)

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First Park, Zion National Park. It was beautiful. We started out on a hike, but was not prepared for the river walk up stream. We decided to do it anyway, didn't make it all the way to the narrows as we started late in the day and wouldn't have enough day light left to make it back. And didn't want to be trudging through river and rocks in the dark with no head lamp or proper shoes. 

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It was hot!!!! Temperatures were up in the 90's in the high elevation, it was nice to walk in the water. 

It was hot!!!! Temperatures were up in the 90's in the high elevation, it was nice to walk in the water. 

Most of the walk was shallow, but some parts were up to my thighs (karise), knees (kent). ;)

Most of the walk was shallow, but some parts were up to my thighs (karise), knees (kent). ;)

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We spent about 20 min trying to get a pic of this tree.Kent just had to get the picture of this tree. 

We spent about 20 min trying to get a pic of this tree.Kent just had to get the picture of this tree. 

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First camp site, right outside Zion. Both park camp grounds were full. This place wasn't bad, close enough to the park.

First camp site, right outside Zion. Both park camp grounds were full. This place wasn't bad, close enough to the park.

This was a buffalo farm, it was picturesque. Made the simple life very attractive. 

This was a buffalo farm, it was picturesque. Made the simple life very attractive. 

 

Second Park, Bryce Canyon National Park. I loved Zion, but I think this was my favorite of the three parks. The hiking was awesome, the sights were just so amazing, so peaceful. I kept wondering what the early settlers thought when they stumbled upon this land and how beautiful and untouched it was, yet, how difficult life must have been in every aspect 

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A very cool photo, complements to Kent ;)

A very cool photo, complements to Kent ;)

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Could have sat there for hours......

Could have sat there for hours......

Didn't see a ton of wildlife, but did see a lot of these cute little guys. 

Didn't see a ton of wildlife, but did see a lot of these cute little guys. 

I look tired, finally back at camp, ready to cook dinner. 

I look tired, finally back at camp, ready to cook dinner. 

Second campsite, we actually got a spot in the North Campground in the park. 

Second campsite, we actually got a spot in the North Campground in the park. 

So, we went into town the next day to explore, and I found this guy. They had a rodeo across the road, pretty cool little town.

So, we went into town the next day to explore, and I found this guy. They had a rodeo across the road, pretty cool little town.

 

Third Park, Arches National Park. So, we decided to go to Arches the night before we went. It was a LONG drive, but Kent really wanted to check it out, I'm glad we did. It was pretty cool. The campsite was.....unique, mixed with a motor cross park, sites were very secluded, extremely dusty, and very hot!!! We had to pull the cover off the tent all night. But it made for an amazing star and moon gazing night. A really great photo op, that we were just to tired to take because of the long drive and hikes that we did earlier. 

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Cheesy, I know, but I don't care. It's me and my husband. 

Cheesy, I know, but I don't care. It's me and my husband. 

More cheesy photos

More cheesy photos

And one more :)

And one more :)

This was pretty cool. I made Kent hike to the top of the emerald pools just to get this shot.

This was pretty cool. I made Kent hike to the top of the emerald pools just to get this shot.

At the end of our day at Arches, we met this guy from WA and he let us into his teardrop trailer and told us all about it. Pretty cool, I think I want one. 

At the end of our day at Arches, we met this guy from WA and he let us into his teardrop trailer and told us all about it. Pretty cool, I think I want one. 

 
This was by far, the dustiest campsite. We woke up with dirt all over us, in our ears, in our nose, in our eyes. It didn't help that we had the tent rain fly off because it was just way to hot. We slept on top of our sleeping bag.

This was by far, the dustiest campsite. We woke up with dirt all over us, in our ears, in our nose, in our eyes. It didn't help that we had the tent rain fly off because it was just way to hot. We slept on top of our sleeping bag.

Next morning, breakfast time, and time to hit the road back to Vegas to catch our flight back home. It was a hot trip, but it was beautiful. Almost makes you not want to go home. Wish we could be on the road a lot more than we are, but thankful for …

Next morning, breakfast time, and time to hit the road back to Vegas to catch our flight back home. It was a hot trip, but it was beautiful. Almost makes you not want to go home. Wish we could be on the road a lot more than we are, but thankful for the opportunities that do come our way. 

Love, Kent and Karise
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Utah, June 2014