Hiking – Shopping? Hiking – Shopping? Hmmm. Shopping!

October 28, 2013: Zion National Park.

We make the big move – about ½ mile away from this cute Toad.

We are moving from South Campground to Watchman Campground where we have reservations – and electricity – for the next five nights.  Before we leave South we take a final walk.  We notice this little trailer and need a photo to share.  I would guess it’s about the size of a king size bed.  I just love it. 

Rain is in the forecast for the day and it’s become rather blustery so we decide to pass on hiking in the park and instead opt for an afternoon in Springdale.

Kokopelli Lovelocks.

As we cross the foot bridge to the shuttle stop Jack notices something off to the side of the bridge.  It’s a metal frame with Kokopelli figures and interlocking chains filled with “Lovelocks”.  Across the top it says, “Hearts Together Love Forever”.

Apparently, couples attach their own “Lovelock” to a section of the web of the chain.  Alexandra & Thomas have their special date of 09.08.2013 on their colorful lock.

 

Checkin’ out hardware, hats, and eateries.

The shuttle drops us off in downtown Springdale.  One stop is the local hardware store.  Jack finds the hat section and can’t resist trying on the giraffe hat.  Oh my!  (Check out his other hats on the “Jack’s Hats” tab.)

We glance through some galleries, a few souvenir shops, and check out some restaurants.  Café Oscar looks like the place to have a great meal before leaving the area. 

Blue glass for sale.  Yup!  It weighs the same no matter which side you lay it on.

We wander along the street until we come to The Prospector, a gem and jewelry shop.  We stop to look at the beautiful blue “rocks” piled high in bins outside the store meant to entice passersby to stop.  It’s labeled – “Blue Manmade Glass $3.00/lb”.  What would we want with chunks of blue glass?  We walk across the street, sit down at the shuttle stop, and wait for the next park-bound bus.

Across the street at The Prospector, a man walks up to the blue glass, selects a chunk, sits it on the scale and weighs it.

Picks it up, turns it over, and weighs it again.  Picks it up, turns it yet another direction, and weighs it again.  Sure enough – it weighs the same no matter what direction you place it on the scale.  As we pass the time observing his silly antics, he makes his selection of several pieces of authentic manmade blue glass.  Thankfully, our trusty driver, Mike, shows up to take us back to Zion before the unsuspecting blue glass purchaser sees us laughing hysterically.  

Others hop on the shuttle on their way back into Springdale.

We head back across the foot bridge on our way to Watchman Campground.

 And another pretty evening at home.

Isn't it all so magnificent?  As we sit at our campsite, I wonder what tomorrow will bring.  The only thing I know for certain is - more beauty.