Day 34 - A close shave!

After feeling some wheel judder whilst driving the last couple of days we decided that first thing we would pop to a tyre garage to get the balancing checked, also we thought we might as well do the alignment at the same time. Well, we were certainly glad we did get the wheel checked out!!

When they took the front drivers side wheel off it would appear the alignment had been way out since we left Greenwich - take a look...

So 2 new tyres and a quick thank-you to the kind people of 'Big-O-Tyres' later, we were all set and on the road again. We had already lost a couple of hours sorting the car and then it was another 4 hour drive to the first of the many national parks in Utah. We arrived in Capital Reef National Park mid-afternoon - it is loaded with red rock walls and deep river canyons.

Due to its outstanding achievement in the field of 'not having a blow out despite having a knackered tyre' we gave the car a couple of arty pictures with the park in the background....well done Buick!

We then drove into the heart of the park and along the one-way scenic drive into the canyons....the road was really rough and full of potholes - big up to the Buick once again - what a legend!

Once we stopped at the end of the 10 mile trail there were some bonkers views of the park....

After the Capital Reef Park we drove another hour to the Dixie National Forest and along a route which is quoted in our USA Rough Guide book as "Scenic Hwy-12, Utah. Crossing the heart of Utah's red-rock wilderness, Hwy-12 is perhaps the most exhilarating drive in the US", it did not disappoint!

This is a shot of the end, or start of the Grand Canyon. Tis a big crack!

That was it for the day! We were due to head to Bryce Canyon National Park but it was late so we headed for a motel. There were none of the usual chain motels nearby so we had to stick a finger in the air and pick a mom and pop place to stay. Steph chose the one below - it has to be the gayest looking place ever built - but it does the job so we are in for the night!

Sweet dreams all - I shall be sleeping well in my dolls house tonight ;o)