Old Bryce Town

So we slept in a bit today. Woke up around 9:30. That's good for this trip. We had breakfast in an RV that was colder inside than the temperature was outside. We didn't plan to do anything today. We went to the oversized general store at Ruby's Inn. I should mention that everything in the vicinity is owned by Ruby. Started in 1929, Ruby's has become something of an icon in these here parts, or as we say in the east, a "monopoly" or "racket".

Anyway, we went to the gift store and the kids found some paintings and postcards of John Wayne and were very excited. Let me explain. For the past few months the kids have watched John Wayne movies with their father as I did with mine. John Wayne and James Bond were the two movie genres that I remember most watching with my dad. So the kids have gotten into it. They talk like him, walk like him, and have even wanted to dress like him. Sorry mom and dad, looks like that great cowboy outfit you got for Bryce was a few years too soon. Bryce picked up a sheriff badge today and wants a vest to go with it. His cowboy hat still fits, although it was left at home.

At this inn, across the street, there is a little fake old west town constructed for the tourists with souvenir shops and attractions, including a rodeo, atv rides, horseback tours, ice cream parlor, etc. This strip is called Old Bryce Town. Young Bryce likes this idea so we spent most of today hanging out at the local attractions. One thing that they have at this strip is a very nice rock shop. They have fossils, geodes, and a world-class selection of petrified wood. Samantha has turned into a bit of a rock hound and was very interested in this store. Out back there is an area where you can pick through the piles of rocks and buy whatever you find. Sam found some nice sandstone and something called Moqui Balls. These are ping-pong sized rocks that when split into two have interesting colored patterns inside, similar to a jawbreaker. Bryce had fun looking at the dinosaur bones and fool's gold.

We came back to the RV for lunch and a movie and headed out to see a bit of the canyon from the shuttle bus. We hit the visitor's center and walked a bit of the rim before we had to get back home. We ate inside, enjoyed another John Wayne film, Fort Apache, and called it a night. It was the lower 20's last night and it feels like the lower 30's tonight. The days are fine, around 65-70 with a nice light breeze but the nights are brutal. We could use that heat wave you guys have back home.