Day 2 - Visit to Zion National Park

Since I was staying in Cedar City for another night/another play, I drove back to Zion because I missed it yesterday.I stopped first at Kolob Canyon and bought an Annual Park Pass. (I have until the end of June 2011 to visit any other park in the nation without paying an entrance fee. Good investment.) The spot was beautiful but I ended up returning to the entrance after spending more than a few miles on a gravel road without turnouts. Who knows, I could have been taking myself somewhere I didn't really want to go. I decided to enter the park in another location further down the Interstate. On the way I passed a number of small towns, most notably the towns of Browse and Virgin. So...do the residents call themselves Browsers and Virgins? I love small towns EXCEPT when the speed limit drops too fast. Now, in full disclosure I will say that when I drive for long periods, I sometimes trance out. I keep fully aware of the road, mind you, but not so much the speed I am driving. I am on one of these roads; have left the interstate where I was driving 75 (actual speed limit). The first speed sign I see is 25 (about a mile later); I spot the sign at the same precise moment I see the police car waiting for someone like me. Yup...I had slowed down but not quite quickly enough...I see the flashing lights. Being the good citizen I am, I have my license and insurance card ready for him. He had never heard of Surprise (but he knew about Browse and Virgin?). Registration handed over...he goes back to his car...after a REALLY LONG time he returns with my documents and a very nice goldenrod paper. I am thinking CRAP (although I probably thought some word a little more descriptive)...he returns my documents...then the paper that says WARNING. Thank you!!! Needless to say I will now be using my cruise control for ALL speed limits.

Okay, back on the road again. Arrive at another entrance to Zion, stop by the Visitors Center (they have nice bathrooms), and decide to drive myself around. There were MANY people and although they had a shuttle, I didn't want to be confined to someone else's time schedule. At Zion, not my smartest decision...only shuttles can go to the coolest places...cars have their own path. It was nice though and I will put this location down for another visit at another time.

Back to Cedar City and preparations for MERCHANT OF VENICE. I decided to drive tonight since my feet still hurt a little from the walk last night. I arrived to the Orientation and the Green Show (tonight was Scottish night) and then the play. NO kids tonight...the audience was older and more familiar with Shakespeare. The play was AWESOME. Some of the actors looked familiar (from last night familiar) and sure enough, checking the Playbill, many of these actors are playing parts in more than one of the plays. I am thinking...how do they keep the lines straight and memorize so much. Obviously not a career choice for moi.

What I learned today: Watch your speed while driving, especially in small towns. Today was a bonus day...I also learned about mosquitos and why they bite some people more than others. According to the gentleman sitting behind me at the play (and he says there is an actual study out of England) they bite those who are less stressed. Less stressed? Me? I thought it was all about the sweet blood...he says the blood is sweeter for those who carry less stress. I may look up this study...or maybe not.