This summer, Pavlik and Adam came all the way from Czechia, traveling with a Czech tour group through the American West. And I got to join them for a few days of their trip! What an adventure it turned out to be.
Our arrangement was a little unusual. Pavlik and Adam traveled with the group and slept in hotels. I drove my own car, followed their vans during the day, and joined their program. At night I camped the first night — and on the other nights, I simply slept in my car on the hotel parking lots. It worked perfectly!
Day 1 — Friday, July 3: Meeting up in Moab
Pavlik and Adam’s group had been up since before dawn — sunrise at Bryce Canyon’s Sunrise Point at 6:07, then a drive through Capitol Reef — before they rolled into Moab in the evening and checked into the Big Horn Lodge. I drove to Moab and set up my camp by the Colorado River along UT-128, right under the red cliffs. In the afternoon I hiked up to Delicate Arch — what a view!
Then I finally met up with Pavlik and Adam at the rodeo. The Spanish Trail Arena was hosting the Grand County Fair, and the three of us sat together in the bleachers under the red, white, and blue bunting. After the rodeo, we cooled off in the pool at the Big Horn Lodge. And how did we finish our first day? With a steak dinner at the Sunset Grill! Steak with shrimp and a loaded baked potato, high above the valley — the perfect start to our trip.
Day 2 — Saturday, July 4: Arches, then the long road north
I woke up early in my tent by the river. Even Krtek enjoyed the quiet morning at the campsite! Then we spent the morning in Arches National Park — Balanced Rock, and Double Arch, where we stood right underneath and looked straight up. Amazing! We also saw Landscape Arch and the Windows Section that morning. After that, the long drive north began, through Utah all the way to Idaho — with a stop in Salt Lake City to see the Mormon temple and the Utah State Capitol. We stopped for the night near Pocatello — the group at the Motel 6 in Pocatello, and me in my car on the parking lot. That night we watched the Fourth of July fireworks. Adam had been waiting for them all day! He kept insisting we had to stay until midnight.
Day 3 — Sunday, July 5: Grand Teton and into Yellowstone
From Chubbuck, I followed the group’s vans north. Our first big stop was the Tetons — the Scenic Loop! Mormon Row and the Moulton Barn, Schwabacher Landing, Snake River Overlook, Jenny Lake and Hidden Falls, Jackson Lake under those huge peaks, and the Jackson Lake Dam. Then we entered Yellowstone through the south entrance. We stopped at Lewis Falls, took a group photo at the Continental Divide sign, and walked among the bubbling pools of Fountain Paint Pot. In the golden evening light, we drove Firehole Lake Drive — so beautiful! We spent the night in West Yellowstone, with beers around the fire pit at the Gray Wolf Inn & Suites.
Day 4 — Monday, July 6: Geysers, terraces and the canyon
A full day of Yellowstone wonders! We started at Norris Geyser Basin with its steaming pools, passed Roaring Mountain and Sheepeater Cliff, walked the white terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, and stopped at the Petrified Tree, Lamar Valley, and the Calcite Springs Overlook. Then Tower Fall, Mount Washburn, and Canyon Village. And how do you end a day like that? With burgers in West Yellowstone, of course!
Day 5 — Tuesday, July 7: Bison, Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic
Another early start from West Yellowstone. In Hayden Valley, a bison grazed right behind us — so close! We stopped at Mud Volcano, then Yellowstone Lake, Thumb Geyser, watched Old Faithful erupt, and admired the unbelievable colors of Grand Prismatic Spring. After the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, we drove the Grand Loop road in the evening light. What a day! That night the group drove on overnight toward Yosemite.
Day 6 — Wednesday, July 8: One last dawn
My last morning on the road gave me my favorite photo of the whole trip — Mt. Moran reflected in the still water at Oxbow Bend at dawn. Six days, three states, and precious time with Pavlik and Adam, who I don’t see nearly often enough.
