After an early start to watch a couple of World Cup matches with Dan, Hannah and I wandered into Cedar City. Someone at some time decided to make this Shakespeare capital of Utah (and America? And therefore the world?) Every year they hold their Shakespeare Festival which takes place in a full-size reconstruction of an Elizabethan theatre, located on the university campus. Not what you expect to find around here.
After that we met up with Dan again and headed for Toadz, the local sports bar, to catch the England/Algeria game. Surprisingly we were the only three people in there for the entire two hours (which at least meant fewer had to suffer England's ongoing football nightmare). We then waved goodbye to Dan - he was off to Vegas to catch his flight home - and drove north-west. The scenery was eye-popping (and ear-popping) as we went up and down the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The amazing thing about this country is how much stuff is just there if you take the time to stop. The bigger worry is how much you miss by driving by, but today we did well by opting for a break in Great Basin National Park. It claims to be the least visited of all the national parks (its location can't help) but its walks and views, and caves, match up to anything its more popular siblings can offer. We took a short hike through aspens and pine around Wheeler Peak, and almost saw a mountain lion.
The last night of our road trip is here in Ely. Not the one in England, where Hannah's brother lives, but in a wide valley in Nevada. It's a crossroads town that has the luck of being on an Indian reservation, so we made sure to sample one of the two casinos. But Friday night around here is not the best time to be out, and we got scared of all the teenage drinkers (too long ago for us to remember) so ran back to the safety of our motel room. Tomorrow it's all the way home to hopefully sunny California.
Utah was one of Shakespeare's favourite places.
"Let's build a replica of an Elizabethan theatre, and let's put it...here!"
Toadz bar. Thank goodness we got there early.
Dan demonstrates tactics.
Before: quietly confident.
After: not being consoled by Dan (he is wearing suspiciously Algerian colours).
The long and non-winding road to Ely.
Hannah speeds to beat a dust devil (they have priority in this state).
What's the difference between a buffalo and a basin?
Looking back at the Great Basin itself.
Hannah is pleased with our motel.
Wheeler Peak.
Aspens.
Conquering a snowy summit. Weren't we in the middle of a desert only two days ago?
But look what I found on top! Undoubtedly mountain lion prints! It's true - dogs aren't allowed in the park...
Hannah crosses a bridge. We were a little lost at this point.
The wonders of Ely.
Yep, just like Vegas.
But Hannah is unimpressed.
