It is the day before the 4th of July, and Caroline and I are on the road traveling north. Our ultimate destination is Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, but this evening, we will only go as far as Richfield, Utah.

The route we follow is well-traveled by us at this point, north on the 17 freeway out of Phoenix to Flagstaff, on to the 89 over the Navajo Reservation, past Tuba City, then crossing the Colorado River before making our way towards the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on the Kaibab Scenic Byway.

Fredonia on the Arizona side of the border gives us one more “Marx Brothers” laugh, and then Kanab, Utah, slows us down, letting us know that Moqui Cave is just ahead. Past Mt. Carmel and the junction leading to Zion National Park, further north past the turnoff to Bryce Canyon National Park until we finally arrive in Richfield. And as in previous stopovers in Richfield this time of year, the chairs are out on the side of the streets, reserving sitting rights for the 4th of July parade that will start hours after we leave – one of these days, we should hang out for the festivities.