We climb the grade up from lakeshore to US95 then point it north toward Vegas.  This is all pretty familiar.  We have driven it three times this Spring already.  There is a fuel stop – great surprise $3.84 for diesel.  We were expecting $4.45 per gas buddy.  Yeah!  We make our way through Vegas traffic then hit I15.  It is scrub land and pretty flat.  Spotty sightings of Joshua trees add some interest.  We pass Mesquite and soon enter the Virgin River Gorge. It is Impressive.  Brick red, white, and tan layers of sandstone stripe the towering cliffs on either side.  Some perfectly level some tipped nearly vertical by the movement along an ancient fault line.  Lush green grass clings to the flater slopes nearer the river providing a striking reminder the impact of water sources in this arid land.  Cedar Pass is a BLM campground right in the middle of this remarkable place.  We could not get a reservation so have our fingers crossed for one of the first come first serve sites.  Hooray!  Site 63.  Great view.  Bonus, $4 a night with a senior pass.  We will put this campground on our “certainly return” list.  Sunset is not spectacular but quietly lovely.  The sky cleared for pretty amazing star gazing, surprisingly spoiled a bit by tramp light from both the north and south.  There is some traffic noise from 15 but the night is wonderfully restful.  I fall asleep to the sound of water rushing through the bends of the narrow canyon.