Zion National Park, Utah

Today, Saturday, we got up at 7am to prepare for our day in Zion. It was 48 degrees and we wore our sweatshirts while packing the car. Late last evening we discovered that it was cooler outside than in our room and we had been running that mad little AC unit at top speed. It was delightful to sleep creek side with our windows open. Keep in mind it's the sun that bakes this desert country, but when it moves on to other sides of the world, it's quite cool here.

 After packing our sandwiches, granola bars, and bananas, and filling every water bottle and camel pack we were off. We drove 12 miles to the park entrance, paid the pretty lady $25, and then we drove another 12 to the parking lot of the visitors center.

 I took lots and lots of pictures just shooting out the window. Here are randomly chosen ones for you. Maybe they all look the same to you, but to us there was a new sight around every bend. And there were LOTS of bends!

This park is the most magnificent one i have been to to date. And i have been around the parks let me tell ya!

 I thought the drive in was beautiful, and it was, but the hike to come was spectacular!

 One must park, then hop on a shuttle to a desired trailhead. We drove a few miles deeper into the rocks and then hiked back to Observation Point.

 The distance from floor to ceiling was so great, and we were so 'right in it', that i couldn't even get the camera to reach!

 We were in the 2nd 'car' of a 2-bus shuttle. These pictures,too were all point and shoot. And with Dave's little green water proof camera. I decided not to take my Nikon on a hike. Left her in the car.

 Here's the beginning of an 8 mile hike. 4 miles uphill, on switchbacks and around a few rock mountains to get to a point where you can see to.......i don't know, Japan?

 2 hours or so into this we parked ourselves to eat our sandwiches. They were plenty dry, but we forced them down. We needed nutrition and energy here! We had lots of water, but when one pants for 2 hours and (her) mouth is continuously desert dry, ( she) covets something a bit damper than a sandwich. The granola bars never even saw daylight!

 Whoa!! That's a LONG way down. Take a second to find the road.Not the river, the road! A car would certainly look like an ant. Airplanes fly to Florida lower than this! I think  

 

This was the most incredible hike ever! Dave said so. It was hard and far and up, up, up! It took us 3.5 hours to get to this observation point.

 We saw lots of pretty amazing wild flowers. I love these pink cactuses. The other day, i backed against a little house plant cactus and had 100 little needles in my leg.

This part was much easier, but boy is it hard on the knees!! All old knee injuries resurface about now.

 It took about 1.5 hrs to hike back down and out. We were SO thirsty by the time we got back to the car!! It felt lovely to guzzle an entire water bottle instead of baby sucking out of those camels!!!

One last picture. Do you have any idea how that arch was carved? We don't either, but Dave spent about 30 minutes explaining his Nissley Notion. Oh, imagine if Chad or Phil would have been in the car. Or if Dad were still alive. Well, he never could talk loud or fast enough, so we'll just imagine.........If you still wonder about that rock, ask Dave. But not when i'm around, please. I already heard it! Dave would love to hear a Christian Geologist's view on it, not these evolutionists shot-full-of-holes crap.

Over dinner this evening, i read the maps and brochures that Dave picked up today. I study the trails which we were on and then i notice that they are grouped and rated 3 ways. Easy, Moderate, and Strenuous.
Do you think we chose an easy one? No
Do you think we chose a moderate one?No
Do you think we chose a strenuous one? Trick question.
Do you think 'we' HAD a choice?

It was a fabulous day! Dave is such a good tour guide, i think we should tip him.

So after a warm shower and hot meal, we chilled. While my family is watching Pirates of the Caribbean, ( we con't leave without Jack) i am blogging. No Bryce this round. We are done. It was a long day. Tomorrow we go south.

Traveling On

 ahh! watching the Phillies, no matter where we may roam.

 The view from 'my' kitchen window

 Snack is served. The watermelon that Brooke chose was SO delish. She said another lady at the store was knocking them all one-by-one and Brooke thought to herself  "just pick the biggest one and go"! We will let Brooke pick the next one also.

 Not to be out done by my Sisters-in-law, i will show off my family's Goodwill finds. I stayed home and loafed while Dave took the kids to Explora, a hands on museum in Albu. They made a few other stops, including ice-cream at Wienerschnizels. ( so they say! only 79 cents a cone)

 A scooter, and yes! a Napoleon Dynamite quote book for Megan, as if she needs it!!! I asked Dave "WHY did you let her buy that?!" He said he didn't know....."ugh! IDIOT!"

 And then some better buys. The girls have never read 'Safely Home". i'm so excited for that find!

 Today we packed up for our road trip. We left the house at 6am and are going NW to Four Corners for our first stop.

 Dave got sidetracked by Salmon Indian ruins in some little desert town. Can't remember where.

 They were pretty cool, but it never takes me very long to see what there's to see. Let's move along now.

 Alright! We love these signs.

 SWEET! Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah here. All my life i wanted to be in 4 places at once. My mind's image of 'Four Corners' has varied over the years, but i was still WAY off.

 The Indians are lined up in the the booths selling there handcrafted wares. Why, oh, why did i not snap a few pictures of their dark weathered faces with their heads of beautiful hair?!

 The majority of items for sales were jewelery pieces. Meg bought a few.

 Driving along in pure desertland, this was our first glimpse of Four Corners. And there it was, the landmark in the middle of nowhere. After spending enough time there to finally be able to say 'I was there', we back-tracked south a bit and continued westward and north into Utah.

 When would we ever tire of seeing these majestic rocks?

 They pop up on otherwise flat lands.

 Another state down......

 We happened upon a small fire. The horizon continues to be hazy from the monstrous fires south of us.

 We arrived at our $88 paid-in-full-non-refundable-2-night-suite in Mt. Caramel Junction. The moans and groans rose and swelled as we pulled into the parking lot. Dave went in to check-in while the rest of us wondered how this could have happened again! The beautiful Best Western or LaQuinta sits across the street, but no, we reserved over here, in the blue and white, one-story, low lying skinny hotel. The girls wonder when will i ever learn not to allow these call aheads. "We can't trust him!" Our only prayer for dismissal was that the entire place was smoke riddled. Dave can tolerate alot, but NO smoke. Especially not if they try to cover it up with room fresheners!

  Dave came back all chirper proclaiming it 'a dandy'! We just need to drive on over round there. We were all pleasantly surprised! It's very clean and spacious. Quite a nice bargain. They kids went down and played in the creek before we decided to go for a warm meal. First tho, Dave wanted to see the town so we all pile back into the Explorer and head up the road. After 100yrds we realized we ( the motel) is the last last building on this side of town. We drive out the other way and flip another U-ee, glance out the 3rd way and park the car again. We just saw the town.
In fact, we can see the entire town from our room! We walk to the restaurant.

 The food was very good. Brooke and I finish first and head back.

The only picture i could get with my large zoom lens. We are thankful, safe, and ready for bed.

Tomorrow we plan to go to Bryce and Zion National Parks here in Utah. Bryce is 60 miles from here and Zion only 12. We will sleep here again tomorrow night before heading for the North Rim, Grand Canyon, AZ  on Sunday.

In the Southwest

Our family has traveled to Albuquerque, NM this week to spend 2 weeks touring these southwestern states. We plan to travel to Four Corners, Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and other more local things. Today we spent a few hours in Santa Fe and otherwise we are just 'chill-laxing" at the house.
One glimpse of our panoramic view from the patio that surrounds the house.
When the kids take my camera.......

Even McDonald's acclimates.
The oldest house in the USA! I asked them to pose and they did.
Bricks made to reconstruct old buildings are drying in the sun.
Jumping Josiah! or Josiah the Jumper!
Santa Fe Railroad
Dave's always talking and keeps the attention of the kids. I'm always a few steps behind taking pictures.

The old capitol building. They've built a new one nearby.
Peppers or garlic, anyone?Sidewalk sales.
This was our lunch. We packed pasta salad that i made last evening and then today we bought bread at a bakery. A perfect little pair.Oh, the treats we didn't buy!
This was parked curbside. Dave says the trouble with this contraption for your touring services is one never knows if you're still 'in business' or broken down!
Shoulda seen his face.......dear ole chap.
The teenagers got super bored while Dave and I were utterly and hopelessly smitten in the aisles of REI. Dave was having me fitted for a backpack. The helpful salesman wondered if I am looking to day-hike or over-night hike. I said "i'm looking for a motel". But i held still long enough for my husband to swoon over what i'd look like if i were to eventually fall in love with sleeping along the trail. He has big dreams.
We finally came out of the store with trail sandals for Dave and a skirt for me. He thinks i have a lot to learn about hiking.
Back at home.....i've spent 2 late nights out here and 1 early morning. The air is SO gorgeous here. A warm breeze that lacks in humidity and not one.single.bug!!!
This picture was taken for the sky. Oh, how i love the western skies!!!Josiah checks out the water fall on the patio.The kiddos are having a swell time exploring this place!

So long for now.