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Home again safe and sound just in time to load up the ark!

From the sublime to the ridiculous

The Virgin River carved out all the rock formations in Zion, ran behind our hotel room and carved the way through the mountains to Vegas. (ending at Lake Mead)
There was a lot of haze in the air: we came around a mountain and saw the city in silhouette far in the distance. No neon. no colors. Interestingly, the first color to emerge as we got closer was the golden hue of the Trump Tower.

What recession? The streets are very crowded as is our hotel. We booked through Priceline and got the Imperial Palace which is hidden away between Harrah's and the Flamingo - hard to find even if you're looking for it. We had a coupon for the Flamingo Buffet which was delicious with a wonderful view of the Wildlife Habitat. Wonderful dinner at Gallagher's in New York New York.

Closer to sea level, it is a lot hotter here than anywhere else we've been but still beautiful weather.

Saw more nudity in Moab!

On to Zion

We had a delicious breakfast with a Dutch couple who were traveling the opposite direction from us so we were able to share hints about our respective travels. Then off to Zion which is yet another incredible place in the middle of nowhere. We loved everything about the B&B where we stayed in Panguitch but when we arrived at the Desert Pearl in Springdale I was SO sorry we were only staying one night! Very contemporary, spacious room with a view of the Zion rocks and one of the best pools I've ever seen. But no time for it! We must get hiking!

2 shirts seen in gift shop: "Hiked Zion, loved it"
and for me: "Hiked Zion, bitched all the way"

But seriously, the view was totally worth it!

Plan 2 nights. Stay at the Desert Pearl. Hang out.

Mule Train

Matti thought it would be fun to take a mule ride down into Bryce Canyon so he signed us up foe a Sunday morning trip.
I went along rather apprehensively and got myself up onto my mule alright but as soon as Bo the handsome cowboy started giving me "driving" lessons I decided this was not for me. Bo convinced me to stay on by leading me down the steepest part of the trail but when he handed me the reins at the bottom I had to beg off! "But you're past the hardest part!" he said. "Yes, but I'd rather walk back up than continue on" I said. I was so obsessed with every step the mule took that I could not enjoy the scenery at all. Too Bad.
Matti enjoyed his ride while I took the shuttle to Bryce point and enjoyed the view from there.
That afternoon we drove out to Escalante where we were buzzed by a little single engine airplane just as we reached the highest part of the hogsback with steep drop offs on each side of the road! YIKES!

Collapse on Wall Street

We were hiking down into the slot canyons of Bryce and had stopped in an area called "Wall Street"to take a photo of an incredibly tall douglas fir when down she went! At first I was worried about my elbow but the only damage seems to be to my wrist. Heres hoping some ibuprofen does the trick!

Continued on our way through the "Queens Garden"and back up to the rim without further incident. I am now a Hiker Queen!

Back at the lodge for lunch we glimpsed the first ever wedding at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. We think the bridal party arrived in a huge RV and the bride was getting changed in the handicapped stall of the ladies rest room!

Bryce Canyon

We traveled higher up into the mountains and from summer to fall today as we saw our first autumn foliage. The mountains here are dark around their bases and the tops look as though they have been sprinkled with yellow and orange confetti. Then some of them have granite tops and look as though they have permanent snowcaps.

We are staying in a Bed& Breakfast in Panguitch Utah and we are the only Americans here!
Bonjour!

Bryce is a magical place. We hiked around the rim until sunset and then had a delicious dinner in the lodge. Signed up for mule rides on Sunday.

Flashed in Moab

It was rise and shine early this morning to take a jet boat ride down the Colorado River through Canyonlands National Park. A school bus pulled our boat down to the river and we put in at a launching site used by many rafters. They were all young, we were all old. On the way down stream we passed some incredible rock formations. Cruising back upstream we passed formations of another kind as the rafterettes flashed us!
A break for lunch before heading out on a 4x4 tour through Arches National Park with a very knowledgeable guide.
Later on, dinner at Bucks Grill House was totally the best meal on the trip! (elk stew for me)

On To Utah

More incredible geology accompanied us on our long ride through Monument Valley and more dry terrain as we made our way to Moab. We did our laundry and got ready for tomorrow's early morning float ride down the Colorado River.

Adam

Adam was our guide for a 4 hour tour through the Canyon de Chelly. He is a Navajo who grew up in the canyon so his insights gave us a special perspective on the native culture and geology of the area.
After lunch we took an unguided tour around the upper rim of the canyon and were blown away by its beauty. A definite must see, and somehow more Euopeans than Americans are aware of that fact!
Interestingly, the other couple on our tour was from Newton. They asked some very insightful questions which added to the value of our tour.

Canyon de Chelly

It was a long ride through the desert today. Hard to believe the variety of scenery along the way! It seemed to change minute by minute. Lots of rocks in all different colors and formations.
Forced to eat at McDonalds in Tuba City; I haven't had a quarter pounder on years!

Grand Canyon

We were lucky enough to get a room right on the rim of the Grand Canyon. When we first arrived it seemed quite crowded, especially to Matti. There were so many Germans there I swear Lufthansa must have a private landing strip nearby!

My training paid off when I was able to take a Ranger guided hike partway down the Kaibob trail and no one had to come rescue me! No heatstroke, no broken bones. I am now a certified Hiking Princess.

Dinner at the El Tovar: service and surroundings were impeccable, the food rather bland. Matti had the crab stuffed trout, I had the pork chops.
Did I mention that I love the weather here? I love the weather here!

We returned from dinner just in time to see the 9th inning of Zambrano's no hitter. It sure gets late early here!

Sedona, Jerome

Took a ride through the beautiful countryside to the old copper mining town of Jerome. Its a funky old place built into the side of a hill. All twisty turns and switchbacks as we made our way up to the Jerome State Historic Park and then onto the Asylum which is a very delicious restaurant in an old state hospital.
We next took a trip out to Slide Rock where it was just too cold for us to take a dip despite all my years of training at Nauset Beach!
Todays sunset hike into Fay Canyon was much more manageable length and prettier than yesterday's. Caught the end of the Sox game during dinner at the Cowboy Club.

We could see "Snoopy" right out our hotel window!

Sedona

Up bright and early this morning to take the obligatory Pink Jeep Tour. Breathtakingly beautiful scenery and an excellent tour guide/driver but definitely not my style of travel! Lunch at Wildflower Cafe, our new favorite restaurant and a loll by the pool before heading out for a hike around Airport Mesa. WAY too long! Highlighted by a small plane landing practically over our heads. North by Northwest!

Landed!

How appropriate that our plane flew right over the St Louis Arch on our way west!


On arrival in Phoenix our first stop was Banner Memorial Hospital where Matti's Dad had his first job as an MD. Photo op! Then on to Memorial Hospital where brother Tom was born.

Driving to Sedona we could see a huge lightning storm up ahead of us but luckily it cleared up in time for us to see a beautiful sunset refected off the red rocks.

Bumpy Beginning

The day before liftoff was fully loaded with activities and work commitments. I was planning on working from 4 til 8 and then attending a Garden Club meeting, after which we were going to drive to a Providence airport hotel for the night.
Best laid plans! I came out of work to find not one but two flat tires!
Matti to the rescue with his tire iron and an inflater. He changed one tire and inflated the other so we could limp home. No Garden Club for me, but at least we got out of town!