June 11, 2014

Utah Adventure Day 5:

We had to say goodbye to picturesque Torrey to head over to Glendale, Utah via Highway 12. It was scenic alright. So scenic that in one spot we had over-the-cliff views on both sides of the narrow highway! Just as I started reaching for the rosary beads, things got better. Actually it was a very beautiful drive.  We stopped just outside Bryce Canyon and dropped our trailer so we all (including the dogs) could drive up the canyon in our truck. Wow!

"There are deep caverns and rooms resembling ruins of prisons, castles, churches with their guarded walls, battlements, spires, and steeples, niches and recesses, presenting the wildest and most wonderful scene that the eye of man ever beheld, in fact it is one of the wonders of the world." - T.C. Bailey (govt. land surveyor 1876)

No hiking today because dogs aren't allowed on the trails but we saw all of the main rock formations from the observation points. We will have to come back and hike down into the canyon another time.

We did learn about Hoodoos (rock pinnacles) that are prevelant in Bryce but am sorely disappointed in the gift shops. If I ran the gift shops I would make sure there were t-shirts that said, "Hoodoo you think you are?" or "Hoodoo you love?" I think they're missing out....

Tonight we are in the tiny town of Glendale and anticipating our visit to Zion National Park tomorrow!

June 11, 2014

Utah Adventure Day 5:

We had to say goodbye to picturesque Torrey to head over to Glendale, Utah via Highway 12. It was scenic alright. So scenic that in one spot we had over-the-cliff views on both sides of the narrow highway! Just as I started reaching for the rosary beads, things got better. Actually it was a very beautiful drive.  We stopped just outside Bryce Canyon and dropped our trailer so we all (including the dogs) could drive up the canyon in our truck. Wow!

"There are deep caverns and rooms resembling ruins of prisons, castles, churches with their guarded walls, battlements, spires, and steeples, niches and recesses, presenting the wildest and most wonderful scene that the eye of man ever beheld, in fact it is one of the wonders of the world." - T.C. Bailey (govt. land surveyor 1876)

No hiking today because dogs aren't allowed on the trails but we saw all of the main rock formations from the observation points. We will have to come back and hike down into the canyon another time.

We did learn about Hoodoos (rock pinnacles) that are prevelant in Bryce but am sorely disappointed in the gift shops. If I ran the gift shops I would make sure there were t-shirts that said, "Hoodoo you think you are?" or "Hoodoo you love?" I think they're missing out....

Tonight we are in the tiny town of Glendale and anticipating our visit to Zion National Park tomorrow!

June 10, 2014

Utah Adventure Day 4:

We are camping in Torrey, Utah which is a cute little town right outside the Capital Reef National Park. There are tremendous rock formations in the park but the town is a green agricultural area. A little oasis. The boys decided to go on a guided fishing trip today so Karen and I ventured into the National park. We did a 3 mile hike up to Hickman's Bridge. It was not as strenuous as yesterday but well worthwhile especially since for awhile we were the only ones on the trail. After the hike we stopped to see the petroglyphs made by the Fremont Indians who lived here many years ago. We also visited the old homestead of the Mormon pioneers who settled here after the Indians. Since this Fruita area is known for the orchards, of course we had to buy some homemade pies for tonight's dessert! 

I also bought a book called The Prairie Traveler by Randolph B. Marcy -Captain U.S. Army. This book was printed in 1859. The book was written as a handbook for American Pioneers. The chapters include: Different routes to take, repairing broken wagons, rattlesnake bites, packing supplies, and fighting Indians. I'm finding it very entertaining and informative about this time in history when people were venturing out to discover new territories to settle. For instance, we look for where gas stations are along our route. This guide explains the grass availability on the different routes for your oxen and mules to refuel. Now you know......

Look for the bridge behind us between our hats.

June 9, 2014

Utah Adventure Day 3:

We hit the trails this morning in the Arches National Park. We hiked the trail to the Delicate Arch. Well, you can't be too delicate to make it to Delicate Arch! It was strenuous and involved a lot of navigating over rocks but the destination was beautiful! It is amazing how some people are not as careful on these high cliffs as they should be....after saying this, the next thing we knew we decided to climb up some boulders for a better photo op under a smaller arch. Well, I overestimated my ability to heave myself up the rocks and in the process butt dialed Siri who dutifully asked "can I help you?" Don was the one who helped in the the end-literally when he pushed my derrière up the rock with Siri declaring that she "needed some help!" We got our photos and made it down in one piece!

This afternoon we hitched up the wagons and continued west to Torrey Utah. On a not so positive note, our bike Tule bent and dragged our bikes on the highway until a Good Samaritan in a passing car flagged us down. Fortunately I think only the front wheels of our tires are ruined. I guess we won't be going on a bike ride any time soon.....

   

   

June 9, 2014

Utah Adventure Day 3:

We hit the trails this morning in the Arches National Park. We hiked the trail to the Delicate Arch. Well, you can't be too delicate to make it to Delicate Arch! It was strenuous and involved a lot of navigating over rocks but the destination was beautiful! It is amazing how some people are not as careful on these high cliffs as they should be....after saying this, the next thing we knew we decided to climb up some boulders for a better photo op under a smaller arch. Well, I overestimated my ability to heave myself up the rocks and in the process butt dialed Siri who dutifully asked "can I help you?" Don was the one who helped in the the end-literally when he pushed my derrière up the rock with Siri declaring that she "needed some help!" We got our photos and made it down in one piece!

This afternoon we hitched up the wagons and continued west to Torrey Utah. On a not so positive note, our bike Tule bent and dragged our bikes on the highway until a Good Samaritan in a passing car flagged us down. Fortunately I think only the front wheels of our tires are ruined. I guess we won't be going on a bike ride any time soon.....

   

June 8, 2014

Utah Adventure Day 2:

We made it to Moab in good time this morning and met up with Gary and Karen at the campground. We have a beautiful view from our camper of this gorgeous landscape! This afternoon we explored a The Canyonlands National Park. Wow! I guess I've seen so many paintings that it looked fake like a background of a western movie. The weather was perfect- only in the low 80's and enough breeze to be pleasant. Also enough breeze to whisk my favorite hat off my head and into the canyon. Hundreds of years from now it will be on exhibit in a museum near here as an artifact of the dwellers that used to visit here. There are many tourists from Europe and it is humbling to see that they can read all the information plaques in English. When I was in Europe, I was relieved that the museums had everything written in English!

 

 

 

June 8, 2014

Utah Adventure Day 2:

We made it to Moab in good time this morning and met up with Gary and Karen at the campground. We have a beautiful view from our camper of this gorgeous landscape! This afternoon we explored a The Canyonlands National Park. Wow! I guess I've seen so many paintings that it looked fake like a background of a western movie. The weather was perfect- only in the low 80's and enough breeze to be pleasant. Also enough breeze to whisk my favorite hat off my head and into the canyon. Hundreds of years from now it will be on exhibit in a museum near here as an artifact of the dwellers that used to visit here. There are many tourists from Europe and it is humbling to see that they can read all the information plaques in English. When I was in Europe, I was relieved that the museums had everything written in English!