Month: September 2022

First for this, first for that. What a day and it’s only 4pm Arizona time. The last secret of the trip, trying to keep positive about heading back to reality. Seriously, we do miss our kids…

Once more we greet the sunrise, and a rainbow a little later. Perfect harmony between mind and body, man and nature. Enter Tower Butte. An iconic butte that is 5000 feet above sea level. It’s like a helicopter dropped us off up there……..

It did. A first for both of us. A few days ago, Elizabeth mentioned the need for her to do more yoga, something she enjoys to stretch, breathe, and something that just improves her life in many ways. Knowing I had this booked but keeping the surprises, I quickly suggested, maybe we would find a place somewhere on this trip if we had time.

Back from the Choppa, we had a nourishment massage to heal our bones after behaving like kids hiking, climbing, more hiking, and yoga. I have never had a massage before. Another first. My expectation of a massage now is unfortunately not the norm. I walked out feeling instantly healed from all my aches and bruises.

I have no doubt this trip will not be topped. At least not for another 7 years maybe when I turn 50 and even then, this has just been too perfect. You only live once, and as Jerry said, “We’ve opted for fun in this lifetime”.

We check out tomorrow and make the first leg of the return trip. I met a lady at the airport last April who has a VRBO in southwest Colorado. About 7 hours from here. One night at her Mermaid Cottage, and then about 4 hours or so back home. Just in time for Anna’s first Homecoming and to assess the damage at the homestead. Elizabeth and I are very lucky, have more support from family and friends than we deserve, and wouldn’t be on this trip without each one of you.
PEACE.

Wow. No words can do the experience justice. I believe Wow has overtaken every word in every language around here. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a more unique experience. Happy Birthday, the big 50. Our guides on our experiences have been family names, Steven (No ph, sorry) and Mark. I always feel like I get the best guides when booking these things, or at least the ones that match our styles perfectly.

After leaving Zion National Park, with a Deep Creek Coffee in hand, of course, our route went back through the park, that allowed us to get some final shots from up above. Destination, Amangiri, outside Page, Arizona but just across the border in Utah. This will be a long update, we celebrate an incredible birthday/anniversary, and one year alcohol free. A lot going on this week.

Amangiri

We arrived well before we could check in to make our 3 slot canyon tour. Owl Canyon, Rattlesnake Canyon, and the famous Upper Antelope Canyon. We got a first hand look at what wind and water can do. Keeping with the theme of “Wow”, these canyons really don’t look real and hard to believe the force that water and wind have to make these beautiful walls and walkways. Again, we have hundreds of photos of this tour, and it is impossible to pick out a handful, but here are a few.

Happy Birthday and Anniversary Time

Celebrate good times, come on!

Is this real life? No, it’s not but we don’t have to wake up just yet.

Day 6, sticking with surprises and Elizabeth finding out as we go, it starts to get tricky now. Some things need to be put out there to make sure we want to do these things. Via Ferrata. Italian for “Iron Path”. I believe it originated in Italy to help troops get through the Dolomites. Anyway, it is a fixed route combination rock climbing. Complete with steel cabling and rungs, it allows us to climb rock walls and like terrain, while having carabiners that we transfer to the next cables, over and over, until you reach the top. Hesitant at first, Elizabeth’s concerns quickly turned to excitement. We celebrated up top a huge mesa that overlooked the gorgeous desert and mesa’s as far as you can see. After a nice hike across a portion of the property, we began our adventure to celebrate 50 trips around the sun with adventure on our mind.

LONG Bridge Across and DOWN !

Tons of pictures. I hope ya’ll enjoy. One more adventure tomorrow………………….

Peace.

I think it is safe to say Zion has been our favorite? Everyone I talked to about the parks, all had the same thing to say. Any extra time, spend it in Zion. I’ve also been thinking about what makes a park more preferred than another one. The thing that I didn’t realize at first was the town can play a huge role in the experience. Add that to the other metrics of views, uniqueness, and activities, and they do in fact start to separate themselves. Springdale, UT seems like a great little town. Food, shopping, and outdoor outfitters all were great. Not to forget Open Sky accommodations are perfect, which is about 20 minutes outside the gates.

We started off with a great stop at Deep Creek Coffee on the way to be on the early shuttles as beating the crowds, and heat, are highly recommended. We grabbed our fuel and headed to the shuttle for stop #9 to walk the Narrows. Every single spot your eyes go is a picture you want to take. It was an amazing experience to walk on and around the rocks, in the water with your walking stick, while being surrounded by mountain walls, canyon walls, whatever they are, complete with figures you mind sees in them. I think we took about 200 pictures. Here are a few. We may have a new leader in star gazing as well. Jupiter is now in the picture…

There are so many more photos that show how special Zion is. Highly Recommend.

Peace!

So far this place seems like it belongs on another planet. Wow, oh my God, and holy @#!% seem to be on repeat. Before heading out and leaving Arches, we needed to see Delicate Arch. The view is spectacular.

On a tip from a stranger, we put Arches in the rearview and off to Bryce Canyon we went. We took a longer route, HWY 12 which is hands down, the best drive I can recall taking. I have taken quite a few and nothing really can compare. One of these days, I’ll put a link to a gallery to have a glimpse, but that won’t happen tonight. We were also able to check another park off our list, Capital Reef, which was one I didn’t think we would see.

We still made great time and were able to set up camp in the afternoon with plenty of daylight. Great little tent site, car camping at its finest. After setting up camp, my plans of a fine dining experience turned into the convenient, but equally tasty backpacking meals. Seriously, these are legit and can outdo many restaurants I’ve been to. Plus, I’m always looking to mess with the gear I accumulated for a thru hike that will most likely never happen. Stars. I’ve never seen the Milky Way like I saw that night, Elizabeth agrees. While a trip to Maine was the leader in star viewing experience, a clear night in Bryce Canyon moved into first place. Iphone photos…

Had to get up early to pack up camp and vacate the tent site before we set out on the Figure Eight Trail, a way to combine Queen’s Garden, Peekaboo Loop, Navajo Loop Trail, and the Rim Trail. A little bit more challenging than I thought. It would be fine for most, and we did it in about 3.5 hours, so it is perfectly fine, but still, the climb BACK up had me silently begging for mercy on the switchbacks.

Hoodoo after hoodoo after hoodoo…

Tired, tired, tired, but we had our sites on the next surprise stop (Elizabeth finds out on a trail what the next 24 hours look like. Next stop… Zion National Park. After a 36 degree ground sleeping night, we will start to rest our bones with a little more style, here on out. Staying just outside the park at OpenSky, a camping with comfort experience. Just what we need!

That’s it for now. Elizabeth has a ton of pictures I want to upload as well. Tomorrow we do the Narrows…

Peace

Wow. The landscape is out of this world, for real, and the pictures don’t do it one bit of justice. We still can’t believe we live just 5 hours from here, but it is all part of our Master Plan… Enjoy just a few of the hundred of pictures we took, from one last morning shot before we left to Double O Arch. Out of bed, out of shape, but the crunch you hear beneath your feet will keep you going without thinking twice. Happy birthday!!!

There are simply too many photo’s to put on here. A great start to celebrating 50 trips around the sun and 20 miracle years shared together. See ya’ll soon

Ward

Early experience with the Mountain Music scene… Satisfied.

Ovo!!!! 🥚🐛🐞🪲 Cotton Candy was the winner