Sept 1, 2011 Bryce Canyon

Betsy's class finished yesterday, but we wanted to stay an extra day to re-visit Bryce Canyon Natl Park. We were just there back in early June, but due to the fact that we had Tipper with us we couldn't hike down into the canyon. This trip Tipper stayed back in Tucson with Aunt Pat & Uncle Jack. We arrived at the park early in the morning to beat the crowd. A Ranger in the visitors center suggested that we take the Queens Garden trail at Sunrise Point but when that trail intersected with Navajo Trail to take it to Sunset Point. What a great hike! To be amongst, around, and under the hoodoo's was just spectacular. We stopped to take many pictures and to just look at the weird and wonderful landscape that was before us. Of all the places we seen during our travels Bryce Canyon is probably tops on our list. Tonight we'll pack up the car and head home tomorrow. Next trip will by in Oct when we have a family camping trip to Dead Horse State Park. Stay tuned.

August 29-31, 2011 Mt. Carmel, UT

We've arrived at our destination. We're at the Mt Carmel RV & Motel. Since we didn't bring our vintage trailer we found a vintage motel. A little dated but clean as a pin and they even gave you a dog to pet. His name was Bo and he'd come around a couple of times a day just to see what was going on. Betsy started her art class and the first thing we learned was that the published schedule (9am to 5pm with an hour lunch) had been thrown out the window. The new schedule was begin at 9am, stop at about 12:30pm and then not resume until 3:30pm and quit about 6pm. The reason for the change was the heat and humidity. Betsy and I didn't think it was that hot, but some of the other students were from northern CA, northern UT, Quebec so I guess it's okay. I did manage to check out an antique store in Kanab, drove by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (first class outfit), and drove up to Cedar Breaks National Monument which is at the 10,000 foot level. I arrived at about 10am and it was 55 degree's with an absolutely howling wind. There were a couple of overlooks that I was concerned about due to the wind. Cedar Breaks is somewhat similar to Bryce Canyon which is only about 50 miles to the north, but much smaller. Betsy's art classes lasted 3 days. She said she learned quite a bit, and I managed to stay busy.

Aug 28, 2011 continued Pipe Spring Natl Monument

After Lee's Ferry we headed toward the Kaibab Plateau and Jacob Lake, AZ where we had lunch at the Jacob Lake Inn. From there we headed toward Fredonia, AZ then west about 25 miles to Pipe Spring National Monument. Pipe Spring was a ranch started by the Mormon Church in the 1870's. The main structure is made of sandstone and was built over a spring. I'm sure that made the local Paiute tribe real happy. At that time the local area was covered in grass, but the area was overgrazed and then a drought hit and that was pretty much it for the large cattle operations. The Ranger led a tour of the main structure which at one point prepared 3 meals a day for approximately 30 people. That must have been a full time job since all of it was done on a wood burning stove. The area we're in is part of the Arizona Strip, and it's one of the least populated area's of the U.S. I guess that's enough site seeing for one day. We headed north into Utah, through Kanab, and then landed in Mt. Carmel where we'll stay for a few days.

Aug 28, 2011 Horseshoe Bend & Lee's Ferry

When we drove to Page yesterday we noticed a sign for the Horseshoe Bend overlook so first thing this morning we headed that way to do the hike before it gets to be 100 degree's. The hike itself isn't much, but the view of Horseshoe Bend is well worth it.

You can see from the picture how the Colorado River makes an almost 360 degree bend. From there we headed back down Hwy 89 to Bitter Springs where we could pick up 89A which took us thru Marble Canyon which is the beginning of the Grand Canyon and then on to Lee's Ferry. To me Lee's Ferry is somewhat like the Cumberland Gap--one of those points that allowed us to go ever westward. The ferry was completed in 1872 by John Lee at the instruction of the Mormon Church and it continued to act as the only ferry over the Colorado River between Moab, UT to Needles, CA until 1928. Today it serves as the launch point of the raft's going through the Grand Canyon. I almost had to lock Betsy in the car to prevent her from jumping on one of the rafts beginning their journey. She's always wanted to raft the Colorado. We'll have to check it out for a future trip. We hiked around the old buildings and then drove downriver to the first set of rapids. There we found a family fishing and they allowed us to take a picture of the trout they'd caught.

Aug 27, 2011 Green Valley to Page, AZ

Here we go again. Get the children and old folks out of the streets. This trip, like the last one will be without Starship Avion. We're off to Mt. Carmel, Utah which is just down the road from where we stayed a week in May.

Betsy is taking three days of pastel instruction from a nationally know artist. The classes are actually at the summer studio of Maynard Dixon which was shown in our May 30, 2011 blog entry. We took off early this AM and headed to Page, AZ. Of course, Page is next door to Glen Canyon Dam which created Lake Powell. The beauty of the red sandstone along with the blue water just amazes me. And get this--the shoreline of Lake Powell with all it's nooks and crannies is longer than our entire Pacific coastline. We visited the Glen Canyon Dam visitors center and then found a road that led to a small swimming area. We hiked over the sandstone and found a small slot canyon. We didn't expect it to be so hot up here. It was close to 100 degree's.