Stuck in Amarillo until at least Tuesday. Just dropped the RV at the Amarillo Truck Center - it's Saturday so they won't get to it until at least Monday.
Dad is handling things actually quite well, considering we're somewhat stranded in Texas' 12th largest city (can you tell we've got more time on our hands now?).
Several thoughts on the situation. 1) All things considered, this could have happened at a lot worse time than now. Imagine if it had happened at our first lunch stop out of Cincinnati...or in the middle of Utah with no services, let alone a sizable town, for over a hundred miles? We're in a decent city, with decent food (steaks and bbq and huge portions - not bad at all), and it doesn't foul up the rest of our vacation. 2) The spirit of the trip is to make positives out of negatives. So we're all viewing this as a chance to explore Amarillo and enjoy another couple of days out and about. It's an adventure, and any adventure that comes with a King bed is okay with me.
Anyway, we'll keep you all informed as we learn more. Hey, if money gets tight, there's a restaurant in town that offers a 72 oz steak for free, if you can eat it in an hour. Hmmm....
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Oh. My. Gosh. (Steph)
Let me say again. Oh. My. Gosh. WHAT a day!
First, Santa Fe was AWEsome, AWEsome, AWEsome! Incredible food, GREAT shopping, wonderful history, AMAZING scenery! Could easily spend 2 weeks there. I won't get too wordy :-) but among my favs were: the Cathedral Basilica, San Miguel Mission, Loretto Chapel, the Palace of the Governors, all of the shopping in and around the Plaza, the Plaza and of course, El Restaurante de Chimayo. Sigh. Just a very cool city. Its nickname is "The City Different" and we LOVE the differences!
SO, ok. Today we got up and started "breaking camp" to start the long journey home. Would take about 4 days. First stop, a relatively short drive to Amarillo, TX (and back to Central Time). Had some pretty annoying problems with the leveling jacks again. Took a long time to get up and stored, but ended up being fine.
We had decided while at Santa Fe to not get the problem looked at there that caused us to not feel comfortable towing the van behind the rv. Decided it would be better to just continue to follow with the van driving and then get it all looked at by the people Bob knows and trusts in Cincy.
Matt and I drive in the van following Bob and Karen and the girls in the rv. We stop at a Stuckey's (WHOO HOO, let me tell you) truck stop just inside TX for lunch. We come back out. Matt switches the car seats in to the van so the girls can ride with us and give Grammy and Zayde a break. We are sitting in the van waiting for Bob to finally move the rv. We wait. We wait some more. Karen comes out and tells us Bob can't get the stupid rv to start. We pull off to the side.
Bob decides to call AAA. They say they'll send a tow truck out. Well, like almost 2 hrs later (at this point we've moved back in to the rv where the girls can run around and watch dvd's, too), a huge PINK tow truck shows up! Almost an hour after that, the tow truck guy gets the rv hitched up to the tow truck. AAA has told us they can take it to a repair shop in Amarillo. We're happy because at least we'll still be moving east and not backtracking. By now, Bob has called and there are no rooms available in any Marriotts in Amarillo. Ugh. He calls AAA and they are about to find us a Comfort Inn Suites. Bob cancels our Amarillo rv park reservation. We feel better about having a place to sleep.
Less than a minute after we pull out of the Stuckey's, the tow truck guy pulls over (just off the ramp almost on to I-40) b/c he's not comfortable with the connections. Bob gets out to help. Bob gets in the rv to do something with the brakes or something in the rv. WE wait. Finally the tow truck guy pulls forward (with the rv attached safely now). We in the van expect Bob to walk back to us to get back in the van. No Bob. We're a little confused but expect that maybe he is riding in the tow truck. Hm. So, Matt calls Bob on his cell. He talks to Bob and gets off and proceeds to tell us that Bob was still in the rv and the tow truck guy didn't know and pulled off without letting him out. At this point we are SO incredibly tired and slap happy and feeling like nothing else will surprise us that we crack up laughing for like 20 minutes at the though of poor Bob in the rv being towed by the tow truck.
ANYway, we finally make it to Amarillo and the repair place is closed. Ugh. We knew that would happen but it just sort've adds to the day, ya' know? So we go check in to the hotel. It's nice. Each family unit has their own room (adjoining) and a king size bed w/ a pull out couch and plenty of room for the pack 'n play and for the girls to spread out. AND free wifi. NICE!
At this point, we are doubtful that the rv will get fixed by the end of the work day tomorrow and the place is probably closed on Sun. We are PRAYING that we'll be able to leave here by Monday. Sigh. We'll have plenty of time to explore Amarillo at least.
More later. Steph
First, Santa Fe was AWEsome, AWEsome, AWEsome! Incredible food, GREAT shopping, wonderful history, AMAZING scenery! Could easily spend 2 weeks there. I won't get too wordy :-) but among my favs were: the Cathedral Basilica, San Miguel Mission, Loretto Chapel, the Palace of the Governors, all of the shopping in and around the Plaza, the Plaza and of course, El Restaurante de Chimayo. Sigh. Just a very cool city. Its nickname is "The City Different" and we LOVE the differences!
SO, ok. Today we got up and started "breaking camp" to start the long journey home. Would take about 4 days. First stop, a relatively short drive to Amarillo, TX (and back to Central Time). Had some pretty annoying problems with the leveling jacks again. Took a long time to get up and stored, but ended up being fine.
We had decided while at Santa Fe to not get the problem looked at there that caused us to not feel comfortable towing the van behind the rv. Decided it would be better to just continue to follow with the van driving and then get it all looked at by the people Bob knows and trusts in Cincy.
Matt and I drive in the van following Bob and Karen and the girls in the rv. We stop at a Stuckey's (WHOO HOO, let me tell you) truck stop just inside TX for lunch. We come back out. Matt switches the car seats in to the van so the girls can ride with us and give Grammy and Zayde a break. We are sitting in the van waiting for Bob to finally move the rv. We wait. We wait some more. Karen comes out and tells us Bob can't get the stupid rv to start. We pull off to the side.
Bob decides to call AAA. They say they'll send a tow truck out. Well, like almost 2 hrs later (at this point we've moved back in to the rv where the girls can run around and watch dvd's, too), a huge PINK tow truck shows up! Almost an hour after that, the tow truck guy gets the rv hitched up to the tow truck. AAA has told us they can take it to a repair shop in Amarillo. We're happy because at least we'll still be moving east and not backtracking. By now, Bob has called and there are no rooms available in any Marriotts in Amarillo. Ugh. He calls AAA and they are about to find us a Comfort Inn Suites. Bob cancels our Amarillo rv park reservation. We feel better about having a place to sleep.
Less than a minute after we pull out of the Stuckey's, the tow truck guy pulls over (just off the ramp almost on to I-40) b/c he's not comfortable with the connections. Bob gets out to help. Bob gets in the rv to do something with the brakes or something in the rv. WE wait. Finally the tow truck guy pulls forward (with the rv attached safely now). We in the van expect Bob to walk back to us to get back in the van. No Bob. We're a little confused but expect that maybe he is riding in the tow truck. Hm. So, Matt calls Bob on his cell. He talks to Bob and gets off and proceeds to tell us that Bob was still in the rv and the tow truck guy didn't know and pulled off without letting him out. At this point we are SO incredibly tired and slap happy and feeling like nothing else will surprise us that we crack up laughing for like 20 minutes at the though of poor Bob in the rv being towed by the tow truck.
ANYway, we finally make it to Amarillo and the repair place is closed. Ugh. We knew that would happen but it just sort've adds to the day, ya' know? So we go check in to the hotel. It's nice. Each family unit has their own room (adjoining) and a king size bed w/ a pull out couch and plenty of room for the pack 'n play and for the girls to spread out. AND free wifi. NICE!
At this point, we are doubtful that the rv will get fixed by the end of the work day tomorrow and the place is probably closed on Sun. We are PRAYING that we'll be able to leave here by Monday. Sigh. We'll have plenty of time to explore Amarillo at least.
More later. Steph
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Catching up some more - Matt
This RV park in Santa Fe is a microcosm of the entire trip's wifi fiasco. There are upwards of 5-6 networks set up throughout the park, none of which work very well. Internet is again spotty.
So, anyway. Going WAY back - Bryce Canyon. Very nice, and again totally different from all the previous parks. The highlight is the fantastic array of hoodoo formations in the canyon. So many in such a small space, it's actually hard on the eyes. I had wanted to hike at least partway down "Wall Street" into the canyon, but the walk was closed due to a recent rockslide. Better that it happened before we got there than WHEN we were there, I guess. No Bryce pics - internet too spotty.
Most recent park we went to was Grand Canyon. Obviously to most people this would have been the centerpiece of the trip, but it turned out to be a rough day in some ways. The girls were extra fussy, the sun felt even hotter than it had recently. And anyone who knows me is probably going to roll their eyes, but it's just too bustly.
First of all, you finally get to the rim, and yes, it's impressive. Mind boggling, like Canyonlands, but closer up. But for people like us, that's it. We're not in good enough shape to go down below the rim. And I know that the one thing people say about the Grand Canyon is that in order to understand it and appreciate it, you really have to do more than stand on the edge and look in. And I'm sure that PART of that is that even though I am looking at 180 degrees of unimaginable beauty on a scale beyond my mind's power to work out at a work of God measured in millions of years...I also know that if I turn beyond that 180 degree mark, I will see lodges, shops, restaurants, shuttle buses, tour groups, and crowds. Part of the magic of Canyonlands for me was the isolation - both parks are about an hour off the highway, but the drive to Canyonlands is deserted and completely undeveloped. The entrance to Grand Canyon has been a little bit Gatlinburgged if you will. And don't get me wrong, once you're actually IN the park, it's 95% tasteful, not tacky. But it's there. I kept thinking about something that I had once read about Niagara Falls, that the spectacle of nature on display deserves better than what we've built around it. Having revisited Niagara Falls last summer, I agree. And Grand Canyon isn't nearly as bad, but I just think it would be more powerful and awe-inspiring if it were not so built-up. Who knows? Maybe someday I'll go back and get on a trail and leave the crowd behind, and then it will work more of its magic on me.
Haven't transferred the pics of Grand Canyon yet, but taking pics of Grand Canyon with our little digital camera is a joke.
We're in Santa Fe now - and the more we all read about it, the more we all wished we had another day to stay here. So dad rearranged the reservations and we got another day. I'll write some more about it in a bit, but for now...two words...Carne Adovada. Seriously. I mean it.
So, anyway. Going WAY back - Bryce Canyon. Very nice, and again totally different from all the previous parks. The highlight is the fantastic array of hoodoo formations in the canyon. So many in such a small space, it's actually hard on the eyes. I had wanted to hike at least partway down "Wall Street" into the canyon, but the walk was closed due to a recent rockslide. Better that it happened before we got there than WHEN we were there, I guess. No Bryce pics - internet too spotty.
Most recent park we went to was Grand Canyon. Obviously to most people this would have been the centerpiece of the trip, but it turned out to be a rough day in some ways. The girls were extra fussy, the sun felt even hotter than it had recently. And anyone who knows me is probably going to roll their eyes, but it's just too bustly.
First of all, you finally get to the rim, and yes, it's impressive. Mind boggling, like Canyonlands, but closer up. But for people like us, that's it. We're not in good enough shape to go down below the rim. And I know that the one thing people say about the Grand Canyon is that in order to understand it and appreciate it, you really have to do more than stand on the edge and look in. And I'm sure that PART of that is that even though I am looking at 180 degrees of unimaginable beauty on a scale beyond my mind's power to work out at a work of God measured in millions of years...I also know that if I turn beyond that 180 degree mark, I will see lodges, shops, restaurants, shuttle buses, tour groups, and crowds. Part of the magic of Canyonlands for me was the isolation - both parks are about an hour off the highway, but the drive to Canyonlands is deserted and completely undeveloped. The entrance to Grand Canyon has been a little bit Gatlinburgged if you will. And don't get me wrong, once you're actually IN the park, it's 95% tasteful, not tacky. But it's there. I kept thinking about something that I had once read about Niagara Falls, that the spectacle of nature on display deserves better than what we've built around it. Having revisited Niagara Falls last summer, I agree. And Grand Canyon isn't nearly as bad, but I just think it would be more powerful and awe-inspiring if it were not so built-up. Who knows? Maybe someday I'll go back and get on a trail and leave the crowd behind, and then it will work more of its magic on me.
Haven't transferred the pics of Grand Canyon yet, but taking pics of Grand Canyon with our little digital camera is a joke.
We're in Santa Fe now - and the more we all read about it, the more we all wished we had another day to stay here. So dad rearranged the reservations and we got another day. I'll write some more about it in a bit, but for now...two words...Carne Adovada. Seriously. I mean it.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
5 in 7
HI, all! For some reason, I have hit upon a rare instance, again, of our wi fi connection actually working! So I will try to do a quick post (don't laugh -- I am capable of short ones).
Yesterday (Sat), Matt and I drove in the van w/ the girls to the Grand Canyon. Bob and Karen decided to take the 2.25 hr train ride (too long for the girls -- only 1 hr by car). We met Bob and Karen there and then went up and walked along the rim of the canyon. Pretty freakin' amazing! HUMONGOUS! Ate lunch at the "Arizona Room" right there at the rim. Much more commercial than the other parks, but still not bad w/ the commercialism.
Bob took Faith back on the train and Karen drove back w/ Mari and Matt and me. The 4 of us went up, via Grand Canyon shuttle, to the visitor's center and bookstore (the bookstore was disappointing, by the way -- I had planned to buy a lot of gifts there and bought none). Matt and I walked up to one more different viewpoint of the canyon and then we went home.
Faith survived the train ride w/ Bob very well. We then went up to the Route 66 Historic Loop and drove around and ended up eating Mexican at Pancho McGillicuddy's (funny name). Came home and went to sleep.
Mari slept through the night last night but did wake up at 5:20. Having trouble adjusting to the Pacific Time Zone. Ugh.
Went to a very cool petting zoo this morning. Mari was fearless as usual and Faithy felt brave enough to even feed some of the, very gentle, deer. It was a neat place. Now we're just hanging out. Will probably go swimming later.
Tomorrow is a VERY long drive down to Santa Fe, NM. We are VERY excited about going to this city.
Later. Steph
Yesterday (Sat), Matt and I drove in the van w/ the girls to the Grand Canyon. Bob and Karen decided to take the 2.25 hr train ride (too long for the girls -- only 1 hr by car). We met Bob and Karen there and then went up and walked along the rim of the canyon. Pretty freakin' amazing! HUMONGOUS! Ate lunch at the "Arizona Room" right there at the rim. Much more commercial than the other parks, but still not bad w/ the commercialism.
Bob took Faith back on the train and Karen drove back w/ Mari and Matt and me. The 4 of us went up, via Grand Canyon shuttle, to the visitor's center and bookstore (the bookstore was disappointing, by the way -- I had planned to buy a lot of gifts there and bought none). Matt and I walked up to one more different viewpoint of the canyon and then we went home.
Faith survived the train ride w/ Bob very well. We then went up to the Route 66 Historic Loop and drove around and ended up eating Mexican at Pancho McGillicuddy's (funny name). Came home and went to sleep.
Mari slept through the night last night but did wake up at 5:20. Having trouble adjusting to the Pacific Time Zone. Ugh.
Went to a very cool petting zoo this morning. Mari was fearless as usual and Faithy felt brave enough to even feed some of the, very gentle, deer. It was a neat place. Now we're just hanging out. Will probably go swimming later.
Tomorrow is a VERY long drive down to Santa Fe, NM. We are VERY excited about going to this city.
Later. Steph
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Zion - Matt
Zion
After seeing Arches and Canyonlands, I felt ready for a disappointment with Zion. So popular and crowded that you can only go in on the NPS shuttles, I thought it would be too crowded and not nearly as impressive as the last two. Well, it was still utterly amazing, but again in a totally unique way. Zion park is basically one relatively small canyon, but instead of standing on the edge and looking out (like at Canyonlands) here you are down in the canyon with sheer rock walls rising straight up on all sides at all times. So it's a vastly smaller scale than anything in Canyonlands, but much more immediate in a way.
Only did one major hike, to the "Emerald Pools". Some major ascents on this one, but the views were well worth it.
Zion
Matt and Dad behind Emerald Pools waterfall
Matt and Steph on Emerald Pools trail
Virgin River
too tired to do bryce tonight - more tomorrow.
After seeing Arches and Canyonlands, I felt ready for a disappointment with Zion. So popular and crowded that you can only go in on the NPS shuttles, I thought it would be too crowded and not nearly as impressive as the last two. Well, it was still utterly amazing, but again in a totally unique way. Zion park is basically one relatively small canyon, but instead of standing on the edge and looking out (like at Canyonlands) here you are down in the canyon with sheer rock walls rising straight up on all sides at all times. So it's a vastly smaller scale than anything in Canyonlands, but much more immediate in a way.
Only did one major hike, to the "Emerald Pools". Some major ascents on this one, but the views were well worth it.
Zion
Matt and Dad behind Emerald Pools waterfall
Matt and Steph on Emerald Pools trail
Virgin River
too tired to do bryce tonight - more tomorrow.
Canyonlands - Matt
Canyonlands
I have to say that Canyonlands was my favorite park so far - a completely different experience than Arches, at least for people like us who aren't capable of serious backcountry excursions. Arches was more about getting up close with a weird and otherworldly landscape, but Canyonlands is about jaw-dropping desolate vistas on an unimaginable scale. At Green River Overlook, I was completely overwhelmed by the layers upon layers of rock levels cascading off into the distance. Canyons so far away and so large that it becomes completely impossible to measure distance and scale.
We were limited to just the "Island in the Sky" section of the park, but that was enough. Steph and I made a half-mile jaunt to "Mesa Arch" which is an arch on the edge of a cliff - look through it and you see the canyonlands beyond. Again, very cool to be able to go right up to the edge. After a nicer picnic lunch (outside this time under a little shade) I took the short but very tiring walk up to the Upheaval Dome overlook - long story - it's a big hole in the ground with fantastically jagged rock and scientists can't seem to agree on how it got there.
Pictures can't do any of it justice. It was all just too big for the mind to process, let alone a little digital camera.
Faithy wondering why we can't go back to the RV and watch TV
Green River overlook
Steph at Mesa Arch
Shafer Canyon/Shafer Trail Overlook - look closely, in the center of the picture is mom!
I have to say that Canyonlands was my favorite park so far - a completely different experience than Arches, at least for people like us who aren't capable of serious backcountry excursions. Arches was more about getting up close with a weird and otherworldly landscape, but Canyonlands is about jaw-dropping desolate vistas on an unimaginable scale. At Green River Overlook, I was completely overwhelmed by the layers upon layers of rock levels cascading off into the distance. Canyons so far away and so large that it becomes completely impossible to measure distance and scale.
We were limited to just the "Island in the Sky" section of the park, but that was enough. Steph and I made a half-mile jaunt to "Mesa Arch" which is an arch on the edge of a cliff - look through it and you see the canyonlands beyond. Again, very cool to be able to go right up to the edge. After a nicer picnic lunch (outside this time under a little shade) I took the short but very tiring walk up to the Upheaval Dome overlook - long story - it's a big hole in the ground with fantastically jagged rock and scientists can't seem to agree on how it got there.
Pictures can't do any of it justice. It was all just too big for the mind to process, let alone a little digital camera.
Faithy wondering why we can't go back to the RV and watch TV
Green River overlook
Steph at Mesa Arch
Shafer Canyon/Shafer Trail Overlook - look closely, in the center of the picture is mom!
Arches - Matt
We're here in Williams and the internet works...at least for now. I can't believe that I haven't been able to do a real post since before Arches...it seems like a lifetime ago. It's hard at this point to even go back and remember my thoughts...we've seen and done so much. I plan to stay up a little later tonight and work on posting some pictures. If you didn't know, in addition to the wildly unreliable wifi access at the various RV parks, my computer's wireless card went dead in Moab and so now, in order to post pics, I have to transfer them from my computer to Steph's via thumb drive. So, it's been really annoying. Anyway, here's MY short take on the recent events:
Arches - Arches is great because it gives you a chance to really immerse yourself in the landscape, even if you're not all that outdoorsy. There are plenty of easy to moderate walks that let you get up close and into the formations and arches. I always had this idea that the arches you saw were far away and off limits, but no, you can go right under them if you are willing to make the hike.
We started off at "Park Avenue" - about a mile or so hike into a canyon with steep walls and fascinating formations on both sides. A great way to really lose yourself in the fantastic surroundings right off the bat. AND, if you get there early enough, the sun isn't high enough yet to beat down into the canyon, so most of the walk was not hot at all.
Then a quick walk around Balanced Rock...one of those "this can't be natural" formations with a seemingly larger rock perched precariously atop a smaller one - looks like it could crumble at any moment.
Then Steph and I got the gumption to walk up to North and South Windows arches - the ones that were visible from our campground! Only a half-mile, but all uphill and steps. We were both pretty winded by the time we got up, but how cool it was to rest right under the arches! Well worth the effort.
Then, a rather frantic picnic lunch in the van, and driving to some more sights - we just don't have the energy to do much more than 2 big walks in a day, and the girls get pretty antsy by then too. Arches is a small park, but you can see how it would be possible to spend several days there, even for wimpy hikers like us!
Dorks
Matt and Steph in Park Avenue
Matt in Park Avenue
Matt relaxing under one of the Windows arches, with Turret Arch in the background.
Arches - Arches is great because it gives you a chance to really immerse yourself in the landscape, even if you're not all that outdoorsy. There are plenty of easy to moderate walks that let you get up close and into the formations and arches. I always had this idea that the arches you saw were far away and off limits, but no, you can go right under them if you are willing to make the hike.
We started off at "Park Avenue" - about a mile or so hike into a canyon with steep walls and fascinating formations on both sides. A great way to really lose yourself in the fantastic surroundings right off the bat. AND, if you get there early enough, the sun isn't high enough yet to beat down into the canyon, so most of the walk was not hot at all.
Then a quick walk around Balanced Rock...one of those "this can't be natural" formations with a seemingly larger rock perched precariously atop a smaller one - looks like it could crumble at any moment.
Then Steph and I got the gumption to walk up to North and South Windows arches - the ones that were visible from our campground! Only a half-mile, but all uphill and steps. We were both pretty winded by the time we got up, but how cool it was to rest right under the arches! Well worth the effort.
Then, a rather frantic picnic lunch in the van, and driving to some more sights - we just don't have the energy to do much more than 2 big walks in a day, and the girls get pretty antsy by then too. Arches is a small park, but you can see how it would be possible to spend several days there, even for wimpy hikers like us!
Dorks
Matt and Steph in Park Avenue
Matt in Park Avenue
Matt relaxing under one of the Windows arches, with Turret Arch in the background.
Steph's Catch Up
Wow. It's been a whole week since I've done a blog post! The Internet was just so bad (as has already been described) that it just wasn't worth my time, no offense, to sit and wait for the connection to happen only to have it lose my post!
The first day in Utah, we had a relax day. Matt and I took the girls out to the pool so Karen could get some cleaning done. Faith loved the pool (no big surprise) but Mari was a bit apprehensive about it. She did get used to it eventually and managed to even have a little fun. We only stayed out for about 45 mins, though. It was a TINY pool and 4 ft all around (perfect for me!).
Anyway, I absolutely LOVED the national parks in Utah! Really, when I try to put them in order of which one I like the best, I just can't do it. I just can't compare!
Arches Nationl Park is so so unusual and weird and wonderful! These arches are enormous and built in to these rocks. The rocks without the arches would be pretty cool but then some of them have arches! Cool! I did a few of the hikes with Matt -- we went up to see the North and South Windows as well as the Turret Arch. A hard walk (LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of steps) but WELL worth the effort! Probably one of my very favorite hikes in any of the parks has been at Arches -- the Park Avenue hike. Matt, Bob and I did it first thing and really, it was indescribable. It was still pretty cool and the walk was pretty much totally down in one of the canyons. The sun had not come over the canyon completely yet and it was just so quiet and peaceful and the lighting was wonderful and I totally and completely loved it. I took pics but seriously, I get so frustrated because the pics don't end up doing any of it justice. But I try.
The next day, Matt, Karen, the girls and I did Canyonlands National Park and again, really, really amazingly beautiful! The scope of these canyons are just really pretty mindboggling. You look out over a view point and you read the little thing that they put with it and it tells you you're looking like 5 miles out. I just think, "Oh, wow. 5 miles out I can see here and it's all amazing, beautiful canyon!" And then you see the little trails up and down the canyons for the ATV's and think on one side, you couldn't pay me enough to ride on those trails but on the other side, the views would be pretty awesome. If I HAD to HAD to HAD to choose, I'd say Canyonlands was my favorite. It's pretty big and pretty weird (good weird) and pretty awesome.
Oh, little shout out to my colleague TR. There are TONS of ravens out here and they are hilarious and loud and cool and smart. It makes me think of you and your love of Poe!
Then we traveled to Springdale, UT and stayed in an RV park right next to Zion National Park. Again, very cool. Zion is a bit smaller and Matt says it's more intimate. The unique aspect about Zion is that you are actually down in the canyon, unlike in Canyonlands. Bob wrote already about the hike we took that took us through some narrows, a cool experience, and near some pools and (VERY) small waterfalls. The tour guide on the shuttle told us that when it rains out there, the sandstone of the canyon walls soaks up the water. It takes a while (like hundreds of years) for the water to actually soak all the way through the sandstone until it gets down to the stone (shoot -- I forget the name of it) that isn't porous. So, the water that is coming out of the canyon walls is like hundreds of years old! Pretty darn cool if you ask me! There is a nice river (the Virgin River) that runs through Zion that is pretty much 100% responsible for the erosion that has created the canyons there. Matt and I took an easy and peaceful walk along the river that was cool.
Next day (yesterday -- Thursday 6/21) we drove a ways to get to Bryce Canyon National Park. I was feeling pretty exhausted by this day (I think the big hike to the pools the day before at Zion zapped me). I truly enjoyed Bryce but I was too tired to do many of the hikes and opted to stay in the van with the girls several times. The thing that sticks out in my head most about Bryce is the "hoodoos". No, really, that's what they're called. Don't you LOVE that name? It's when enough erosion happens to a canyon wall that these skiny towers of canyon are left, like mini, mini mesas. You know when you have wet sand at the beach and you can dribble it down and it makes those cool "gloppy" towers? Well, picture that it hundreds of feet tall of sandstone. The best way to describe it, really. I'll try to get Matt to post pics of the hoodoos. LOTS of cool hoodoos at Bryce. Matt and Karen had fun trying to figure out who was right in their interpretation of the what hoodoos looked like (kind've like when people try to describe what pictures the clouds make).
So, today we traveled to Williams, Arizona. The drive was pretty uneventful. The girls slept a lot this morning which is always nice. We were here really by 2pm ish. Arizona is on Mountain Time but doesn't observe Daylight Savings time so really, we're on Pacific Time now. This morning in Utah, the girls slept until almost 6:30. Their latest yet. Of course, now that we moved west one more time zone, for all intents and purposes. Ugh. Oh well. No one ever promised we'd be catching up on sleep on this trip!
We got to the rv park and it's pretty "slick" as Matt says. It's newer and you can tell they're really trying to keep it nice. Matt and I took the girls in to town (definitely more of a town than Moab or Springdale -- Route 66 runs through and there's a little "historic" district w/ some pretty neat looking shops and restaurants -- kind've old timey Route 66) to get something we needed to make the leveling jacks work on the rv and to get groceries. Nice to have a regular size grocery store with everything in it we needed. Came back, picked up Bob at the laundrymat at the rv park and took him and the laundry back, and picked up Karen and went to dinner.
We went to dinner at "Max and Thelma's" which is in the campus of the rv park. The rv park is only a part of this campus. There's also a nice sized hotel (w/ an indoor pool) and playground and a few other things. The main attraction is that they have a real train that they operate to take people in to Grand Canyon. More on that later, I'm sure.
Anyway, last night we went to dinner in "downtown" Springdale (which is a lot more like Gatlinburg on a MUCH smaller scale than Moab) at a local restaurant called the "Bumbleberry Cafe". Well, the food was very mediocre and Mari had a tantrum. She was made because we wanted her to eat some of her pb&j before her fries. I know, terrible parents. Matt ended up having to take her out to the car because she was screaming so loud.
I truly wasn't looking forward to dinner out that much tonight especially because it was 6pm and we were feeling 7pm and the girls were HUNGRY. This was a buffet type restaurant. Matt and I immediately divided up -- he got food for Faith and I got food for Mari. I had high hopes when I saw a huge vat of cooked green beans and carrots (fresh, then cooked). Mari ADORES, no, is OBSESSED with veggies, green beans especially. We haven't had a lot of veggies for her to eat lately. I added some corn and bread and mac and cheese and sat down. I just put the plate in front of her and let her go to it. Meanwhile, Faith was trying every single thing Matt had put on her plate. Amazing, really, especially during this WONDERFUL 3-yr-old stage she is going through. :-) After they were stable we got our food and we were mildly surprised that it turned out to be a pretty good meal. You never know with these buffets! And, besides the fact that Faith tried everything on her plate, Mari didn't even come close to screaming even ONCE! We were SO happy and pleased and impressed. Our cause was helped by the fact that the restaurant was train-themed and along the top of the walls near the ceiling, there was a model train, pretty big, running along the tracks. Mari was fascinated by it and every time it would come she'd say, pointing up, "Here comes the train!" It made her pretty happy which made her eat a lot which made her parents happy which made her not cry which made the whole restaurant happy! Kudos to "Max and Thelma's"!
Ok, it's late, like 10:15. Hopefully this blog will not be lost. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Take care, you all, and hopefully we can keep this up to date! Love, Steph
The first day in Utah, we had a relax day. Matt and I took the girls out to the pool so Karen could get some cleaning done. Faith loved the pool (no big surprise) but Mari was a bit apprehensive about it. She did get used to it eventually and managed to even have a little fun. We only stayed out for about 45 mins, though. It was a TINY pool and 4 ft all around (perfect for me!).
Anyway, I absolutely LOVED the national parks in Utah! Really, when I try to put them in order of which one I like the best, I just can't do it. I just can't compare!
Arches Nationl Park is so so unusual and weird and wonderful! These arches are enormous and built in to these rocks. The rocks without the arches would be pretty cool but then some of them have arches! Cool! I did a few of the hikes with Matt -- we went up to see the North and South Windows as well as the Turret Arch. A hard walk (LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of steps) but WELL worth the effort! Probably one of my very favorite hikes in any of the parks has been at Arches -- the Park Avenue hike. Matt, Bob and I did it first thing and really, it was indescribable. It was still pretty cool and the walk was pretty much totally down in one of the canyons. The sun had not come over the canyon completely yet and it was just so quiet and peaceful and the lighting was wonderful and I totally and completely loved it. I took pics but seriously, I get so frustrated because the pics don't end up doing any of it justice. But I try.
The next day, Matt, Karen, the girls and I did Canyonlands National Park and again, really, really amazingly beautiful! The scope of these canyons are just really pretty mindboggling. You look out over a view point and you read the little thing that they put with it and it tells you you're looking like 5 miles out. I just think, "Oh, wow. 5 miles out I can see here and it's all amazing, beautiful canyon!" And then you see the little trails up and down the canyons for the ATV's and think on one side, you couldn't pay me enough to ride on those trails but on the other side, the views would be pretty awesome. If I HAD to HAD to HAD to choose, I'd say Canyonlands was my favorite. It's pretty big and pretty weird (good weird) and pretty awesome.
Oh, little shout out to my colleague TR. There are TONS of ravens out here and they are hilarious and loud and cool and smart. It makes me think of you and your love of Poe!
Then we traveled to Springdale, UT and stayed in an RV park right next to Zion National Park. Again, very cool. Zion is a bit smaller and Matt says it's more intimate. The unique aspect about Zion is that you are actually down in the canyon, unlike in Canyonlands. Bob wrote already about the hike we took that took us through some narrows, a cool experience, and near some pools and (VERY) small waterfalls. The tour guide on the shuttle told us that when it rains out there, the sandstone of the canyon walls soaks up the water. It takes a while (like hundreds of years) for the water to actually soak all the way through the sandstone until it gets down to the stone (shoot -- I forget the name of it) that isn't porous. So, the water that is coming out of the canyon walls is like hundreds of years old! Pretty darn cool if you ask me! There is a nice river (the Virgin River) that runs through Zion that is pretty much 100% responsible for the erosion that has created the canyons there. Matt and I took an easy and peaceful walk along the river that was cool.
Next day (yesterday -- Thursday 6/21) we drove a ways to get to Bryce Canyon National Park. I was feeling pretty exhausted by this day (I think the big hike to the pools the day before at Zion zapped me). I truly enjoyed Bryce but I was too tired to do many of the hikes and opted to stay in the van with the girls several times. The thing that sticks out in my head most about Bryce is the "hoodoos". No, really, that's what they're called. Don't you LOVE that name? It's when enough erosion happens to a canyon wall that these skiny towers of canyon are left, like mini, mini mesas. You know when you have wet sand at the beach and you can dribble it down and it makes those cool "gloppy" towers? Well, picture that it hundreds of feet tall of sandstone. The best way to describe it, really. I'll try to get Matt to post pics of the hoodoos. LOTS of cool hoodoos at Bryce. Matt and Karen had fun trying to figure out who was right in their interpretation of the what hoodoos looked like (kind've like when people try to describe what pictures the clouds make).
So, today we traveled to Williams, Arizona. The drive was pretty uneventful. The girls slept a lot this morning which is always nice. We were here really by 2pm ish. Arizona is on Mountain Time but doesn't observe Daylight Savings time so really, we're on Pacific Time now. This morning in Utah, the girls slept until almost 6:30. Their latest yet. Of course, now that we moved west one more time zone, for all intents and purposes. Ugh. Oh well. No one ever promised we'd be catching up on sleep on this trip!
We got to the rv park and it's pretty "slick" as Matt says. It's newer and you can tell they're really trying to keep it nice. Matt and I took the girls in to town (definitely more of a town than Moab or Springdale -- Route 66 runs through and there's a little "historic" district w/ some pretty neat looking shops and restaurants -- kind've old timey Route 66) to get something we needed to make the leveling jacks work on the rv and to get groceries. Nice to have a regular size grocery store with everything in it we needed. Came back, picked up Bob at the laundrymat at the rv park and took him and the laundry back, and picked up Karen and went to dinner.
We went to dinner at "Max and Thelma's" which is in the campus of the rv park. The rv park is only a part of this campus. There's also a nice sized hotel (w/ an indoor pool) and playground and a few other things. The main attraction is that they have a real train that they operate to take people in to Grand Canyon. More on that later, I'm sure.
Anyway, last night we went to dinner in "downtown" Springdale (which is a lot more like Gatlinburg on a MUCH smaller scale than Moab) at a local restaurant called the "Bumbleberry Cafe". Well, the food was very mediocre and Mari had a tantrum. She was made because we wanted her to eat some of her pb&j before her fries. I know, terrible parents. Matt ended up having to take her out to the car because she was screaming so loud.
I truly wasn't looking forward to dinner out that much tonight especially because it was 6pm and we were feeling 7pm and the girls were HUNGRY. This was a buffet type restaurant. Matt and I immediately divided up -- he got food for Faith and I got food for Mari. I had high hopes when I saw a huge vat of cooked green beans and carrots (fresh, then cooked). Mari ADORES, no, is OBSESSED with veggies, green beans especially. We haven't had a lot of veggies for her to eat lately. I added some corn and bread and mac and cheese and sat down. I just put the plate in front of her and let her go to it. Meanwhile, Faith was trying every single thing Matt had put on her plate. Amazing, really, especially during this WONDERFUL 3-yr-old stage she is going through. :-) After they were stable we got our food and we were mildly surprised that it turned out to be a pretty good meal. You never know with these buffets! And, besides the fact that Faith tried everything on her plate, Mari didn't even come close to screaming even ONCE! We were SO happy and pleased and impressed. Our cause was helped by the fact that the restaurant was train-themed and along the top of the walls near the ceiling, there was a model train, pretty big, running along the tracks. Mari was fascinated by it and every time it would come she'd say, pointing up, "Here comes the train!" It made her pretty happy which made her eat a lot which made her parents happy which made her not cry which made the whole restaurant happy! Kudos to "Max and Thelma's"!
Ok, it's late, like 10:15. Hopefully this blog will not be lost. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Take care, you all, and hopefully we can keep this up to date! Love, Steph
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Bob's Thoughts - Day 13
Today we went to Bryce Canyon National Park.
This park, although relatively close to Zion is very different. The elevation and geology made it a much easier day. The high temperature was only 86, and the overviews and walks were from the top of the cliffs.
The drive to Bryce Canyon goes through a portion of Zion and then on to Utah state roads. One of the unique characteristics of this drive is that you go through tunnels. OK - what is so unique about going through tunnels?
Well...these tunnels were built in the 1920s, when cars were much smaller. The tunnels were bored out of the mountainside, and have never been widened. As a result, it is somewhat of an adventure to go through them.
Unfortunately, the tunnel situation works against us for our drive to Williams, Arizona tomorrow. Our best route of travel would be to use the road the tunnels are on. However, there are restrictions on the size of vehicles that can use the tunnels, and our motorhome would require that all other traffic to be stopped as well as a paid escort - with no guarantee that the driver (me) could navigate the vehicle without banging the sides. So - we are going to go the long way around.
Well, I really hope that we can resolve these internet problems and get to a more regular flow of updates.
I will post again tomorrow from Arizona.
This park, although relatively close to Zion is very different. The elevation and geology made it a much easier day. The high temperature was only 86, and the overviews and walks were from the top of the cliffs.
The drive to Bryce Canyon goes through a portion of Zion and then on to Utah state roads. One of the unique characteristics of this drive is that you go through tunnels. OK - what is so unique about going through tunnels?
Well...these tunnels were built in the 1920s, when cars were much smaller. The tunnels were bored out of the mountainside, and have never been widened. As a result, it is somewhat of an adventure to go through them.
Unfortunately, the tunnel situation works against us for our drive to Williams, Arizona tomorrow. Our best route of travel would be to use the road the tunnels are on. However, there are restrictions on the size of vehicles that can use the tunnels, and our motorhome would require that all other traffic to be stopped as well as a paid escort - with no guarantee that the driver (me) could navigate the vehicle without banging the sides. So - we are going to go the long way around.
Well, I really hope that we can resolve these internet problems and get to a more regular flow of updates.
I will post again tomorrow from Arizona.
Bob's Thoughts - Day 12
Change in plans.
Karen did not feel that she could handle the heat today, so she opted to stay in the RV with the kids while Matt, Steph and me went to Zion National park. Initially, I was disappointed at her decision, but in retrospect, it was the correct one. The temperature has been as high as 109, and she would not have done well.
Because of limited parking in Zion, there is a system of shuttle buses that take to you from town to the park, and a separate bus route that takes you from site to site within the park. The bus to the park is almost literally in front of the RV park, so getting to Zion was easy. We got an early start (before 9) and Matt had selected some "easy" walks for us to consider. The one that the three of us did was in three levels and we ended up doing the middle walk. It was really terrific, but I was drained from the heat.
(Once again we are having Internet problems which have made it impossible for Matt to post pictures in a timely manner. Hopefully when we get to our next stop (Williams, Arizona), we will have reliable service. I am writing this from the Internet cafe a short distance from the RV park).
After that walk, we had lunch at the Zion Lodge and split up. Matt and Steph went on to do another walk and I went back to the RV to help Karen and rest up. Matt and Steph told me that the walk they did was a level grade alongside the river and in the shade. Hopefully pictures can be available soon.
Tomorrow we will drive to Bryce Canyon National Park, which is about 60 miles away.
Karen did not feel that she could handle the heat today, so she opted to stay in the RV with the kids while Matt, Steph and me went to Zion National park. Initially, I was disappointed at her decision, but in retrospect, it was the correct one. The temperature has been as high as 109, and she would not have done well.
Because of limited parking in Zion, there is a system of shuttle buses that take to you from town to the park, and a separate bus route that takes you from site to site within the park. The bus to the park is almost literally in front of the RV park, so getting to Zion was easy. We got an early start (before 9) and Matt had selected some "easy" walks for us to consider. The one that the three of us did was in three levels and we ended up doing the middle walk. It was really terrific, but I was drained from the heat.
(Once again we are having Internet problems which have made it impossible for Matt to post pictures in a timely manner. Hopefully when we get to our next stop (Williams, Arizona), we will have reliable service. I am writing this from the Internet cafe a short distance from the RV park).
After that walk, we had lunch at the Zion Lodge and split up. Matt and Steph went on to do another walk and I went back to the RV to help Karen and rest up. Matt and Steph told me that the walk they did was a level grade alongside the river and in the shade. Hopefully pictures can be available soon.
Tomorrow we will drive to Bryce Canyon National Park, which is about 60 miles away.
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