Las Vegas with daughter Kris!

Arrived 10-16  and straight to Kris's new home!  She looked great and what a wonderful job she has done re-doing her home!  It is just perfect size, location great and her new purchases make everything look so welcoming!  Kris kept Bailey for us and we proceeded to the Riviera Casino for two free nights which Pete had arranged.  She joined us in the evening to celebrate  Pete's birthday.  Her guided tour of the Wynn and Encore added so much.  Beautiful garden area and huge outdoor water screen with performances every 15 minutes--see picture below.  Both hotels were just over the top gorgeous!  We took the birthday boy to the Wynn buffet and spent 2  1/2 hours enjoying great food and conversation.  What a treat that was.  A birthday to remember!

At the Wynn

Kris' Home

Parasol illumination at the Wynn

Today we saw the Mac King show at Harrah's complements of our good friend Len Hibbard.  He recommended this comedy magic show and it was great fun.  We loved it.  He told us to look for the handsome bald usher Robert and ask for booth seating.  We were to encourage this with a $5 bill which
worked beautifully and we were sitting pretty!  Wonderful salmon dinner later at at Kris's  and the next day off to Valley of Fire one hour north of Las Vegas for some hiking.

Kris fixed us a "hiking man's" breakfast and at the crack of 11am we were off to the Valley of Fire park 1 hour north of Las Vegas.  It was full of red rock formations and we hiked the Mouse's tank trail on sand--like the beach but red sand!  The next hike was the White Dome's trail--that was beautiful.  It was 78 degrees and that was hot enough!  The sky is SO blue here that it doesn't look real!  A nice picnic lunch to prop us up for the drive home---especially nice since Kris did all the driving--and we arrived home just in time for our 5 pm nap!  Tonight Kris and Pete are making chile and homemade peanut butter with honey roasted nuts.  I'm sure a peanut butter chocolate milkshake will be necessary to fuel us for tomorrows activities!

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire

Zion--Maybe the best park so far!

Grateful that Zion opened up!  What an experience.  We came in from the east entrance from Bryce and it was astonishing!  It was so unusual looking that we FORGOT to take pictures on the way in but we don't think it is possible to capture this area on camera.  We went through the mile long tunnel and out into another different landscape.  Route 9 runs through the park and we left through the south entrance but it was not nearly as spectacular as coming in from the east... and totally different in that this is where the outfitters are and there is a lot of interesting stuff to do if you want a diversion from the park.

Zion was busy--parking lots almost full as were campgrounds--wouldn't like to be here during high season.  It is very well organized.  The Watchman campground is very nice and takes reservations--we didn't do but wish we had.  Instead we stayed at the South Campground first come first served. They have a free Shuttle that starts at Visitor center and goes up into the beautiful canyons.  We hiked a 3.7 mile (easy) River Trail at the last stop.  This trail led to the "Narrows"--you start wading up the river with rented waterproof pants, shoes and walking sticks.  Get all this gear at town at south entrance. Looked cold!  The shuttle makes about 8 stops and you can get on and off--runs every 10 min with recorded commentary.

Trail to the Narrows

As far as we went on the Narrows trail

We saw a man climbing up a 1000 foot very vertical canyon face.  Looked impossible!  We stopped at the Lodge stop and hiked the Emerald trail and stopped with many others to view a very large spider---Carrie don't read this part!  Turned out it was a tarantula --a small one per the ranger--bigger hairy ones are in Arizona.

Nice thing about this park was a dog friendly bike/hike trail right out of campground.  It ran along the Virgin river and was lovely--no one on it.  Everyone must be riding the shuttle!

C & B on trail

Along Virgin river trail

Along Virgin River trail

P & B along Virgin River trail

On to Las Vegas to see our darling Kris!

















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View Zion 1:44pm Virgin River Trail in a larger map

Arrived at Bryce Canyon, Utah! and Kodachrome State ParkBryce

Left Capitol Reef National Park and drove scenic highway #12 to Bryce.  Went through Ponderosa pine and yellow Aspen forests.  Stopped to hike a bit then onto a narrow road on the crest of mountain that dropped straight down 600 feet on both sides.  Wow!  It was a beautiful view.  Took about 4 1/2 hours to Bryce National Park which had only one campground open--about 25 sites--it was full by 4 pm so glad we were there early.  It is 45 degrees and slightly windy.  Drove to Sunrise and Sunset points and hiked on Navaho loop trail that was something else.  I swear we hiked 0.7 miles down to bottom of canyon and hiked 1.5 miles back up!  Our uphill climb was with a German second grade teacher who was teaching German children of military families in Texas.  Andrea Peters was great fun.  It started to SNOW while we were down in the canyon so we were happy to crawl back in camper and nap!  Ranger talks great!

Bryce

Bryce

Bryce Navajo Trail

Bryce Navajo Trail

Woke up to light snow—beautiful on all the pines!  We were grateful for our warm little coach and generator for hot breakfast.  We took the southern drive in the park to view all the lookouts—well worth it.  There were some areas of burns right next to beautiful pine forests.  The forest service does controlled burns here to avoid larger devastating fires and to clear the underbrush for new growth.  

Bryce burn area

Bryce with snow

Bryce

Bryce

Pretty cold here for my bones so off to Kodachrome State park!  It is only one hour from Bryce but much warmer and we were able to hike and sit out in the sun.  Bailey allowed on state park trails but not on national park trails and she and Pete are fearless--see the picture of the ridge we were on!  Again, great views everywhere you look.  The tall formations are called “hoodoos” and they make great pictures!  There is no phone or internet service here so we are “roughing it” with no electronics .  Pete tried to set up his DirecTv satellite but even that was no go.  Leaving for Zion National park in am.  

Kodachrome SP

Ridge Trail Kodachrome SP

Kodachrome SP from trail

Bryce Canyon is unlike any other place on earth!  Pictures and words just can't describe how spectacular this is.  We are SO glad Utah is funding the National parks and opened them just a few days before we arrived.  I feel like everyone should get to see these beautiful western parks during their lifetime.  What a treasure they are!



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Southern Utah--Moab and Capitol Reef

Today was first rain during the day so we slept till 10 am and I washed my hair--curling iron etc.  I must have really been looking "not my best" because Pete commented on how nice I looked!  We are eating well.  Had eggs, bacon, biscuits, tomatoes for breakfast and homemade spaghetti tonight (frozen ahead at home).  Everything is very simple in 100 square feet and everything needs to go back in its designated area.  Not hard to keep it clean and everything is very handy.

The Moab Visitors bureau is very helpful guiding all the disappointed tourists to alternate areas since the National parks are still closed--not just the campgrounds but even the roads.  Today we went to Corona Arch and the area was spectacular.  We hiked up 1.5 miles to the arch and most of it was not just a rocky trail but pure rock and people had piled rocks (called cairns) to show you where to go.  This one had an area where they put a thick cable for you to hang onto as you sidestepped along the rock edge, another cable to help you pull yourself up a 15 ft. cliff with footholds carved into the rock.  There was also a short ladder to get up one smaller cliff.  See picture with Pete carrying Bailey.  Bailey was the only dog up there and she did great.  There were lots of Germans and others whose language we didn't recognize.  They were disappointed but impressed with the beautiful sites on STATE land and we feel the same.  I can't imagine areas being much better than what we are seeing.

There are no bugs at this altitude.  Sometimes we are hiking up at 2 miles above sea level.  Pete's pictures look like they were taken very close to the edge of trails that drop down 600 feet--and they were!  He is such a guy!  I am usually no where near the edge!

We left Moab via a scenic byway--route 128.  It was along the Colorado River with a beautiful bike trail and on the way to Bryce Canyon.  We  stopped at Visitor Center (all so helpful) and learned 5 National parks in Utah were open thanks to funding by Utah so we stopped in Capitol Reef National Park.  It is wonderful.  Campsite was $5 and gorgeous--see picture.  We drove scenic road, hiked Grand Wash trail for three miles--see Pete and Bailey after the hike!  We then hiked up to Gooseneck area where there were 10 artists from all over painting.  They were enrolled in a class--instructor from Sedona--see picture.

Don't forget to click on the pictures to enlarge and see
all at once!

 Thank you Utah for opening the National parks--we are off to Bryce tomorrow morning.



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View Corona Arch Trail 20131010 in a larger map

Telluride, Colorado--Wow!

On a side note from our stay in Ouray---Carrie and Nate report that the "420 Burger" was not for us since it was probably laced with legal marijuana in Colorado!

Telluride was not on original route but people told us it was lovely so being the wild things that we are, we turned our Bailey Buggy north.  Such great advice.   On the way to Telluride we stopped in Ridgeway at the "True Grit Saloon" where the John Wayne movie "True Grit" was made.  The hanging scene was in park right in front of the saloon.

Ouray to Telluride from RV

Telluride is a beautiful, pricey ski area with mountains all around.  The town has a campground which is terrific.  Isolated sites for $10 a night (for seniors) right next to a river.  It closes down in 8 days for the year and hardly anyone here.  There is a 5 mile river trail right next to us--bike or hike.  We did that today and came back through town.  Everywhere you look is a postcard view.  There are dogs everywhere and several people stopped to admire Miss Bailey.  One couple had a 13# labradoodle in their car and stopped us to talk--yes Carrie and Nate--13# and it had big feet!  There are no bugs--no fleas for Bailey!  The air is very dry here at 7700 feet and we do notice that we get more short of breath hiking with less oxygen.  My contacts were sticking to my eyeballs so gave up wearing them for awhile!

Telluride Campground

Telluride Campground

Telluride Campground

River Trail Telluride

Today we rode up the  Green Gondola (ski lift) to Telluride Village.  It is the really ritzy part of this huge ski area.  The gondola ride is FREE---the idea is to keep cars out of the area and decrease pollution.  It was really magnificent!  Up the mountain over the tops of the golden aspen and blue spruce.  The gondola is in three different sections and stopped in Mountain Village which looked like a Swiss village.  The pictures just can't do it justice.    Ate at La Cucina mexican in Telluride which was a treat.  Met a couple in van like ours--130,000 miles all over USA.  Gave us lots of advice about Utah STATE parks since our government can't get it together and the national parks will still be closed.

Mountain Village from Gondola

Weather getting colder (high of 46 today) and rain coming so we left for Moab, Utah.  Within 2 hours of driving. there was tumble weed going across the road and by 4 hours out of Telluride we were in Grand Canyon like area.  The State park was Dead Horse Point--campgrounds all full since no National parks or areas open.  It was beautiful--like miniature Grand Canyon.  Took lots of pictures from the van while driving.  The ground is all red!  We are camped out in the desert wilderness in a BLM (Bureau of Land Management) camp area... called dispersed camping ... hundreds of acres of BLM land and you pick your spot.   No fees, no water or electricity but gorgeous.  Pete made a campfire and it was 40 degrees warmer here than Telluride.  I removed my long johns today!

BLM Camping Moab, UT

Dead Horse Point near Moab, UT

Dead Horse Point near Moab, UT

BLM Camping Moab, UT

View Telluride Stream Trail in a larger map

Beautiful Ouray, Colorado

Drive from Durango to Silverton--beautiful.  Quick look around town and onto to Ouray which has to be one of the most beautiful little towns ever.  It is snuggled down in valley with towering mountains and cliffs on all sides with yellow aspen and red oak and tall Ponderosa pines covered in snow.  Getting there was a thrill with a good road but hairpin turns (see pciture)---felt very safe but wouldn't do this in bad weather.  Our campsite (Four J RV Park) was 6 feet from river and like the town surrounded on all sides with gorgeous mountains.  It even has it's own bear that comes down at night looking for food so glad the RV has a toilet---I am not getting out of this RV alone at night!

Durango to Silverton Color

Watched the OSU-Northwestern game in TV room and made popcorn.   Suddenly heard this horrendous thundering sounds--like the place was being bombed.  It was was so scary  that if I hadn't been sitting on the toilet, I would have peed my pants!  We went outside and it was Ouray fireworks for Octoberfest and the echos off the mountains were like nothing you've never heard before...the booms were in 3D.  More spectacular than Red, White and Boom.  It was truly awesome!

All along the trip we meet wonderful people who give us great advice on what to see, hikes to do and where to eat.  Ouray was no exception.  It has this neat boxed canyon that we visited.  $4 to go on spectacular iron walkway back into mountain where this 200 foot waterfall and hot springs starts---not for those with fear of heights!  Then we hiked up 1/2 mile on another rocky trail to the top of the waterfall.  We had to try out our new hiking shoes!  See Pete on trail below.  Then onto the Ouray Mineral Hot Springs which is supposed to cure all ills.  $10 to use three large pools from 75 to 97 to 106 degrees.  The idea is to boil old frogs slowly.  After an hour, we were dead meat,  all shriveled up but very relaxed!  Dinner at Maggie's touted as best hamburgers in Colorado.  We couldn't decide between the 420 burger or the chile pepper and cheese burger.  No one would tell us what was in the 420 burger so we went with the mild chiles and it was the best hamburger we've ever had!

To box Canyon Falls

Box Canyon above falls

Trail to top of falls

What a joy this trip has been.  We look at each other and can't believe we are actually doing this.  What a blessing!  On to Telluride tomorrow.  Weather warmer so out with the antifreeze and back to good water.