Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Vacation from Vacation, a week out west


Special Edition 


Overlook at the Grand Canyon
Jim and I have been visiting family and friends this summer (2016) while the boat is on the hard (on land) in Trinidad where it is sitting out hurricane season and getting a few repairs.  

While state side we took a vacation from vacation and headed out west to see some rocks, a few big ditches and some sparkly lights… We had a great time and were able to warm up a bit out there in the 90 - 108' daytime temps; as it’s only been in the 70’s and 80’s in the midwest. 

We flew into Las Vegas and rented a car, btw, they mean it when they say ‘no off-roading or extra fees may  will be added…’  and drove from Las vegas (98’) to and over Hover Dam (108’… but it was dry heat) and on to a little town on the route 66 near the Grand Canyon.  We put 2,000 miles on the car in 7 days: 5 national parks, 3 national monuments and a few state parks.  We hiked to the end of Calf Creek Canyon / Escalante’ Staircase to a spectacular water fall, drove 2 miles into a gorge (before turning around) in Capital Reef National Park.  Drove over many mountain ridges (10,000+ feet and hail) and down into Death Valley 282 feet below see level (Bad Water Basin).  We spent a day in Vegas, enough time for us to see the glitz and glamor… we don't gamble and the shows aren't a big draw for us either… 

*family pictures coming late September…

Hover Dam 
Hoover Dam
THE Grand Canyon
Elk on the road to Grand Canyon
Mule Train coming up and out of the Grand Canyon



















hiking down the canyon trail... 
  

Escalante' Grand Stair Case








Bryce 
Zion National Park
    

Calf Creek Lower Falls / Canyon




Capital Reek National Park, driving into the gorge
View from one of our hotels




HooDoo's in Bryce Canyon
 



Death Valley Coyote

hiking in Calf Creek Canyon
Bad Water Death Valley
Artist' Pallett
Las Vagas

YIKES










The Strip in Vegas
3 miles at the end of the canyon...


Crawling up our bed in the desert ...
 he's now in a permeant sleep state