SW Trip 2014 - Florida: Grayton Beach SP & O'Leno SP

Grayton Beach State Park - Florida

August 2 - 5

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Our next destination was along the beautiful north Florida Gulf shore, Grayton Beach State Park. We visited this park in March 2012 and really enjoyed the amenities and location. We decided to go back since it was nearby some long-time friends who just moved to the area.

Vince and Lily Falzone are friends from our central Florida days. Kurt and Vince worked together at Lockheed at the Kennedy Space Center. They had moved to California years ago and at this point in their lives, decided to come back to Florida. During their time in Cali, they had two children, Abby and Craig. Such beautiful and bright kids, who also have great parents! They had visited us in our Palm Beach Gardens home a few years ago, after the kids were born. It was so wonderful to see them again and how the kids have grown so fast. They came to our campground and we spent the day at the beach. The kids loved it (so did we) and it was so refreshing to play in the water as the weather was hot and steamy. One night they had us over for dinner at their new home in Niceville, Florida. It was very lovely and they were still getting settled after doing some renovations on the house. Other guests were Karen, the wife of a former co-worker of Vince and Kurt. Her husband, Carl Swisher, passed away earlier in the year from kidney cancer. She was in town visiting her sister Darcy and they wanted to meet up with Vince and Lily. We all had a nice evening sharing old stories of their days at Lockheed. Also, the dinner was very nice and we were stuffed by the end of the evening. We are so fortunate to keep friendships with those who have moved away, we will continue keep in touch and get together. We are very happy they are back in Florida, as this will give us the chance to visit see them often.

During our four days at this park we rode our bikes, went to the beach and simply relaxed. It was rainy a couple of days, which hampered our outdoor activities. We still love this area of Florida and the gorgeous beaches.

Our plans were to head down to O’Leno State Park in High Springs, where we would stay for four days. After that we were going to Rainbow Springs State Park for five days; however, after looking at the forecast of almost daily rain (50 – 80%), we cancelled those reservations. We would just head home after O’Leno SP.

O’Leno State Park – High Springs, Florida

August 6 – 8

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Upon arrival at O’Leno, we setup and relaxed for the evening. The weather forecast was calling for rain most every day, mainly in the afternoon. We were going to make the best of it and try to enjoy the park. The Santa Fe River runs through this park, but has an interesting feature. At one point, the river “sinks” underground in a series of caves, then rises a few miles south at the River Rise Preserve. We kayaked this river (below the rise) a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the springs that feed the river. Due to the weather, we didn’t schedule a shuttled paddle. Kurt paddled a 4 mile portion of the river since I was able to shuttle him. He took Kody with him and they both enjoyed the two hour paddle.

After the third day of afternoon rains, we decided to leave a day early and head home. It was disappointing due to the bad weather, we really wanted to kayak and hike there and also at Rainbow Springs. We were ready to get back home and get settled and back to our routine. However, this fall we are doing some reno’s and upgrades to our house to get it ready for the real estate market. We are hoping to sell it quickly and then get back on the road for awhile.

After that, we are not so sure what our future holds. Other than continuing our RV travels, we plan to look around for a down-size home/property, preferably a fixer. We would like to fix up a house and then sell it a couple of years later, or stay there if we love it. Also in our future plans, we would like to purchase a small lot in the Franklin North Carolina area. This lot will be setup for our RV (possibly two RVs) for future trips to the Smoky Mountains, one of our favorite places! God willing and with good health, we will be able to pursue and follow through with our plans.

SW Trip 2014 - Alabama, Oak Mountain State Park

Oak Mountain State Park - Birmingham Alabama

July 28 – August 1

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Oak Mountain State Park is one of our favorites in the south. There are so many activities to do there, from mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, golf, horse-back riding and swimming at the lake beach. We were surprised to find that the campground had improved the sites by completely asphalting the campsites and interior roads. This made the campground much easier to drive around and the campsites cleaner and more level. Our site was one of the nicest in the park, even though it was nearby the shower house. We setup and felt at home right away. Our reservation was for 6 nights, which also made it more comfortable to relax and enjoy more time at the park.

During our time here, we really enjoyed the first class mountain biking trails. Now that I have a real mountain bike, I was able to ride more difficult and fun trails. We spent four days riding the trails and had a wonderful time. We also went on a hike up the Eagle Overlook Trail; this was a very steep up and down trail, traversing a couple of mountain sides and creek crossings. The weather was perfect and actually quite cool for this time of year. Another day we decided to relax a little and took a kayak and picnic down to the small lake. The boys went with us and enjoyed some time to run around and have some fun.

It was so nice to stay in one place for several nights, we really felt relaxed and not rushed to go anywhere. The boys were able to run off leash a little, as they were being real good and stayed within our campsite. We had a campfire a couple of nights and enjoyed sitting out and relaxing.

Now onward back to Florida!

SW Trip 2014 - Heading Home!

Oklahoma – Tenkiller Ferry Lake & Beavers Bend State Park

July 15 -26

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After leaving Albuquerque, we were officially heading home. Without any serious plans, we headed east on I-40 after deciding to get across the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi as quickly as possible. We did one-night stops in Amarillo Texas and then Oklahoma City. Our destination was Tenkiller Ferry Lake in eastern Oklahoma. Kurt had visited this lake as a young man and remembered it to be an extremely clear water lake. We stayed in an Army Corps campground in a lakefront site, which was very nice. In the four nights we stayed there we got our kayaks on the lake for a paddle and drove around the beautiful mountains to check out the area. We also were looking for the possibility of a kayak shuttle on the Illinois River. The river looked great for a paddle, but it was too much driving and working with limited outfitters that really didn’t want to shuttle us or our boats, but wanted to rent kayaks to us, so we abandoned that idea. There were not any decent hiking trails nearby, so we pretty much hung out at camp and relaxed.

Our next stop would be in Beavers Bend State Park in southeastern Oklahoma. This was highly recommended as a great park. When we arrived, the park was so huge around Broken Bow Lake that it was difficult to find where the campgrounds were, due to inadequate signage. We finally found the park office and was told where to go and find a campsite. We were able to find a nice site on the river side campground loop; however, it was a pull through and our front porch was right on the street. We even had kids riding their bikes through our campsite, which we quickly advised them to stop. We had signed up for four nights as there were nice hiking and mountain biking trails within the park. One trail we were able to hike started right at the campground and turned out to be a fun, challenging hike up and back down the mountain. The mountain biking trails were in a completely different section of the park, which required us to drive about 20 miles to the trailhead. The trails were decent, but not really meant to be mountain biking trails. There was a lot of driving within this park to see the different features. Kurt did get his kayak on the Mountain Fork River for a short paddle; the paddling section of the river was very limited. On the third night there, a major storm blew through. Thanks to our weather radio, we were able to prepare for the winds and rain. We hunkered down for about three hours as the winds and driving rain pounded our trailer and the lighting snapped all around. Of course, the power went out and we had no idea when it would be back on. We decided then, if there was no power the next morning, we would go ahead and leave for a better place. At least it cooled down that night, so it was not too bad, except for the moron RV neighbor that ran his loud generator most of the night. They finally turned it off when Kurt reminded them of the no generator rule at 10 pm. The next morning we waited for the power to come back on. After speaking with another camper, we found out no one was able to get out of the park as a live power line was down across the entry road…  ugggggh… Neither the campground hosts or rangers were forthcoming with any information as to the status of electricity or roads. It was very frustrating. Around 11 am the power finally came back on, so we reluctantly decided to stay the night since it was already paid for. The next morning we did pack it up and get out of Dodge!

The next day we did another one night stop in Greenville, Mississippi. We were making our way to Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham Alabama, where we did have reservations. We had one extra night, so we stopped at another Alabama State Park, Lake Lurleen near Tuscaloosa.  This turned out to be a very nice lakeside park with great hiking and mountain biking trails. Too bad we only had the one afternoon to explore. We hope to come back to this park some day and spend more time, it was beautiful.

The next morning we headed to Birmingham and were excited to go back to Oak Mountain, where we did stay last year.

SW Trip 2014 - Abiquiu Lake & Albuquerque

Abiquiu Lake & Albuquerque

July 8 – 14

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We left Durango and headed south into New Mexico. My older sister Terrie, her daughters, husbands and their children live in the Albuquerque area. The plan was to meet up with all of them in Albuquerque. Our first stop was north of Santa Fe at Abiquiu Lake for three days of camping. Terrie actually lives about 15 miles south of this lake, where she also loves to camp. The first day there we hiked and biked around the park and lake. It’s quite beautiful, surrounded by mountains and high desert. The campground is an Army Corps of Engineer project. This campground was very spacious and well planned, with great views of the lake. Just 3 miles north of the lake is a compound called Ghost Ranch. This beautiful property is a desert retreat owned by the Presbyterian Church of the USA. It is used as a retreat, education, meetings, conventions, etc. The Ranch is located back in a box canyon surrounded by amazing mesas and colorful rock formations. This area is also one of the special places loved by the famous artist, Georgia O’Keeffe. One of her homes was on this property and she painted many of the landscapes around the canyon. We decided to go there for a visit, as there are great hiking trails on the property. They welcome visitors and the staff members are very friendly. They provided information on the hiking trails and other amenities on the Ranch. We decided to hike to Chimney Rock. This trail winds up the side of a mesa and ends at a large rock formation resembling a chimney. The views from the top are amazing and the trail was not too difficult. We enjoyed the hike and the exercise. Back at camp, we relaxed and enjoyed the evening and a campfire.

The next day, we decided to go back to Ghost Ranch for a different hike. The trail is called Kitchen Mesa and is a more difficult hike up the side of the mesa. The first mile or so is up sloping hillsides and then the trail continues up the mesa cliff. This was more difficult as there were narrow single track trails and a lot of rock scrambling. One section was a narrow slot canyon with large boulders to climb up and over. This was the hardest part. Once we got to the top of the mesa, the views were amazing and the climb was worth it. The mesa top is covered with white gypsum soil. The trail split into several areas around the mesa top. The views included looking down at the ranch, Lake Abiquiu and also Pederal Mountain south of the lake. It’s no wonder why O’Keeffe loved this area and got great inspiration from the natural beauty! Later that evening, Terrie drove up to the lake for a visit and dinner. Kurt made his wonderful chili and we had a great time together. We talked about our plans for a family get together the coming weekend at our campground near Albuquerque.

The next morning we headed south with the RV and setup camp in a town called Bernalillo at a great city campground called Coronado Campground. This place is unique in that each campsite has a small casita for the picnic table and with a roof and partial walls to provide shade. It was perfect for our family gathering! We drove around the area and went shopping to prepare for our cookout the next day. All the family was contacted and told of our plans. They would all be there the next evening.

The next day, Friday, we prepared for our cookout and were excited to see all the nieces, their husbands and kids. I had not even met some of the younger ones, so this was a special event for me to see them all at one time. My sister Terrie arrived first and we began sharing stories and contacted the nieces to see when they would arrive. Two of the nieces, Stephanie (husband Jimmy, daughter Abby, son JJ) and Erin (fiancé Rich) all live in Albuquerque. The third niece, Melissa (husband Gene, daughters Elena, Mary and Jennifer) were actually leaving Amarillo that day heading back to ABQ. Melissa had just finished her residency in OB/GYN and just passed her board exams. They had lived there for four years during her final doctoral studies. They were so excited to get back to ABQ and be home. She will be starting her new job in September working with a group practice. It was such a joy to see them all, especially the great nieces and nephew. The kids all had a great time, eating and playing and getting to meet their distant Aunt and Uncle. We truly enjoyed our time together. We hope to go back next June for Erin and Rich’s wedding. It will be a wonderful family celebration!

On Saturday, Erin and Rich invited everyone to their home for a cookout. We all met there in the evening and had a great time and great food. It’s too bad our families live so far away from each other. It would be so nice to have regular visits with them and watch the children grow up. Hopefully, we will be able to visit them more often on our trips out west, which we plan to continue as often as possible.

We decided to stay another day to go mountain biking. There is a biking trail north of the city called White Mesa Trails. We were told it was very good with trails for novice to technical riders. We drove about 25 miles north and found the remote gravel road to get to the trailhead. After arriving and studying the trail map, we decided to start out on an easy double track, which would take us to the top of the mesa and some more difficult trails. As we rode around the base of the mesa, the trails continued to get more difficult to follow, as they were not clearly marked. Kurt headed up to a difficult trail and I decided to take the easy one back to the trailhead. The day was getting hotter and I was running out of water, and still had a couple of miles to get back. Kurt had also turned around and eventually met up with me, which was a life saver as he had more water and I was getting very over heated. We slowly made our way back to the truck. I was on the verge of a heat stroke and was happy to get in some shade and cool down. I must say that this trail was not fun and could be very dangerous to those who do not know the trails. We both were ready to get back to camp and relax.

After some dinner, we started preparing to leave the next day for our official turnaround point to head back home. Our plan was to make our way toward Oklahoma and stay at one of the beautiful lakes.

SW Trip 2014 - Durango, Colorado

Durango, Colorado

July 3 – 7

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During the drive to Durango the landscape changed drastically. We have left the desert and were now viewing green valleys and rocky mountains. It was beautiful and also cooler. We passed through town and headed for the RV park on the north side of Durango. This park is located along the Animas River and also the train tracks for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway. This was awesome, as the train only passed through 3 times going north in the morning and the return trips around 5 pm.

After getting setup, we boarded the Durango Trolley to take us into town. This was a great, free service to get around town and not have to drive and park. Durango is very much a tourist town, even though this was the Fourth of July weekend, it was not too crowded. Also, the locals were very friendly and helpful; they really understand that tourism brings money to the town! We checked out downtown, stopped in a local bar and had a drink on the outdoor patio. We found the trolley made it so easy to get around, with multiple stops along Main Street. Our plan was to take the trolley into town the next day for the July 4^th Celebrations.

The next day we did take the trolley into town to check out all the activities for Independence Day. There was a breakfast, family events, barbeques and various other venues for the holiday. We walked around town and did a little shopping. We also checked out the local mountain biking trails. The Animas River flows along the town, which we found was great recreation for rafting, paddling and tubing. The town created a “whitewater park” on the Animas River south of town, which was a lot of fun for watercraft to challenge the manufactured rapids. We headed back to the RV for lunch and returned later to town for the rest of the celebrations. We decided to drive into town as the trolley did have limited stops and times due to downtown Main Street being closed off for the holiday. We were able to park for free at the train depot parking area, which turned out to be perfect viewing for the fireworks. The parade was at 6pm along Main Street and in true western style was filled with local personalities, tractors, horses, fire trucks and marching bands. After the parade, we hung out in downtown until the fireworks began. We were able to setup our chairs by the truck and watch the fireworks in comfort! It turned out to be a great Independence Day celebration.

The next morning we headed out to go mountain biking at a local trail, Horse Gulch. Since the town is down in the river valley, all trails go up the mountains, which is a grind to start off with. This trail began with a ½ mile, very rocky double track uphill! It was more of a bike-hike for me, but once we got though that climb, we were in a beautiful meadow and valley. The trails were pretty difficult, so I stayed on the easier ones while Kurt went on to the technical trails. After an hour the temps got hotter and we headed back downhill to the trailhead. It was not one of the more fun bike trails we have ridden, but we still got some great exercise. After returning to the RV, Kurt drove north along the Animas River to find put in and take out spots where we could run the river. I decided that I would shuttle him and let him get on the river upstream, as this was the calmest part of the Animas.

We decided to stay an extra day in Durango so that we could ride the train from Durango to Silverton and back. This would take about 12 hours total time for the trip, so I went in search of a pet sitter that could come to the RV and walk the dogs during this time. After several calls I was able to find a great pet sitter. She actually came by the RV later in the day to meet the dogs and get all the instructions. She was so friendly and also is a vet tech. I could tell she is a true dog lover! We were now set to get our tickets and enjoy the train the next day.  Later in the morning, we drove to the put in and Kurt got on the river. I would pick him up in town at a local boat ramp. Later, we went back to town to take the dogs to a local leash free dog park. They had been cooped up for a few days and needed to run. They really enjoyed the freedom and met some new doggie friends. Then we went to the Whitewater Park and sat along the riverside watching the people on rafts, kayaks and tubes shoot through the rapids. Almost all those on tubes were dumped in the rapids and lost their sunglasses, hats, shoes, etc.  It was very entertaining and funny.

Our last day in Durango was spent on the train trip. This is a historic train run that began during the mining days in the area. The train runs mostly along the Animas River and many views were looking down into the Animas Canyon. Despite the cloudy skies, the views of the mountains, forests, river and canyon were amazing. The train staff was very friendly and accommodating. After a 4.5 hour ride, we arrived in Silverton, an old mining town. This was the quintessential western small town. It is now a tourist based economy, as there were many restaurants and tourist shops. We had a great lunch at a local barbeque place, which was awesome! We walked around town for about an hour and then we boarded the train for the return trip. Along the way, we saw some scenery that we didn’t see on the way up. After 4 hours, we were back in Durango.   We were so fortunate to be able to take this trip, as this is the only way to see the Animas canyon and the surrounding mountains.

When we returned to the RV, the dogs were well taken care of but still happy to see us back. The pet sitter had texted me after she had walked and played with the dogs. What a great experience! We then began preparing for our departure the next morning, heading to New Mexico. There we will stay a few nights at Abiquiu Lake and then on to Albuquerque to visit my sister, nieces and husbands and all their children.

SW Trip 2014 - Mess Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park – Cortez, Co

June 30 - July 2

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After leaving Moab, we headed to Cortez, Colorado to visit Mesa Verde National Park. The RV park where we stayed was a commercial park that is a first class facility and very well managed. We were surprised to find such a nice park in a remote area. The park had a very nice dog walk area where we could let them off leash, which the boys really enjoyed. The park was about 1 mile from the entrance to Mesa Verde, which was convenient.

The next morning we headed out to Mesa Verde National Park. This park is the only N.P. that preserves the “works of man”. The Ancestral Pueblo people made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. The park mainly consists of two mesas with roads along the way for visitors to view and visit the ruins. The three main and largest ruins provide ranger-led tours in order to actually enter the ruins; otherwise, they can be viewed at a distance across the canyon. Our first mesa drive was on Chapin Mesa, where we were able to enter the ruins of Spruce House. Then we drove the loop drives and visited several villages with pit houses (the oldest known residences) and other ruins along the way. We were able to view Cliff Palace and Balcony House from a distance, they were still spectacular!  The next mesa we drove was Wetherill Mesa. Along this drive and loops, we saw the Long House Ruins and Kodak House from across the canyon and several pit houses arranged in a village. This mesa drive only allowed vehicles up to a certain point, at which they provided trams to gain access to the ruins and viewpoints. Heading back out of the park, along the road there were several overlook points with views of the surrounding valleys and canyons within the park. Mesa Verde is an amazing collection of ancient ruins, but the downside involved about 100 miles of driving (many with steep grades) to get to the remote areas of the ruins. We spent more time driving than actually viewing and exploring the ruins. It was a long day , but we were glad we did visit this park.

We were ready for some exercise, so the next morning we drove to Cortez to a great group of mountain bike trails called Phil’s World. The trails were excellent, with all levels from easy to technical. Kurt rode a couple of miles with me on the easier trails, and then he headed for the advanced trails. I continued on the easier trails and really enjoyed the ride. The trails were so well designed that it made them really fun without too much difficulty. After a couple of hours of riding, we drove into Cortez and found a local place for lunch. It was an old fashioned “drive in”, with the car hops that come out to the car, take the order and then deliver the food.  The food was good and we were full. After a couple of shopping stops, we headed back to the camper and began some preparations for our departure the next day to Durango, Colorado.

SW Trip 2014 - Moab Utah

Moab, Utah

June 27 - 29

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We were excited to get back to Moab, we love it there. My sisters and friends will be staying there for a week and we will be there for the weekend. The drive back was beautiful, with a different view of the drive down to Bluff. The rock formations, cliffs, and windows were amazing. On the drive back, we noticed there was a vibration coming from the truck. We stopped and Kurt looked around and found nothing out of order. After arriving back at the RV park, he checked the truck again. This time, he found a huge bulge on the tread side of one of the tires. This was pretty scary, as we could have had a blow out while towing the trailer. He took the truck to a local tire dealer, recommended by the RV park owners. They checked the tires and explained that they were all old and needed to be replaced. Kurt had expected to have the tires replaced while on the trip since they were the original tires from 2008, but we didn’t anticipate that it would occur with a possible emergency. The dealer gave us a great price on all four tires, but had to order them. They would be in on Monday, the day we were scheduled to leave, but he promised they would be in first thing in the morning and we would be out by noon. Also, he replaced the bad tire with a “loaner” used tire so we could safely drive around Moab for the three days. What a nice guy in a great town!

That evening we met Cindy, Terrie, Cliff and Mike at the condo they were renting for the week. It was a great location south of Moab, with beautiful views of the Moab Rim to the west and the slickrock cliffs to the east. We hung out with them for drinks and lively discussions. Also, as the skies got darker, we were able to do some stargazing and actually saw the Milky Way! We had all decided to go kayaking on the Colorado River on Sunday.

The next day, Kurt and I went mountain biking back at Moab Brands, as we had really enjoyed those trails and they were close to town. As usual, we started out biking together, but Kurt wanted to ride the advanced trails. I rode the easy/moderate trails for a little over an hour, but headed back to the truck as it was getting much hotter as the day went on. The temps in Moab had gotten up over 100 degrees, much hotter than the week earlier that we had been there. We went into town and did a little shopping, and then went back to camp to let the dogs hang outside for awhile. Cindy called me later when they got back to the condo after visiting Arches National Park. Again, we went over to hang out for the evening.

The next morning, we all met at the Moab boat ramp to launch our kayaks. We unloaded the kayaks and gear, then the rest shuttled their cars to the take out at Gold Bar Recreation Area. The weather was warm and beautiful, but being on the water helped alleviate some of the heat, as the water was cold. We had a relaxed paddle downstream for about 10 miles with great views and amazing rocky cliffs. The boys were a little bored with the flat paddle, when a jet boat came by they were excited to ride the wake! I guess if you’ve already paddled Class II & III rapids, this was very tame! Oh well, we all enjoyed the day on the river, it was special for us all to be there together. Later in the evening, we brought pizza and wings to the condo and continued our fun together.

Monday morning we got up early and prepared to head out. Kurt got the tires put on the truck and was back around noon. It was a good feeling to know that we would be driving safer with new tires. We took off for our next destination, Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.

SW Trip 2014 - Bluff, Utah & San Juan River trip

Bluff, Utah – San Juan River

June 20 – 26

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Bluff is about 1 mile long, a very small pioneer town founded by Mormons. We stayed at Cadillac Ranch RV Park, one of two in town. We also found that there isn’t a grocery store in town, just a convenience store that does carry some groceries. After getting settled in, we drove across town (about 4 minutes), then headed out to scout the river put-in at Sand Island BLM campground and boat ramp. This is where the group will be launching their kayaks to paddle downstream on the San Juan River to Mexican Hat.

The next morning, we headed west to Mexican Hat to find the boat ramp where they will take out their kayaks. It is a maintained boat ramp and park. This take out is about 23 miles downstream from Sand Island. After that we drove out to Goosenecks State Park to check out the overlook of the San Juan River. The views are amazing and the surrounding area is scattered with red rock formations, buttes, mesas and canyons. On the drive to Mexican Hat, there was a view of Monument Valley in the distance; amazing being that it is about 50 miles away. Next, we drove up highway 261, which goes up to Cedar Mesa. This road climbs up the side of the mesa on a special dug out road called the Moki Dugway. This gravel road is on the side of the mesa with many switchbacks and steep drop offs. Wow, it was exciting and scary at the same time and the views of the valley were amazing. After reaching the top, we headed back down towards Mexican Hat. The highway back to Bluff goes over Comb Ridge, a natural monocline going north to south and nearly 80 miles long. The pictures of the Comb from the air or satellite show an amazing natural structure. Later in the day, Kurt found another put-in upstream from Sand Island, called Footbridge Road. We drove out there to find the location, as he wanted to do a short paddle the next day on the San Juan.

The next morning, we drove Kurt and his kayak to the put-in where he launched. Two hours later and 8 miles downstream I picked him up at Sand Island. It was a fairly mild part of the river, with not many rapids, just very calm. This would give him a little idea of the river trip ahead of the group.

The next afternoon, the river group arrived in Bluff. Cindy, Terrie, Cliff, Mike and Debbie met us at our camper for a barbeque cookout. We all had a nice meal and discussed the river trip. They would launch the next day at Sand Island.

The next morning we all met at Sand Island, unloaded the kayaks and gear, and then shuttled their cars back to Bluff, where they would be stored until the end of the river trip. I watched as they all shoved off and headed downstream, they would be facing 3 major rapids which are Class II & III. I wondered and hoped that all would go well and they would have a great time paddling and camping two nights on the river. I headed back to the camper to hang with Kody and Kirby for two nights.

The next day, I visited Bluff Fort, the historic original encampment of the Mormon pioneers. There was so much history there about how the Mormon families suffered great challenges to create the road over the rock ridges to get to the chosen area. Some of the original log homes and buildings are still in place, others have been reconstructed.  Later, I was also able to get the dogs and their bedding washed. They were way overdue for a bath. I got some other housekeeping done and also cleaned the interior of the truck (it was full of red sand and gravel). I was getting ready to shower and have some dinner when I got a call from Kurt. They were already at the Mexican Hat boat ramp and were ready to get off the water. After I drove to Mexican Hat, they explained that the three ladies had all turned over their kayaks (at least once if not more) and most of their camping gear and clothing were wet, along with losing some of their gear. They were ready for a hotel room and a shower. We shuttled them back to their cars so they could go back to get their kayaks and gear. Even though they were mostly wet and survived the rapids, they still had a great time.

After everyone got some rest that night, we met again the next evening in Mexican Hat for dinner at a favorite restaurant, Swingin’ Steak. The meat is cooked on a swinging grill over the wood coals. We all enjoyed the steaks and side dishes. It was a nice evening to hang out with the family.

The next day, we all headed up to Moab, for a few days of celebrating and hanging out for some good times.

SW Trip 2014 - Canyonlands - Needles District & Needles Outpost

Canyonlands NP Needles District – Needles Outpost

June 18 – 19

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We had scheduled two nights of bookdock camping at the Needles Outpost. After a long drive back through amazing canyons, we arrived at the campground. Our campsite was nestled back in a box canyon surrounded by red slick rock cliffs. Amazing and simply beautiful! The Outpost provided water to fill our tank and we could run the generator as needed. It was so quiet and relaxing, we loved it immediately. Kurt rode his bike around the campground and found that there was only one other camper, in a tent at the far end of the campsites. We went for a drive around the area and go to the Visitor Center at the park. The area was surrounded by mesas and buttes in the distance. Wonderful views! Later, we sat back and enjoyed the views from the campsite and the sunset. Kurt made a nice campfire and we stayed up late by the fire and stargazing. It’s amazing how many stars are visible without any light pollution.

The next morning, we headed to Canyonlands – Needles District. This is a much less visited part of Canyonlands, especially that there is a 34 mile drive off the main highway to get to the park. This part of Canyonlands also continues with the views of the vastness of the park. We drove out to view points and also went hiking to some special features. From the viewpoints, we could see to the north the mesas of the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands. It’s so amazing the vastness and size of Canyonlands National Park. We hiked the Slickrock Trail, a 2.5 mile loop with various overlooks to see the canyons below and also the distant needles, mesas and buttes. We hiked Pothole Point, a very short loop also on slickrock. There was a really nice short hike out on a gravel road, Cave Spring. This hike was around rock formations that had caves where ancient peoples lived and also pioneer cowboys used as a camp. This hike also involved climbing a couple of ladders to get to the tops of the slickrock. It was an awesome hike. After a few hours, the heat was building and we decided to go back to camp and hang out in the shade with the dogs. Kurt hiked around the campground and up on the slickrock canyon walls, even Kody went with him and had so much fun!

The next morning, we packed up the camper and headed for our next destination, Bluff Utah. This is where Kurt will join my sisters, Teresa and Cindy, my nephew Cliff and two other friends for a 2 night  kayaking river trip on the San Juan River. Also on our drive out we stopped by an archaeological site, Newspaper Rock, where ancient Indians and also pioneers carved petroglyphs on a rock wall. Amazing!

SW Trip 2014 - Moab, Utah & Arches National Park

Moab, Utah – Arches National Park

June 11 – 17

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Moab, Utah is our primary destination. Upon arrival, we drove south through town and to the RV park. After setting up we went back to town for grocery shopping and go to the Visitor Center. Our first impression of Moab was that everyone we talked to was so friendly! I guess this town understands that tourism is their bread and butter! Kurt contacted a river outfitter to find out about how we could get our kayaks on the Colorado River. Rick and Debbie were already in Moab for a couple of days. Later in the afternoon we drove up the Colorado Riverway Recreation Area. This designated public land is setup for various camping sites along the river, boat ramps, a scenic drive along the river and a paved bicycle trail. We drove along the river to look at the possibilities of which section we would want to paddle.

The next morning, we all headed north of town to a great mountain biking trails area called MOAB Brands. There were several trails, rated from easy to very technical. Debbie and I rode the easier trails and the guys rode the more difficult trails. It was a fun day and great exercise. As the day got warmer, we headed back to camp. Later in the afternoon, Kurt took the dogs down to the Moab boat ramp so they could run and play in the water. They all had some fun.

The next morning we headed up to Arches National Park for the day. After stopping at the Visitor Center, we headed out to drive the scenic drive to first hike to Delicate Arch. The trailhead parking area was limited and we were lucky to find someone leaving their parking spot. We first stopped at the Wolfe Ranch historic area to view the remains of a settler’s small cabin and horse corrals. Along the way, there was also a wall with ancient Ute petroglyphs. The trail then crossed up and over slickrock to head to the arch. This was a fairly strenuous hike along cliff edges, climbs over large rocks, and to make conditions worse, there were high wind gusts. We did make it to the Delicate Arch area and enjoyed the views. The next stop was at the far end of the scenic drive, Devil’s Garden. Within the hikes here, there were several arches. We viewed the Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch and Skyline Arch. After this, we headed to the Windows Section of the park. Here we saw Double Arch, North Window, South Window, Cove of Caves and Balanced Rock. The final section was on the drive out, the Petrified Dunes Viewpoint. After several hours of touring Arches, we headed back to town and camp.

The next morning we took our kayaks to the put in and met the outfitter for the shuttle. The previous day we had visited the outfitter to discuss our paddle of the Colorado River. After some discussion and looking at river maps and conditions, we decided to paddle the section from Moab downstream for about 18 miles to a boat ramp. This was the safest and easiest paddle for us. We then headed down the Colorado for a wonderful paddle with amazing views of the canyons. With the current being very swift and the occasional winds, the entire trip took us about 3.5 hours. We had a great time, even though the wind was testy and the skies were overcast.

The next day, we were ready for some more mountain biking and headed out to the Slickrock Trail, adjacent to the town of Moab. We understood that this was a difficult and technical trail, but we wanted to try at least the practice loop. We headed up to the practice loop and we very intimidated by the large rocky area with the marked trails on the slickrock. We took off on the loop and we both quickly realized the difficulty. I was on the trail about 5 minutes, when I crashed on a large rock. I fell on my right elbow/arm and left a good amount of skin on the rock. My biking was over for the day! Kurt continued to finish the 1.5 mile practice loop, but decided the remaining trails would have to wait for another time. After that we headed north to the Klondike Bluffs area. This was another set of trails that are rated easy to technical. We did ride there, but my ride was not as long as I wanted due to the increasing heat. Kurt continued to ride for another hour, and he really enjoyed these trails. After riding, we went back to camp and gathered the dogs and happy hour supplies and headed to the Moab boat ramp on the Colorado River. The dogs really enjoyed running free and playing in the water.

The following day, we decided to curb our activities and take care of some chores; shopping, laundry and grocery. After getting back to camp, Kurt decided he really needed some more mountain biking and headed out to the Moab Brands trails.

Our final day was spent on a great hike in Negro Bill Canyon. This canyon north of town was originally settled by a black homesteader. The 5 mile round trip hike followed the canyon with a flowing creek and a lot of green shade. We took Kody with us as he really enjoys hiking, especially along creeks. The hike was very beautiful and ended at the end of a secondary canyon with a large natural bridge, Morning Glory Bridge. After the hike, we went back to camp, fed the dogs and then drove back to the Colorado Riverway and drove about 20 miles back to a town called Castle Valley. This was an old town originally founded by Mormons in a beautiful valley. What a surprise to find such a beautiful area in a remote wilderness!

After heading back to camp, we had some dinner and began preparing for our move the next day to Canyonlands – Needles District. This will be a boondock camping event, but we are looking forward to being in the wilderness!

SW Trip 2014 - Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse Point State Park

Canyonlands NP - Dead Horse Point State Park

June 7- 10

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The drive from Torrey to Dead Horse was mostly stark desert with some mountains and cliffs, rock formations and some green areas along creeks. There is a lot of agriculture in this area, amazingly! After arriving at Dead Horse Point S.P., we drove out to the main overlook, Dead Horse Point. WOW, were we surprised! This view of the Colorado River and Canyonlands was more amazing than we imagined. We settled in for the evening for dinner and rest.

We were up fairly early the next morning and rode our bikes on the mountain bike trails within the State Park. The trails were great, with levels from easy to technical. Some of the trails were along the canyon rim, which provided great views of the canyons below.  After lunch, we hiked the West Rim Trail within the park, which also viewed a few canyon overlooks. In the evening, we took the dogs with us to Dead Horse Point, so they could get out for a walk.

Canyonlands National Park was our destination for the next day. This district of the park is called Island in the Sky, since it is a large plateau overlooking the canyons. The Colorado River flows along the east rim and the Green River flows along the west rim. The confluence of the two rivers is within the park.  The park is very large and has long drives to amazing overlooks. There were various hikes and some are short hikes from overlooks to special features or canyon views. Other hikes were extensive backcountry hikes to the lower canyons or the rivers. We hiked a one mile loop out to Mesa Arch. This arch is on a cliff edge and provided views through the arch into the canyons of the Colorado River.  Another geological feature, the Upheaval Dome, included a 2 mile round trip hike back to two overlooks to view the unusual collapsed dome filled with various rocks and minerals, which is an anomaly in the relative geologic order of canyon country. Rock layers are dramatically deformed in a roughly circular or “bull’s-eye” pattern nearly three miles across. Some geologists believe it is a meteor crater, while others think it’s a collapsed salt dome. The debate goes on….  We also took a short hike back to the White Rim Overlook, which provided great views of the lower canyon and the Colorado River.

The following day we decided to stay in Dead Horse Park. We rode the mountain bike trails in the park for one last time. Kurt decided to go back into Canyonlands and hike the Gooseberry Trail, a 5.5 mile round trip going down to the White Rim along the lower canyons. I decided to stay at camp and hang out with the dogs. Later we made our preparations for moving the next day.

Our next destination is Moab and Arches National Park. Can’t wait to see this area!

SW Trip 2014 - Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park – Torrey, Utah

June 3 – 6

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Our drive up to Torrey Utah was amazing, as we drove the Scenic Byway 12. We were crossing over the top of the mountains of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The views were spectacular of desert environments and eventually into the forests of the Dixie National Forest. Stopping at the various overlooks provided views up to 150 miles away.

We setup our RV in a very nice commercial RV Park, Thousand Lakes RV. This park was just west of Torrey in a beautiful, green valley; with all the amenities we could want. The location was great with the back of the park facing beautiful red rock cliffs with hoodoo-like formations. That afternoon we drove into Capitol Reef NP and stopped in the visitor center for detailed maps and advice. This park has some great hikes and a lot of scenic driving with overlooks. This park’s main feature is the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic formation of a giant buckle in the Earth’s crust stretching 100 miles north-south through the park. The park is filled with colorful cliffs, massive domes, soaring spires, monoliths, twisting canyons and graceful arches. The Fremont River flows through the park, providing a lovely green valley, where early Indians then Mormon pioneers settled and lived off the land. The pioneers were farmers and planted fruit orchards, which are still there today.  The town of Fruita is still present with some historical buildings and farmlands. There are petroglyphs left on canyon walls by the early Fremont Culture Indians.

The next day we headed back into the park for the scenic drive and a hike. We stopped in the historic town of Fruita to look at the pioneer buildings and learn about their existence. We also ate our lunch at shady, green picnic area in Fruita. The 16 mile drive through the valley was amazing. We also drove across the main road of the park and looked at petroglyphs, a historic cabin and a look into the Grand Wash canyon. We hiked a one mile trail back to the 133 foot Hickman Bridge natural arch. It was very warm and made the hike a little testy, with a climb back up to the arch, but it was beautiful.

The following day, we went back into Capitol Reef for a drive again down the scenic road and then a gravel road back into Capitol Gorge. The 2 mile gravel road actually wound back through the canyon walls until it stopped at a trailhead parking lot. Then we hiked back 1.5 miles back into the canyon to view the Pioneer Register wall and a short hike up to the Tanks (water filled holes in rocks). The register was filled with carved names of those pioneers that traveled this wash as a thoroughfare to get into the valley. There were even some names that were inscribed with gunshot! Also, unfortunately, there were the modern graffiti idiots that chose to add their names, uuugggh! There were also some petroglyphs added by the ancient Fremont Indians. The hike up to the tanks was steep, but had great views. There were two main potholes filled with water. On our way back to camp, we stopped at the Goosenecks overview (where the Fremont River flows through a deep canyon) and Sunset Point.

On our last day in this area, Kurt took Kody went on a hike to the Fremont River in the valley near the town of Torrey. They both had a great time and Kody got to get in the water and play. I stayed at the RV to catch up on some housekeeping before our next campground, which has limited water. I actually enjoyed the time to myself and with Kirby. Later in the evening, Kurt and I went out to dinner at a great Mexican restaurant in town. After that, we went to a country bar called “The Saddlery”. This was a very nice restaurant/bar with live country music, pools tables and great atmosphere. We sat at the bar on saddle bar stools and played some pool, it was awesome.

Our next stop will be near Canyonlands National Park and camping at Dead Horse Point State Park.

SW Trip 2014 - Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park – Wide Hollow Reservoir

May 30 – June 2

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This State Park is like an oasis in the desert. Near the town of Escalante, the park is adjacent to the Wide Hollow Reservoir. It was really nice to be near water again. The campground is excellent, with our site looking out to the lake. After setting up we drove into the town of Escalante to check it out and pick up a few groceries. We relaxed for the evening and enjoyed the sunset.

The next morning we got our kayaks on the lake for a paddle. The lake is not huge, but we enjoyed the paddle around it and looking at the surrounding views of the mountains and rock formations. After lunch, Kurt and I drove a gravel road (Hell’s Backbone) back to a hike called “The Box”. This canyon was green and lined with cottonwoods, with the creek flowing along the trail. We took Kody with us as he loves to hike along creeks.

In the morning, Kurt put his kayak back in the lake and went fishing. He did come back with a 3 pound bass. He filleted the fish and fried it up for lunch. It was very tasty. Later in early afternoon, Rick and Debbie went with us for a drive to Calf Creek Recreation Area and hike back to the falls. The drive was through the Escalante mountains on scenic drive Hwy 12; a very steep and mountainous road with amazing views. At Calf Creek Recreation Area, we hiked the 6 mile roundtrip to the Lower Calf Creek Falls, a 120 foot waterfall. The hike was along the creek through the canyon, with amazing cliffs and rock formations on each side. We saw some pictographs on one canyon wall. It was pretty warm, but when we got back to the falls, there was about a 20 degree drop in temps, it was actually chilly! The falls were beautiful and the water was ice cold. We relaxed with water and snacks, cooled off, then headed back to the trailhead.

Our last day in Escalante was spent with a sick Kurt. He was up all night with some kind of stomach bug. He slept and relaxed most of the day, but began to feel better by the evening. While he was resting, I went to town for groceries and fuel. We had to prepare for our departure the next day.

On to our next location, Torrey Utah and Capitol Reef National Park. We can’t wait to see the sights there!

SW Trip 2014 - Bryce Canyon and Kodachrome Basin State Park

Bryce Canyon National Park – Kodachrome Basin State Park

May 25 – 29

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After a beautiful drive through green meadows and mountain views, we arrived at Kodachrome Basin State Park. The park is tucked back into a box canyon, surrounded by high colorful eroded mountains. Within the park are many red stone eroded rock formations, mostly “spires” or chimneys of rock, known as sand pipes. These spires are thought to be solidified sediment that filled ancient springs or geysers, left standing after the softer surrounding Entrada sandstone rock weathered away. WOW, how beautiful and amazing! There are several great hiking and biking trails within the park. The campground is one of the nicest state parks we’ve ever stayed in, with spacious campsites and full hookups. We immediately felt at home.

That afternoon, we rode our bikes around one of the mountain biking trails, which wound through many rock formations and spires. The next day was Memorial Day, so we decided to avoid Bryce Canyon and the crowds. Instead, we biked and hiked another longer trail in the park, the Panorama Trail. It was challenging and fun, with side hikes back into special formations.

The next day we headed into Bryce Canyon. First we went to the Visitor Center to get trail maps and advice. We decided to first hike the Fairyland Trail, which meandered through spectacular and colorful spires called hoodoos. After that hike and lunch we headed to a loop trail, Queens Garden that connected to the Navajo Trail. This trail was even more spectacular, winding down into the valley floor then ascending up through an amazing slot canyon of spires, named Wall Street. Another great hike with sights like we have never seen.

After a day of two long hikes, we decided to take a down day to relax a little. We stayed in Kodachrome Park and hiked an easy trail, Angels Palace, up to a lookout point. Kody went with us and enjoyed the hike as well. The view from the top was wonderful; we could see far views of Bryce and south to Grand Staircase Escalante Monument. 

Our last day there, we headed back to Bryce to see more of the park. We hiked the Peekaboo trail, which was among spires and fins of ‘windows’. After the hike, we drove the park’s south road to all the viewpoints. The views were amazing with the surrounding Escalante mountains.

Our next destination is in the town of Escalante, which is within the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. We are anxious to see what awaits us there.

SW Trip 2014 - Zion National Park

Zion National Park, Utah

May 20 – 24

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The drive to Zion was easy with great views of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument to the north. We headed to the RV park in the little town of Mt. Carmel, which was just a mile north of the junction to Hwy 9 which heads into Zion. After setting up, we relaxed for the evening.

The next morning we drove 20 miles into Zion NP. We really had no idea what to expect, but were we ever surprised. This park is different in that you drive down into the bottom of the canyon, where all the facilities and trailheads are. The Virgin River runs through a lush, green river corridor, surrounded by high canyon walls and massive rock peaks that mostly are straight up! The park runs a free shuttle to alleviate all the cars driving through the park and eliminating massive parking lots. What a great concept. The shuttle runs every 7 – 10 minutes, so there is easy access to all the facilities and hiking trailheads. We went to the Visitor Center to get maps and info on the park.

Our first hike was to Weeping Rock, where a seep spring continually rains water down over the rocks and eventually to the river. This trailhead also provided access to the East Rim Trail, which we took upward, then branched off to the Hidden Canyon Trail. Along the way we encountered two young bighorn sheep running down the trail, then they jumped down and ran to the next lower level of the trail. Wow, it was exciting to see these animals up close and in action! We then watched them head across the canyon and back up the rocks on the other side. The Hidden Canyon trail ended at narrow canyon walls with chains along the trail edge to hang on to. I did not go up that far, but Kurt did!

We were excited to head back to Zion the next morning, as our plan was to hike “The Narrows”. This hike is IN the Virgin River, heading upstream, several crossings over the river and making our way through the rocky, swift shallow waters. This was an EPIC hike, as we had never hiked in a river before.  Also the canyon walls are up to 2000 feet and become narrower as you go up the river. We went back in 2 miles, and decided to turn around there as I realized that we had to hike back to the trailhead. The trail was actually 10 miles back to a primitive campground. It was a long haul back, but very exciting. We were very glad that this hike was part of our plan. We may never do another hike like this again (unless we come back to Zion).

After a long, strenuous hiking day, we decided the next day to go to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. This is a national shelter that rescues animals from rabbits to horses. The property is 7 miles north of Kanab, Utah and consists of 21,000 acres in Angel Canyon. It’s an amazing and beautiful place. There are over 1700 animals in this sanctuary on any given day. We took a 2 hour free tour of the property, which went through the canyon and showed the different animal communities. We went inside Cat World and Dog Town. This organization was the one that rescued Michael Vicks dogs to rehabilitate them. This prompted National Geographic to run a series called “Dog Town”. We had watched this show a couple of years ago and were hooked. Such a great organization that believes that they can “Save Them All”.  We donated to become members and will continue to keep in touch via internet and Facebook. We also would love to come back here some day and volunteer. It would be our honor to assist with the efforts to save these animals. If you want to learn more about the organization, go to www.bestfriends.org or look them up on Facebook.

Our last day was spent back in Zion. There were still some hikes we wanted to do. Kurt hiked the West Rim Trail, which connects to Angel’s Landing. There was no way I was going on that one, as the last mile of the hike goes up a narrow path to the final peak, which has chains to hang onto while negotiating the very narrow trail on slickrock! I hiked the Emerald Pools Trail. We both enjoyed the hikes and were still awed by the amazing rock formations, canyon walls and views of the canyon.

After spending three full days in Zion, we wished we had another day. This place is special and amazing! It’s so different from other canyons since you visit to canyon floor and look upward at the magnificent rock walls. We hope to come back some day and experience more!

Now, on to our next destination, Bryce Canyon NP and camping at Kodachrome Basin State Park.

SW Trip 2014 - North Rim Grand Canyon

North Rim Grand Canyon, Arizona

May 15 – 19

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Upon arrival at the North Rim Grand Canyon campground, we setup our rig and then headed out for a hike along the canyon rim on the Transcept Trail. We watched sunset from the rim, which was beautiful! The North Rim is much higher elevation than the South Rim and also has about 10% of the visitors. However, the campground was mostly full.  We discovered that the North Rim has many more side canyons, as this side is still eroding unlike the South Rim.

The next morning we hiked the Uncle Jim Trail to an overlook of the canyon. Uncle Jim was an original settler/ranger of the park. This was mostly a hike through the Kaibab Forest, but ended up at an incredible viewpoint of the Roaring Springs Canyon. After lunch back at camp, we drove out to the east side to several overlook points. Point Imperial overlooks the eastern side of the canyon, looking toward the Navajo Nation, Echo Cliffs and the Painted Desert. The pictures of these views do not even begin to show how beautiful the landscape is. We then headed back to camp for the evening.

Cape Royal was one destination the next day, which has a great view of the South Rim and below to the Colorado River. We ate our lunch at the Vista Encantada sitting at a picnic table right on the canyon rim. The Roosevelt Point was the next overlook with views of the Navajo Nation and the Painted Desert. We then drove to the Grand Canyon Lodge to check it out and see the views from there. The Bright Angel Point and the lodge overlook the Bright Angel Canyon. The hike out to the point was pretty scary, with some narrow areas and steep drop offs.

The next day, we drove to the North Kaibab Trailhead to hike down into the Roaring Springs Canyon. Kurt was determined to make it down a 10 mile round trip to Roaring Springs. My goal was to make it to the Supai Tunnel at 4 miles round trip. I made it to the Tunnel then turned around to go back up to the trailhead. It was a very steep and strenuous trail. The park supplied water fill stations at several points along the trail, including Supai Tunnel and Roaring Springs. This was crucial as the temperatures get higher as you go down into the canyon. Kurt did make it to the springs and back as planned. This trail does continue down across the canyon, over the Colorado River and back up the South Kaibab Trail to the South Rim, 26 miles one way with a 5000’ elevation change both ways. We met several runners who came up to the North Trailhead who had completed the whole rim to rim in 9 – 10 hours! Crazy!

Our last day at the North Rim was spent in a relaxed mode. We rode our bikes to the Lodge and had lunch there. We also enjoyed sitting on the back patio and relaxing while looking at the amazing Grand Canyon. Later we prepared to head out to our next destination, Zion National Park in Utah!

SW Trip 2014 - Page/Lake Powell, Arizona

Page, Arizona – Lake Powell

May 10 – 14

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The drive from Sedona to Page was fairly easy, other than a major temporary road detour. Two years ago the main highway, 89, suffered a landslide about 20 miles south of Page. The temporary road was recently paved and was actually a good road; it just took a little more drive time. We arrived at the Page-Lake Powell RV Park, just on the south side of town. This park is very nice with full hookups and all the amenities that one would want. Also, the park’s backdrop is an eroded beautiful sandstone hill with a peak at the top. We had been in Page in 2003 and it had changed a lot.

The next morning we headed towards Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam. The Visitors Center was a must stop to get more info on the area. We drove out to the marina and campground area on the lake. On the way back, we hiked a trail called Hanging Gardens. This trail wrapped around the rock formations and ended up at a small weeping spring grotto. It was a nice hike with beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding area.  After that, we drove out to the Antelope Point Marina. There we spoke with some marina crew regarding getting our kayaks on the lake.  Since the public boat ramp was closed due to low water, the marina would haul us, our kayaks and gear on electric carts down to the marina docks. We were very excited about that and made plans to do this paddle on our last day in Page.  We then headed back to camp for the evening.

The next morning, we headed out to hike the Lower Antelope Slot Canyon on the Navajo land. We paid the Navajos and they provided a guide to take our group through the canyon. We were in the slot about an hour and 15 minutes. It was so amazing and beautiful, with eroded canyon walls that were in so many shapes, with the sunlight creating different colors on the walls. We took so many pictures and the young Navajo guide even changed settings on our camera to allow for the most colorful photos. He even took some pics of us. We were sad when the hike was over, we could have stayed in the canyon for another hour, but now they limit the time down in the canyon. What an amazing experience, like no other hike one would ever see.

After the slot canyon, we drove west of Page and hiked up to the Horseshoe Bend overlook. This is where the Colorado River makes a horseshoe shape path through the canyon. It was a spectacular site with the colorful, high canyon walls and rock formations all around the ground level. After heading back to camp, Kurt took the dogs up to the red rock area behind the campground to watch sunset. The sunset was beautiful and the dogs had a great run.

The next morning, we took some time to relax around the camper and get some chores done. Kurt was working on his mountain bike, which needed some repairs. We had scheduled a boat tour on Lake Powell and we headed out to the marina around noon. We chose to take the 3 hour tour on the lake, which traveled back into Antelope Canyon and Navajo Canyon. At the end of the tour, the captain took us near the Glen Canyon dam to get a water side view. The whole tour was great and we were very glad we took the time and money for this experience.

The following morning, we had already prepared our kayaks and gear for our paddle on Antelope Canyon.  We drove out to Antelope Marina and the crew there took us and our kayaks down to the marina docks. From there, we put in the water and headed toward Antelope Canyon. It was so exciting; we never dreamed we would be able to paddle the lake side of this canyon. From the marina, we had to paddle on the Colorado River to get to the canyon. It’s very difficult to describe in words how amazing to be at water level and see the towering canyon walls up so close. We were able to see so much more of the canyon than when we took the boat tour. We paddled all the way back until the canyon narrowed and the water reached a sandy beach. After securing our kayaks, we hiked back in the sandy bottomed canyon for about a ¼ mile, as the canyon walls narrowed. We returned to our kayaks, ate some lunch and began the paddle back to the marina. This was a kayak experience that tops them all, another check off our bucket list!

Back at camp, we prepared our camper to head out the next day for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

SW Trip 2014 - Sedona Arizona

Sedona Arizona – Dead Horse Ranch State Park (Cottonwood)

May 6 – 9

Picasa web album link:

https://picasaweb.google.com/107097369989809012646/SWTrip2014Part3?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOTYr5r5xMKHyQE&feat=directlink

Our visit to the Sedona area included camping at Dead Horse Ranch State Park, which is located in Cottonwood about 20 miles south of Sedona. The campground was very nice, on a hillside with miles of hiking/biking trails. The Verde River also flows through the town; however it was not very good for kayaking. Our activities in this area were mostly hiking and mountain biking (all in Sedona).

The second day, we drove into Sedona to find the hiking trails that were recommended to us. What an amazing change as we drove into the Sedona valley. Red rock cliffs and green everywhere! We headed to the Red Rock Country of the Coconino National Forest. We found the trailhead for the Devil’s Bridge hike. This hike was about 2 miles up to the red rock cliffs of the natural bridge formation, with about 300 feet elevation gain. Kurt actually walked onto the bridge, which made us all very nervous. The strenuous hike was wonderful, with amazing views and red rock formations. It’s very hard to describe the beauty of this place; even the pictures don’t convey the spectacular natural structures and views. After some lunch, we headed to the trailhead for the Bell Rock Pathway. This red rock formation resembles a bell shape. The trail wound around the base of the rock with some other side trails, including one loop that winds up one side of the rock. After a few hours of hiking, we were all tired and headed back to camp.

The next day, we headed north to Tozigoot, the remnants of an ancient Southern Sinagua Village built between 1000 and 1400 AD. When this monument was discovered it was then excavated and rebuilt. Most of the ruins were gone, except for the base of the walls, which were rebuilt to show visitors how the village was formed with over 100 rooms for families. Then we drove up to a small mountain town of Jerome. This town was founded as a copper mining town, but eventually the copper mining ended. What a neat little place, with historical buildings perched on the side of the mountain. The town is filled with art galleries, restaurants, wine and retail stores. We also had a wonderful lunch at a Mexican cafe. After returning to camp, Kurt decided to go back to Sedona and hike the Cathedral Trail. He took some amazing pictures on that hike.

Our last day was spent back in Red Rock Country of Sedona. We brought our mountain bikes and decided to ride the trails around the Bell Rock Pathway. Most of the trails were fairly moderate, but many were challenging at different levels for each of us. After about 2 hours of biking the trails, we were tired and headed back to camp.

What a beautiful, amazing place of Sedona. It would have been nice to have a couple of more days to enjoy the numerous trails and the natural beauty of the area. Hopefully, we can return someday and spend more time here.

On to our next destination, Page Arizona. This town borders Lake Powell and the Navajo Nation. There will be many adventures is this area.

SW Trip 2014 - Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona – Lake Pleasant Regional Park

May 1 – 5

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https://picasaweb.google.com/107097369989809012646/SWTrip2014Part3?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOTYr5r5xMKHyQE&feat=directlink

Our drive to Phoenix was fairly easy, but windy. The drive through the city revealed what a large metropolitan area Phoenix is! Lake Pleasant Park is located northwest of the city in a remote desert area, surrounded by mountains. The huge lake is a reservoir for the Phoenix area. Our campsite was located on one of the loops out on a peninsula. The location was great and we could see way across to the east side of the lake. After getting setup, I made margaritas for us all, which were quite strong and we all enjoyed them. Bedtime came early after a couple rounds of margaritas.

The next morning, we decided to relax a little around the lakeside. We packed up food, drink, and the dogs then headed over to a lake front area where we could setup and get in the water. We also brought our kayaks for a little paddling fun. The weather was very hot; it reached 100 degrees that day. We had setup a tarp between the two trucks for some shade. The water was very cold, due to the deep reservoir, but it definitely cooled us down. The dogs didn’t even want to go into the water because it was so cold, but we made them get wet to cool off. Kurt and I paddled around the area and got enjoyed the water. After a few hours, we packed up and headed back to the camp site. Later we all got together and enjoyed a grilled steak dinner.
The next day, we headed out to hike on the north side of the lake. The Pipeline Trail followed Pipeline Canyon and crossed a floating bridge over Pipeline Cove. It was a rugged desert hike with elevation changes, but not too difficult. Along the way, we observed the many Saguaro cacti which were just beginning to bloom. We also saw a couple of burros, which live throughout the park. As we returned from the hike, the heat was going up to 100 degrees and we were happy to be off the trail. After we cooled down from the hike, we drove over to the marina to check out the facilities. It was a very large and well equipped marina, but the boat rental pricing was outrageous. Later in the evening, we attended a program called “Stargazing For Everyone”. There were serious, amateur astronomers that presented a slide show in the outdoor amphitheatre and had about 10 telescopes setup for the people to view stars, planets and galaxies. It was a wonderful and we truly enjoyed it.

The following day, we had decided to drive around Phoenix and check out the area. Kurt had lived there for a couple of years when his father was stationed at a nearby Air Force base. We drove by his old house and elementary school. At lot had changed in 50 years! Then we drove up to Scottsdale to “Dos Gringos”, a great bar/Mexican restaurant to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. We enjoyed margaritas, drinks and Mexican food. We were impressed with Scottsdale and it is such a nice, upscale area. It was very beautiful among the desert environment.

Our last day at the lake, Kurt and I went on a kayak paddle. We took Kody and headed up to a popular cove on the north side of the lake. We put in our kayaks and paddled around some islands and back into another cove. Kody got to “run the shore” and he had a fun time jumping off and on Kurt’s kayak. I believe that Kurt has created a new kayaking game for Kody. We had to head in after a couple of hours as the wind began to get stronger. Later, we began preparing for our move the next day.

Our next location is the Sedona area. We will be staying at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood. Can’t wait to see what adventures are there for us!

SW Trip 2014 - Tucson, Arizona

Tucson, Arizona – Catalina State Park
April 25 – 30

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I have three words for Tucson, WE LOVE IT!

As we drove into the Tucson area, we were impressed by the many mountain ranges around the area. We had no idea that there were so many mountains; we had expected more of a flat desert environment. It is so beautiful; the city and surrounding areas seemed clean and modern. Catalina State Park is in the Sonoran desert area, with the Santa Catalina Mountains as the backdrop. The campsites are spacious with great views of the mountains. Even though we were in a remote desert area, there was shopping and restaurants within a mile of the park entrance. After getting setup, we relaxed and enjoyed the evening, even though it was windy.

The next morning, the wind was getting stronger as forecast. Debbie and I decided to use this time to get some laundry done. The guys decided to mountain bike a trail that originated right in the park. Later in the day it rained for awhile and then the weather became nice again. We took Kody on a hike on one of the trails inside the park. We were only able to go about 1 mile up the trail, as beyond that point no dogs were allowed, due to the reintroduction of bighorn sheep into the mountain area. We all decided to do the full trail the next day.

In the morning, we made our plans to go mountain biking in one of the local area trails. We found a great trail called Fantasy Island on the southeast side of Tucson. We had to drive across town to the site, but it was worth it. Some of the trails were more difficult, so Debbie and I decided to ride some of the easier ones. The guys had a great time riding the challenging trails of Fantasy Island. Located near the trail area is Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and miles of “airplane boneyard”. It was amazing how many planes were being stored there as far as you could see; wrapped up in protective materials and ready for whatever purpose. Looking at Google Maps satellite view of the Tucson area, it’s quite apparent how many planes are there! After bike riding, we headed back to camp and a cookout for dinner.

The next morning, we set out in the park to hike the Romero Canyon Trail. This was a steep and rocky great trail up the Catalina Mountains. It was challenging at many times, with many switchbacks and steep cliffs. The views of the canyon and valley below were amazing, with Saguaro cactus along the mountain sides. We hiked back in to an area called Romero pools, where there was standing water in rocky creek bed below. The hike back down was a little easier, but was still a challenge. We were never fortunate enough to see a bighorn sheep; as there were only about 14 sheep at this time. The round trip hike took us about 2.5 hours. Heading back to our campsites, we were very glad we went on this amazing hike.

Our challenge for the next day was to mountain bike a trail just north of the park. This desert trail called 50 Year Trail started out as an intermediate level biking. We were able to ride most of the trail, but attempted to find another more challenging part called “the chutes”. We rode around trying to follow a trail map and were never able to find the chutes. After a couple of hours, we headed back to camp. Our next event for the day was to drive a scenic road up to Mt. Lemmon, called Sky Islands Scenic Byway. The 25 miles followed hairpin and blind turns, climbing more than 6300 feet to the peak of Mt. Lemmon (9157 ft). The drive begins in the Sonoran Desert, passing through five distinct life zones, ending in a cool mixed conifer forest (Coronado National Forest) that looked more like Canada than Arizona. It was a beautiful drive with amazing views, well worth about three hours of driving and overlook time.

The next morning, we all decided to go back to mountain bike the 50 Year Trail. Debbie and I rode mostly on that trail, while the guys were able to find the path back to “the chutes”. We all had a great ride that morning and it was so much fun. We later headed back into town for some shopping and preparations to leave the next morning. We all were sad to go, as this was one of our most favorite places we have been so far on this trip! We could have stayed a few more days, Kurt and I vowed that we will return someday and stay at least a month.

On to Phoenix Arizona for our next adventure!