The Great American Adventure Part I

So across the desert to Palm Springs. Fab place apparently the saying goes that the average temperature is the same as the average age :- 88 !! Is beautiful and immaculate though - the flowers were just beautiful . Was around 28-32 C while we were there - nice. Hotel was lovely - comfiest bed ever great pool and I even went to the gym!!! We were only due to stay one night but stayed three!! The town was heaving in the evening-really buzzing. We had fantastic Mexican one night with giant margaritas!
Boys spent all days in pool again- the twins swimming is coming on leaps and bounds.
We dragged ourselves away on the thurs and headed out into desert again. Long boring drive to Needles which has nothing redeeming to say about it other than a stop over on the way to grand canyon. Then long boring drive to Grand canyon but big surprise for boys when we got there in the shape of mum and dad waiting outside hotel for them :-). Was brilliant boys couldn't actual believe their eyes!!! Priceless!!!
Had rubbish meal in the evening and then set off for canyon rim in the morning. Was as awesome as I remembered. Still takes your breath away even second time round. Mum and dad v impressed by it too. There is a very efficient shuttle bus service around park so we did a bit of walking and a bit of bussing!!! Great day.
Sunday was dads birthday and mothers day so had pressies and cards first thing and then after breakfast headed east along the canyon to desert view watchtower. Was a brighter day but very windy and gusty- the whole tower rocking in the wind !!! Great view of the Colorado river though and the plateaus beyond. The river not it's usual blue green though due to the snowmelt more of a khaki green!!
Had long drive through desert again. But so windy there were huge dust/ sand storms. And huge tumbleweeds crashing across the road in front of us.
So much dust in the atmosphere even the clouds were orange!!
Arrived early evening to monument valley and had bottle of champagne to celebrate grumps birthday. Had to have it in the room as monument valley on the Navajo reservation and as such is dry!
Got a few nice photos of the sunset but was so so windy and cold!
Next day dawned calm clear and cool. Jase got up for sunset but I couldn't!! We did the monument valley trail. 17 miles on rough dirt track around some of the mesas. All very cool - saw elephant, camel , three sisters and lots more. All very spiritual with deep meanings for the native Indians. The hotel we stayed in was fabulously designed to completely blend into red rock background. Run by the Navajos and provides much needed employment.
After completing the trail we had five hour journey to bryce canyon. Was generally pretty dull with boys a nightmare!!! Had fab lunch stopover though at Glen Canyon dam. An awesome feat of engineering taking 8 years to complete in the late fifties early sixties. Created lake Powell. The difference in water level either side of dam is around 500 ft! Looks incredible. It is even slightly bigger than the
Hoover dam near Las Vegas!!
More long driving and we finally found the snow :-). Beautiful drive to Bryce through red canyon with the snow in places and the late evening sun on it. Got to bryce to our lovely log cabin
Lodge and headed straight dinner.
Tuesday dawned the most beautiful clear day with wall-to-wall blue skies fantastic off the snow :-). Walking to the rim was hilarious - we decided to walk across the snow but as it was about 2ft deep we kept falling through and getting stuck v amusing!!!
Looking out over the canyon was just stunning. I love bryce but with the addition of snow it was purely sublime. We walked a little way down into the canyon to view the hoodoos from lower down. At every corner there is another fab view. Walked along the rim a bit further then gave into the boys and played in the snow for a bit.
Later we drove to rainbow point the highest part of Bryce at over 9000ft. The views were incredible could see for around 90 miles. Right over the Utah plateaus. The snow v deep too at the top -over my head!!!
Slow drive back taking in a few view points including a fab natural bridge.
Tea at the cowboy buffet and then we actually managed an evening of socialising with mum and dad rather than all just crashing out!!!
Short drive today from Bryce to Zion gorgeous scenery. Once we headed off on highway nine we started to get into Zion had forgotten how stunning it is. The rock formations are amazing - rocks that look like fluids !beautiful!!!
There was a very dark mile long tunnel to pass through which the boys loved then some very steep switchbacks but stunning scenery. Once sorted at the hotel we headed out on a walk to see emerald pools. Some fab waterfalls which we could walk behind and a really pleasant afternoons walk. We had few spots of rain but all in all pretty warm and pleasant. Boys actually been pretty good today thank god. Even Charlie seemed to enjoy his walk today.
Tomorrow we head to Vegas and wave farewell to mum and dad. They heading to the galapagos ( v jealous!).
Not sure if Vegas ready for my boys !!!!
Currently sat in front of huge log fire watching Sam and mum play chess :-)).