We continue on heading for Monument Valley (valley of rocks) with the landscape continually changing. We begin to see Buttes and Mesas in the distance. These are the tall sandstone structures of Monument Valley. Now for a geography lesson; Buttes - tall and thin sandstone structures with a small flat top area. So with more than one spire or fingers. The flat top part is smaller in diameter than the height of the structure. Mesas - this is the "table top" ...

Bryce Canyon to Monument Valley The Best Western Grand Hotel is a very comfortable hotel. After a complimentary buffet breakfast we set set off on day 4 heading for Lake Powell and Monument Valley. Joanne and I, having done our penance yesterday sitting in the back, took up a much more comfortable position. The van is a little cramped and today is a five hour drive. Leaving Bryce Canyon we descend down a little on the Colorado Plateau and traverse flat count...

Bryce Canyon We ate breakfast at the Pioneer Lodge Restaurant. I ordered a long stack of buttermilk pancakes without remembering that the servings of all meals in the US are huge. I didn't quite make it through! We left Zion at 9.00 and drive out through the opposite side of the Park. We exited through a vey long road tunnel and on emerging in the otherwise the landscape had changed remarkably. West had left the sandstone cliffs behind and were greeted by ...

Zion - trekking to Angels Landing at 5,240 feet We were on our tour bus by 5.45am and then the National Park shuttle bus to take us to The Grotto for the beginning of our trek. Now to call this a hike or a trek. Peregrine did not grade this tour so our expectation was just a bus trip with stops for viewing the scenery. How wrong we were, or Peregrine was, a point we will make when we get home. This is a tour which should be graded moderate at least, but all ...

Tour day 1 Met in hotel lobby. 13 on tour from USA, England and Geelong Finally left at 8.30 driving out of Las Vegas leaving the tall buildings and the lure of the pokies, and the dazzle dazzle behind into the desert. A busy highway with 2 or 3 lanes in each direction. Briefly into Arizona then Utah - dry state, stop at a state sponsored liquor store for 100% alcohol. Remainder of state by law is dry although some stores will sell 25%. Mormon state with...