Week 2

4 May, Monday, Denver, Co to Moab, UT: We left cool, drizzly Denver an got back on I-70 West. The weather improved as we drove, and the scenery got more and more spectacular. We stopped in Parachute, CO for a picnic lunch at a rest area, got some travel advice at the visitor canter and moved on to Arches national Park in Moab, UT. The beauty and serenity of this park cannot, I think, be described...it must be experienced. Majestic red rock is everywhere evoking statues, animals, castles, fortresses...and then the arches come into view. We were awed. In the evening, we went into town for dinner. Moab is a charming, if touristy, place. found a quiet restaurant with outside tables and a folksy/bluegrass duo entertaining on the porch. A perfect ending to the day.

5 May, Tuesday, Moab, UT to Tropic, UT: Another stormy morning greeted us. While we wish it would be dry and sunny, we are made aware by the locals that they are in a severe drought and every drop of rain is welcome. We drove along I-70 West until we reached the turnoff for Fishlake National Forest and took Route 72 south. For miles we were the only car on the road, and the scenery was quite different from that along the main road. We saw deer and free range cattle, and dry river beds. At the end of Route 72, we turned west onto Scenic Byway 12. Thanks to my good friend, Ann Lippman for recommending this byway. Even in the rain the scenery is extraordinary. Unfortunately the valleys one could stop to view were socked in with fog most of the way. We stopped in Escalante to learn about the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers who forged a trail through a gap in the rocks. Men, women, and children, horses and wagons made this treacherous six month trip through the winter to establish a new settlement. Not sure how I would have fared as a pioneer. We had a great lunch at Escalante Outfitters and headed for Tropic. This town got its name because the people who settled here thought it was warmer than neighboring settlements in the area! We settled in to our cabin, looked around the town (pop. 462), and settled in for an early night. A long day of driving and being awed by the scenery takes its toll on us old folks.

6 May, Wednesday, Bryce Canyon National Park: What a way to spend a day!!! I can hardly begin to tell you the emotions that overtook me as we drove and walked through this magnificent park. The rim trails are easy walking for those of us who are not hikers. A moderate incline now and then gets the cardio in gear, and even with many people and their cameras around the place has a serenity about it. Even down to earth, practical Buzz called it awe inspiring. I cannot say more...the photos speak for themselves.

7 May, Thursday, Bryce to Zion National Park: What a way to spend Buzz's birthday. We arrived at Zion National Park this morning around 10:30. The first thing that one realizes is different from the other parks is that the road snakes down into the canyon instead of up to the rim. We stopped at the visitors center and got oriented. From there we took the park shuttle to the various sights we wanted to see. The shuttle is free and frequent. At the museum we saw a 20 minute video about the park and listened to a young park ranger discuss the effect of water erosion on the park over millennia. Back on the shuttle we rode to the end of the scenic drive and walked the 1.5 mile Riverview trail. It is a lovely walk with lots of wild flowers, amazing views, and, at the end, an opportunity to wade into the river. If you are in intrepid hiker (not us), you can hike up the river (in the river) for quite a distance. There are, however, flash flood warnings posted and the ranger told us the river can rise from a gentle creek to an angry torrent very quickly. The walking trail is concrete covered in silky sand. Buzz was happy to be able to walk barefoot. We got the shuttle back to the visitors' center just as the rain began. Our hotel is about a mile from the park, and we have wonderful views of the canyon from our room. Another wonderful day in the beauty of nature. Scottsdale tomorrow.

8 May, Friday, Zion National Park, UT to Scottsdale, AZ: This was a long but beautiful drive through canyons and desert and Ponderosa Pine forest. We stopped along the way to buy some trinkets from a young Navaho girl selling jewelry on the side of the road. Just north of Flagstaff, we drove through a snow squall! Checked in to our hotel, settled in, and waited for Javier to get back from work. We had a wonderful reunion with him as we always do. Went to a very good Mexican restaurant for dinner and made an early night of it. A tour to the Grand Canyon is on for tomorrow.

9 May, Saturday, Scottsdale to the Grand Canyon and back: The day dawned cool and damp. The Pink Jeep Tours van picked us up at 6:45am and we set off with our driver and six other tourists to visit Sedona and the Grand Canyon. We were in Sedona about 20 years ago. We have the same feeling about it today as we did then...pretty but too touristy for us. The drive from Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon, however is simply spectacular. It was made even more so by the snow along the roadside and clinging to the trees. The farther up the canyon we drove, the cooler it became. I was glad we had brought sweaters and rain jackets. North of Flagstaff it began to snow for a while and the temperature continued to fall. By the time we got to the Grand Canyon, it was 35F (3C)! The tour company provided us with a delicious box lunch which we ate in the warmth of the lobby of the El Tovar hotel. Unfortunately, the canyon was completely socked in by clouds. Most of the time it was impossible to see anything below the rim. After lunch we did get a few glimpses of the canyon. We were disappointed for Javi. He said we shouldn't worry. It is a good excuse to come back with Sylvia! We braved the cold and walked a little bit along the rim catching a view of the canyon here and there as the clouds blew through. We got back to Scottsdale (77F) abut 7 PM, had a little rest, and took a walk to the restaurant district for a good Italian dinner.

10 May, Sunday, Scottsdale to Prescott: We had a late brunch with Javi, said our "see you next times" and headed north. Our first stop was in Dewey, Az to visit with our 93 year old cousin, Jack Martin. He uses a walker to get around, but his mind is still sharp. It was a good visit with him, and then we headed to Prescott where we stayed with Alan and Linda Poskanzer in their lovely home. In Arizona, a guest suite in a home is called a casita, and theirs is lovely. We had fun reminiscing about the days of growing up among so many cousins and aunts and uncles and then lamented the disconnects that time and distance have caused. Linda made a wonderful burrito bar for dinner, and we talked late into the evening. Tomorrow we will once again be on the road...this time heading east with Atlanta as our destination by Friday or Saturday.