Sunday, September 20, 2015
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Home again Home again......
We are here at the lake again and catching up with everything. Fortunately we brought the nice weather along with us and we are enjoying the last warm days of September.
I am staying at Kris's house with Ethan, overseeing homework and toting him to football practice, while they are with Mitchell at Mayo Clinic. He is having his final surgery on Friday and then staying a week to recuperate and gain strength. This will be a fusion of a section of his spine, correction of some curvature and I believe a rod. No more brace, which he is very happy about. The doc is the best at Mayo and head of the department so outlook is very optimistic, but still a worry for all of us. He is in our thoughts and prayers all day these days. Mitch himself is very upbeat an attitude I hope he retains. When he returns after the surgery, I will be with him during the day for three weeks.
Assuming all goes well, Mitch will be back playing BB next spring with his team!!!!
For now, I am back to the laundry..mountains of it!!!!!!
I am staying at Kris's house with Ethan, overseeing homework and toting him to football practice, while they are with Mitchell at Mayo Clinic. He is having his final surgery on Friday and then staying a week to recuperate and gain strength. This will be a fusion of a section of his spine, correction of some curvature and I believe a rod. No more brace, which he is very happy about. The doc is the best at Mayo and head of the department so outlook is very optimistic, but still a worry for all of us. He is in our thoughts and prayers all day these days. Mitch himself is very upbeat an attitude I hope he retains. When he returns after the surgery, I will be with him during the day for three weeks.
Assuming all goes well, Mitch will be back playing BB next spring with his team!!!!
For now, I am back to the laundry..mountains of it!!!!!!
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Grand Teton National Park
What a beautiful piece of land this area is here in Wyoming. Thank goodness Rockefeller had the foresight to preserve this for everyone and the persistence to convince the government to make it a park. The air is clear and clean and the lakes crystal clear. The majestic mountains are the backdrop for every look west.
We have enjoyed our two days here hiking and learning about the area from rangers and guides. Yesterday we hiked a trail for a couple of hours then boarded a rubber raft to float down the Snake River with a very knowledgeable guide. Grant grew up just a short distance from the river and now guides during the summer then certifies ski instructors, all over the world, during the winter. What a life! He handled the long oars with skill as he guided us and kept a running commentary about the river and the wildlife. The trip ended with a black bear sighting. Dinner was at the Jackson Lodge where we met a bartender who had owned the Beached Whale and Doc Fords in Ft.Myers Beach…two of our favorite restaurants. Small world.
We also met the sister of our neighbor and sailing pal in the restroom of a visitors center!!
Today started with a bear sighting upon a far ridge. We think a grizzly. We ran into the visitor center and signed up for a ranger led hike to Hidden Falls, (it seems every park has one) then to find breakfast. The first choice was jenny Lake Lodge but it proved to be very expensive. Nights there start at $675. Or so and the dining room matches!! The Chuck Wagon in Moose Junction was more our speed so we enjoyed a quick breakfast sitting in a tent…a little chilly but good.
Back at the visitor center we met up with the ranger for the boat ride across Jenny Lake then a hike up the mountain to see the falls. It was very pretty and getting warmer and warmer. We started the day with about four layers on and peeled as the sun warmed. George and I took the hike and boat back while Menz’s hiked around the lake. Timing wasn’t much different and we ended having our picnic lunch together while chatting with a young couple from Holland who were touring the west for 11 weeks. Both Geologists.
Dennis and I said enough hiking!!! So back to our cabin then out to the pizza place by the lakeshore where we enjoyed the pizza again and played trivia. Lots of laughs and a great end to our stay here.
Tomorrow we move to Snow King Resort and our last night here in Wyoming. We’ll do a few sights in Jackson Hole, the tram and lunch and some galleries too. Then a quick two days on the road and home again with wonderful memories and photos. We are lucky to have such good friends and traveling companions as Dennis and Dale. We have “Dennis the planner”, “Dale the Foodie”, Data Man George and me the occasional artist…..between us we do a great trip!!!
Friday, September 11, 2015
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Adventures continue...
Now we are in a rustic resort on lake Jackson in the Tetons. Log cabin with no tv or WiFi again. Here in the lounge it is available, however.
We had a great pizza by the shore of the lake, saw the sunset with a glass of wine in our hands, and toasted the good day.
Tomorrow we will hike a bit in the south area before the raft trip down the Snake River. The Tetons are beautiful and I am looking forward to seeing more of them.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Parks adventure...
We have been in Yellowstone for two days and tomorrow too with no WiFi at all..or phone or tv! Presently in Gardiner hotel using theirs while Menz's do fantasy football.
Park is magnificent and wildlife amazing. Today we 2 calls a herd of bison and had some very near us. Hotel has elk who lounge on the lawn. Stag calls to does even at night. His antlers are awesome.
Haven't seen any bears here....maybe tomorrow.
Am doing this blog with two fingers on my fire George is downloading photos and hopefully can send some.
Weather is cold in morning but sun warms us up, as does climbing the trail or the over 200 steps at the hot springs. Phew.
Tomorrow we move to Get one for three nights. Raft trip planned and may add horseback ride.
Missing the family but having a great adventure with dear friends.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Zion
We just had a snack lunch our first day here and had some eager friends. Both Dale and I had nuts and consequently squirrels in our laps!!
At Zion through the window in the mile long tunnel
Coming in to Zion from the east travels through the tunnel created through the mountain. Our resort is on this side, the only vacancy we could find when we switched our plans around. It turned out to be a very nice place, roomy and with lots of amenities. The only problem is that this is It on this end of the park and there is a drive to get into the park rather than the quick zip from Springdale.
This morning all but me went to hike just outside the tunnel. It turned out to be more of a challenge than I wanted so I’m doing our laundry and writing in total peace!!
Three days in Zion National Park....
We moved to Zion and began our exploration of this beautiful park. Menz’s had been here before so knew the things to see and do first. We have hiked a couple of trails every day enjoying the spectacular scenery here. Except for Glacier, this has been my favorite.
Yesterday the three adventurers hiked the Narrows, which is a gorge cut by the Virgin River. I stayed behind and enjoyed the time painting the trail head. Because the trail is in the river, shoes are a must. George rented the water shoes and boots to save his own and was glad of it. Despite his assurance that he wouldn’t get wet..he did. Camera and all. Being his usual self, he forged ahead into deeper water and got doused. We bought him an appropriate T-shirt!!
The photos are wonderful from that adventure. My painting not so much. It’s back to wc on wc paper and no more experiments with materials on the road!!
After spending two hours at the trail head painting, I took the shuttle to the lodge and had a nice lunch on the roof top patio. We all met up at the visitors center and drove to Springdale for lunch (theirs) and a bit of shopping, a quick nap(them), and a stop at the library. Our next adventure was an overland tour of the area ending atop a mesa. The ghost town of Gilford (I think) was interesting as part of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was filmed there. It was used as Emma’s home if you remember the movie. We learned a little about the geology of the area on the tour and enjoyed bumping along the trails.
Today is our last here and we’ve decided to take a break and catch up. Laundry, repack, and general regrouping is on the plan…then a little down time with cards by the pool. Cooler weather is ahead at Yellowstone which we should reach in two days.
A few photos of Zion starting with the big horn sheep who greeted us as we entered….
Friday, September 4, 2015
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
At Bryce Canyon..
The last two days have been spent exploring Bryce and today Capitol Reef and Escalante. The scenery is stunning in the Reef area and along the HI way to the parks. We’ve been starting very early so we can hike in the cooler part of the day and it was a good thing! Going down the trail and back up again among the hoodoos was strenuous for me and sweaty for all of us. Beautiful to see them close up though so very worth it. It took quite a while so after lunch and poking around the grounds here, we played cards again. Girls won!! 2-0 for the trip!!
This morning we left early again…6:30, and drove to Capitol Reef Park. It took about 2.5 hrs. along winding roads highlighting the canyon and red cliffs. Such interesting landscape with all the many layers exposed. Strange to see are the balls of lava that were blown into the layers then are exposed with erosion.
We did another hike into slot canyons along a dry creek bed. I turned around early and returned while the others went to the lookout. With so many rocks to climb over and slogging through sand up and down the mountains, it is a workout for me!! The small farm in the valley is a museum now and we stopped for a picnic lunch then topped it off with ice cream before starting off to Escalante.
Arriving in Escalante we visited the ranger station then a petrified forest. While the others hiked again, I stayed below and sketched. It was a nice way to spend my time though the sketch stinks. We returned to town and found the café recommended to us and had an excellent meal that made all of us happy. Now to pack for our move to Zion tomorrow for another three days of exploration.
Hoodoos area..
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