Homeward Bound

We are rolling through the mountains of Colorado today and hoping to arrive home on Monday.  The view through the windshield is beautiful; snowy mountain tops, the rushing Colorado River, and the ski villages of Vail and Copper Mountain.  Speaking of beautiful views, we filled our last week with several of them while camped in, Moab,Utah.

First stop: Arches National Park.

Then Canyonlands, Islands in the Sky.

Dead Horse Point State Park

Yesterday we hiked the Chesler Park Trail in the Needles of Canyonland.  

Before leaving the Needles we walked a short path through very tall brush to a "Cowboy Camp".  The sign said the natural alcove in the huge red rock was used as a bunkhouse for ranch-hands of the property until 1975, when the National park acquired it....interesting.

Now, HOME...there's no place like it!  We miss our family and our friends!  Zeeland or BUST!

Great Little Town

Kanarraville, Utah, is a very small town in the foothills of the Kanarra Mountains.  Two very different hiking trails are a favorite weekend family spot for the locals.  Springcreek Trail winds into a canyon as it follows a narrow mountain stream.

Kanarra Falls Trail also winds into a canyon and the hiker is treated to two water falls at the very end, and even a little snow on the top.

Taylor Creek Trail, which is part of Kolob Canyon and Zion National Park surprised us because it isn't a main attraction of Zion, but it was close (just six miles away from our campsite) so we had nothing to lose and, as it turned out, a whole lot of beautiful hiking to gain.

A homesteaded cabin from the 1930's still stands along the trail.

While looking for fishing holes we discovered the small town of Parowan, which is known for petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks.

We searched all around the hillside next to the sign reading 'Dinosaur Tracks', determined to find one to show our grandkids.  What do you think kids?  An antasaurus, the duck-billed dinosaur?

Oh, did Jerry find a fishing hole? Yup!

French Friends

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The first time we saw Alois and Romane we passed them on Highway 89, between Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah.  The sight of their bicycles buried in camping gear, as they peddled alongside the highway, captured our attention.  A few days later we thought we spotted the same over-packed bicycles parked at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, while we waited for our scheduled tour to begin.  A quick scan of the crowd proved we were right!  After sharing a short conversation with them we learned, Alois and, Romane are from France and have been traveling in the U.S. since arriving at O'Hare Airport in August.  After utilyzing various methods of travel, including bus, they purchased the bicycles in Flagstaff, AZ.  Having been to Flagstaff ourselves and knowing the mountainous terrain they had traversed from there to Kanab, we were in awe.  The tour of the sanctuary was just one of many things to do in Kanab and after about one week we left for Kanaraville, Utah.  While enjoying one of many sunny Utah days on a drive to Cedarbreaks National Park from our campsite in Kanaraville, we spotted two bicyclists coming down the mountain highway.  We remarked how fun it would be if they were the 'kids' from France.  They were!  We stopped, talked for a bit and I took this picture.

They explained that they were headed to Cedar City, which is just a few miles from Kanaraville, to work for one month at Dust Devil Ranch Horse Rescue, where Romane will be breaking (which we learned is referred to in France by a word that means 'taking the fire out of') and training horses.  They accepted our invitation to join us for pizza last Thursday and we thoroughly enjoyed learning more about them and a little bit about France, as well.  They are investigating the possibility of continuing their travels on horse-back when they leave Cedar City, agreeing that it would be a whole lot less exhausting than bicycling.  Happy Trails, Alois and Romane, it was such a pleasure to meet you!  

Zion National Park, Utah

Last week we camped in Kanab, Utah and visited Zion National Park, which excited one of our grandsons quite a bit.  He too is named Zion, and he and the park are rightly associated because they both are truly SPECTACULAR!

Zion is on the snowman's left.  This is his family; his mom and our daughter, Kayla, his dad. Daniel and his other Grandma, MoMo.  Zion's older brother, Gene, his sister, Jubilee and younger brother, Brave all helped make the snowman.

Jerry fished the Colorado River, while we were in Kanab.

We drove to Bryce Canyon and hiked the Queen's Garden Trail which was the most challenging for me (edgy drop-offs) but also the most rewarding views!

Yesterday our son, Kody, asked me, "How are you and Dad going to handle hiking the neighborhood when you get home?"  I don't know, but we are sure looking forward to finding out! 

Camp Verde

     

Just before we left Tucson I captured this picture at the zoo and I really like it.

Our last hike in Tucson; Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon, a grand Grand Finale!

We arrived in Camp Verde on March 11th, and on a tip from my brother, we visited Jerome the next day.  Jerome is built on the side of a mountain and an old ghost town teeters above it, where we watched a steam-powered sawmill preserved from the 1930's.

Oak Creek, like Jerome, is just a short drive from Camp Verde.  We hiked the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon...majestic!

During our week at Camp Verde we visited Sedona several times.  It is beautiful just to be there, but hiking the Bell Rock Pathway and Courthouse Butte trails was even more so!

Two parting shots. This is our church in Tucson; The Rincon Valley Cowboy Church.  I never got a picture of the actual service, but this is the ramada that held all the white folding chairs.  The pastor wore a cowboy hat and boots, and sang in the bluegrass gospel band that led the worship.  The service was held at 6pm on Saturday night and the setting sun turned the mountains pink, a stirring sight to see.

Another amazing picture from the zoo in Tucson; this nest was made by a beautiful little yellow bird appropriately named, Weaver,   I'm still amazed at the creativity of God when I look at it!

Answered Prayers

Before we left on this trip I hadn't blogged in a long time.  Since this journey jump-started my blogging, I've realized that our life journey has been blessed immeasurably also.  Whenever Jerry and I count our blessings, two beautiful young women always make the top of the list.  Kody got 'Carrie-d' away last August when the girl of his dreams promised to share his name and his life forever.  Yes, I know...she's a beauty!

               Kody and Carrie

Last week, Jack and Melissa sailed into forever-after on a wedding cruise with both kids in tow. 

      Jack, Melissa, Jack Jr., and Sharlet

Do we believe in answered prayers?  We feel like shouting from the red rock mountain tops here in Sedona, "YES!"

Too Fun Tucson?

We arrived in Tucson on February 11th, fully prepared to favorably compare it to Mesa, but now we're not so sure.  The Valley of the Sun keeps out-shining it in almost every way.  Just before we left we checked out Saguarro Lake.

We hiked the Butcher Jones Trail (without my camera)...beautiful overviews!

Ski day at the Snow Bowl in Flagstaff.  

Denny and Laura came to Tucson the first weekend we were here to visit their daughter, Jenna.  Jenna and her husband, Todd, have three adorable little kids and a giant white dog named, Waylon.  We had a great time and family-time has been scarce for us.  Seven-year-old, Ben, even gave me a big hug on his way to bed.  At first he was very hesitant, but when I explained that it had been a LONG time since I had been given a "kid-hug" he shyly obliged.  Kayla, the oldest, shared pictures with us of the father/daughter dance she and Todd had recently attended while Anna, the littlest one, curled up next to Waylon on the living room rug...it was family life at it's finest!  Thank you Todd and Jenna!  This is Anna, Waylon, Jenna, Kayla, and Ben.

The grill master, Todd.

Denny and Laura, proud parents and grandparents.

Saguarro National Forest is a beauty and we have spent many simply perfect days taking it all in along the hiking trails that wind through it.

A snack habit: find a pretty, peaceful place to sit and rest and peel an orange...they have never tasted so good!  This is Sabino Canyon.

Sometimes we have to share the trail.

Saint Fransico Xavier de Bac, a mission called the white dove of the desert, was constructed in 1783 by and for the Tohono O'odham tribe of native Americans.  Father Kino, the founder of the mission is one of Arizona's state heroes featured in the Hall of Heroes in Washington, D.C.

The Tucson Rodeo was fun!

The sunset over our campground. 

We have laughed about existing in this too-cozy white box for three months now, but every time we meet our next-door neighbors, no matter where we go, we don't feel so unique at all....this is FUN!