Going UP!

Well, it is overdue, this blog entry.  I thought long and hard about how to record our California adventures and decided to break it up into three separate entries.  (or more, whatever….)

Getting to Zak and Carolyn’s isn't difficult.  For once my memory kicked in and after talking with Carolyn was able to rely on her directions, “navigation” and landmarks from my trip back in the spring …..and Carolyn was outside waiting by the fence as we drove up….what a precious sight!!

We did a bit of navigating and debating as to how and where we should park the camper in the “compound” and finally just backed it in to worry about later…..the getting it out again, that is. 

Now Carolyn and Zak are what you would call the “out doorsey” types.  They love hiking, camping, kayaking and all and Carolyn has really honed this hiking thing.  So after all the hugs and tears and more hugs and kisses we began discussing our upcoming itinerary and tossing around various things to see and do.  Carolyn suggested a hike with her “meet up group” at the Lafayette Reservoir, which doesn't seem too intimidating to me.  I’d hiked a bit there with her in the spring.  This however was to be the “rim trail”.  How hard can that be?  Well, let me say here that while I do regret not bringing my camera along, I think the only good use for it that day would have been to photograph my body for identification…..since I didn't have it I had no choice but to keep going….and if there is one thing Carolyn loves to do it is hike UP…But I am a tough old bird and the pictures are from our second, YES second trip around the rim of the Lafayette Reservoir.  At times this trail is so steep it requires you to creep forward on your tip toes leaning, bent over…..while gasping for breath and praying for your heart to please please stop beating out of your chest.  But It feels so GOOD! 

Another wonderful place Carolyn took us was to the Briones Regional Park….Here again we hiked mostly UP!  This time dragging Dennis along as he turned over rocks and logs hunting for critters.  At the top of rim you can look over the Diablo Valley at Mount Diablo.  Breathtaking…..We took the pups along for that hike as well and they kept up the pace!   (and gave us opportunity to stop every once and a while, why didn’t we take them to the Reservoir?)

yes, that is me and Frank....

Mount Diablo

And a final wonderful hiking location , which is part of the Golden Gate Nation Park System is the Marin Headlands.  The trail head we took began at Rodeo Beach.  We enjoyed standing on the coarse sand and watching surfers trying to catch a wave….which several did, quite successfully. That led to Dennis recalling his days of surfing up and down the California coast in the Big Sur, Monterey area.  Back to the trail……which  winds up (of course) the craggy coastline.  Every turn in the path gave us pause….another glimpse of the wonderful handiwork of our Creator…..

On the way home we stopped for some stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge…..

 

Now, just allow me to officially report that our trip began and ended with the Lafayette Reservoir rim trail.  We walked a lower trail at the reservoir as well.  We hiked at the Briones and the  Coastal Traill at the Marin Headlands.  Each walk was between 3 and 5 miles and each seemed to have more ups than downs.  They were challenging, vigorous, beautiful, different in habitat with views and vistas and mountains and wildlife, laughs talks memories shared, memories made……

And each hike allowed Carolyn and me time to reconnect, laugh, talk or just walk in compatible silence.  She has ignited in me the desire to get out and get walking.  I love to run but walking is good too.  And we have plenty of places in and around home worthy of lacing up our hiking boots (which I will be looking to purchase).  Thank you Carolyn, for the hikes, the calories burned so we could eat more cheese  (and yummy yummy cookies!) 

And even tho we were, for the most part "parked" for a bit, each day was a new adventure as we got up to get back on the road again....

Next entry…..Chinatown, Alcatraz and old friends….

Canyons and windstorms and backroads oh my…..

Well I certainly don’t usually post every day, not to mention twice a day but….I wanted to go ahead and get my thoughts to paper before they leave me…

We did indeed pack up from our campground ….and really, for being a “parking lot campground” it wasn’t bad.  http://www.pagecampground.com/  There were quite a few folks “living” there but they kept the wanderers (like us) in a different section from the permanents…

So, of course the question before us was..which way?  Quickest route to the interstate or the more scenic route…well, I am betting you know which we chose…we ambled up highway 89 until lo and behold….signs pointing us to Bryce Canyon.  Now I know you think I am making this up but yes, I have “always wanted to go to Bryce.”  Again, a few years back this was another place I had secretly yearned to go  (not like the way I “bucket listed” Lake Powell)  ….but I have had people tell me that Bryce in some ways exceeded the Grand Canyon in beauty and awe—someness…surely not….The drive was absolutely beautiful….weaving in and out of southern Utah farm land..lush and green with fat cows and really quaint little towns.  At the right time we turned down the road to Bryce.  I was EXCITED!!  I couldn’t believe it!!!  Like a delicious meal just set before me for my pleasure…..

 Excuse me m’am….we have a limited amount of time…what do you recommend we do to really enjoy the park in our time frame?  Take the shuttle or drive?”  we asked the entrance park employee.  “just drive through…you can drive and see the views.”  Ok…off we go…and….the most popular stop, according to the park literature has a restriction….absolutely no trailers….ummmm park lady, did you miss the trailer we are pulling when you told us to drive through or did you just start work today and didn't finish orientation?  So, back to the visitors center to park and catch the shuttle….to park….to park….no parking….not for folks hauling campers.  We have never encountered a park or “attraction” that did not have designated parking for campers.  No campers in the canyon viewing areas, no parking for campers…what now? We eventually found the “overflow parking” and headed for the shuttle and waited and waited and waited…people left…grumbling. 
  

Memories of the efficient Grand Canyon shuttle system was too fresh to not feel frustrated at this, especially as we felt the clock ticking and the need to get some miles closer to our destination.  Finally the shuttle….and the most popular stop (and for us the only stop)……and it really did diminish, even eliminated the frustration of the parking shuttling experience …..it was spectacular. 

 Bryce, in its own right is absolutely magnificent. I am not ready to bump it up to first in my canyon experiences but by golly, I have to say…if there were a place for two firsts…it would be the other one….right next to the Grand Canyon.   Dennis and I both agreed that we need to return to Bryce and take the entire park in…it was worth the stop, even if it was brief and it will be worth it to return…We drove through Red Canyon going into and out of Bryce.............. 

Red Canyon was also absolutely  stunning.

So off to Nevada…this time we decided to hightail it to the interstate but…it seemed this little road….highway 21 to highway 50 might be a faster route….NOT….While interesting and beautiful the wind nearly blew us off the road, we encountered dust storms so bad that at one time the visibility was at ZERO!  And to top it off again we were in “open range” country and  actually saw a dead cow on the side of the road….we limped toward Ely Nevada….drove right past the campground we had planned to stay at and checked into the local Ramada Inn….which also sports a casino…hahahaha! Dennis took a hot shower, I soaked for an hour in the tub and we are going to lounge in the luxury of a hotel room until tomorrow morning when we get back on the road again…..

To kayak or not to kayak, that is the question

 It started with  a picture….maybe one of those calendars with all those great pictures of wonderful places like  the Delicate Arch in Utah, a lighthouse on the coast of Main, I don’t remember.   But I do remember it was a picture…of towering vermilion sandstone cliffs, calm blue green water….a kayaker…and I was hooked.  “I want to go there”.   The caption read, Lake Powell, Arizona.  That image has haunted me for years.  I googled it, oogled over the  pictures …. mesmerized .  “I want to go there”. 

I also don’t remember the first time I mentioned to Dennis that kayaking Lake Powell was, for lack of better terms, a “bucket list” item for me.  We got close to Lake Powell one year when we visited the Arches and Canyon Land and Deadhorse State Park around Moab.  But, like the Grand Canyon, that year we just didn’t quite make it. 

When we left the Grand Canyon yesterday, we chose to take the more scenic route which again brought us in proximity of the Canyon.  We stopped at three or four more overlooks that run adjacent to Highway 64.  It was as awe-inspiring as the day before and we had the opportunity to have our pictures taken again.

 Getting to Lake Powell was no easy feat due to a rock slide that occurred and blocked Highway 89 back in Feburary.  That meant a 45 minute detour on an already hot, dusty and really desolate road.  But we got to our campground (another “buffalo bob’s kinda place) and immediately set out to see where we could put our boats in the water.  First stop, Antelope Point Marina.  We were informed that even to drive in to take a quick look would cost $15.00.  no thanks….Next stop, the Arizona State Visitors Bureau at the  Glen Canyon Dam.  The nice folks in there informed us we would have to get our kayaks inspected for quagga and  zebra mussels….what????  Then they pointed out several nice places to put our boats in.  Off we go for inspection which was kinda funny.  There we were behind a guy with a huge monster boat and the inspector was crawling all over that boat.  Our turn….where’s the boats?  Oh, in the bags in the back of the truck…see, our kayaks are made by Advanced Elements and they are inflatable….we love them!  So portable!   http://www.advancedelements.com/   We passed inspection….

 Off to the sites recommended by the nice ladies at the dam….um…..ok…..let me say here that Lake Powell is a BIG BOAT  lake.  Like…..house boats big…..and the only places to put in are the public ramps that are maybe A MILE LONG!  We didn’t like the looks of any of them ….so we shot off back to Antelope but they were closed. We were hot, discouraged, confused and I felt really bad for Dennis…he tried so hard to find a place….we ate Chinese buffet.  Went back to “camp”.  I was determined to not give up.  Dennis suggested a tour boat.  (hmph). 

 

We got on up at 6:00 and drove back over to Antelope Point.  Antelope Canyon is supposed to be a good paddle….let’s just try ok?  Ok…..and we did…..and it did not disappoint….and I have to refill my bucket list….after the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell, it is empty….I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves….

antelope canyon

.this plaque is on the "watchtower" at the last stop we made at the Grand Canyon....fitting, isn't it!

And so, we pack up again this morning....looking for a westerly meandering route towards San Francisco and Zak and Carolyn....as we get back on the road again...

It really is more than a big hole in the ground.

It really is more than a big hole in the ground.....

welcome to the Grand Canyon

As most of my friends know, Dennis and I have had a long standing "stand off" when it comes to our travels, the close proximity we have been to the Grand Canyon and his determination to not go....and my whining and pouting about our not going and ....even many of you have joined...taking my side and giving Dennis a hard time about this matter.  Well, It is done....we have gone, seen and in my opinion, conquered the Grand Canyon.

on the edge..

a fabulous view

In the interest of space and time...I am just going to download some of my favorite pics...it was hard to decide.  Suffice it to say...we hiked...fit bit reports we went 7 miles and over 20 flights of stairs.  We stood perilously close to the edge and on several occasions I just sat on the edge to drink it all in....

why couldn't I get dennis to take this trail?

For those of you considering a trip to the canyon, our recommendation is definitely taking the free shuttles inside the canyon.  "blue to red" takes you to the  overlooks you cannot access by car.  And while the shuttles might be a bit crowded, once you disembark people just disperse.  And you have the option of walking the "Rim trail" which takes you essentially to the next shuttle stop.  If you want to walk the entire trail, great.  If you want to walk to one stop then ride to the next that works too.  We chose to walk between several of the stops which gave us tremendous views of the canyon and the trail is completely un guarded so we could just walk to the edge, which we did over and over again.  And we were amazed at the LACK of people...we might have come in contact with one or two people on the trail but other than that.....In other words, much to Dennis' delight the canyon was as "un touristy"  as he could have ever imagined.  

The shuttles were well run, the drivers informative and friendly and they ran from stop to stop so frequently that we never waited more than 5 minutes.  I never ever heard a grumble or complaint when the bus was full and a little squishy.  All in all it was a perfect perfect day of overwhelming awesome witnessing to the majesty of God and the splendor of his creation.  Our God is an awesome God...

.Colossians 1: 16   For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him and in and for Him.

looking straight down

 

 I'm not the best at this picture placement thing...please forgive and...we are packing up because after yesterday the only thing left to do is get back on the road again!