Vacation 09 - Days 10 &11

Day 10: National Park #5 - Bryce Canyon

Our drive on Day 10 took us up further into the mountains which meant cooler weather and a change in scenery. It took us from desert looking surroundings to more evergreens.

Bryce Canyon National Park...

As we arrived in the park we went to the Visitor's center to get our bearings. We also found out we could enter Kane into their Jr. Park Ranger's program. So we signed him up!

From there we headed all the way up the mountain to have a picnic and to the overlook named Rainbow Point.

After lunch we headed back down and stopped at a few more overlooks...


On our way up the mountain we had noticed that there was smoke rising up through the trees. We assumed that they were burning part of the forest to prepare it for new growth (a controlled fire). However on our way down the mountain we were stopped by a Park Ranger at a road block telling us to pull into a parking lot. He said that the fire was getting ready to cross the road and we would have to wait a little while before going down. What?!!!

We ended up waiting in that parking lot for about 5 hours! Nolan wanted to head back up the mountain and go on a hike! I wanted to stay put because they kept sending park rangers to talk with us (and the 50 other cars there with us) about what was going on and their plans to get us down off the mountain (the road down was the only good, paved road for public use off the mountain.). Apparently the fire had been started by lightening a few weeks earlier and had been working it's way that direction for a while.

The Park Ranger in charge kept calling all of the drivers up so that he could inform them on the latest news and the latest on how they were going to be getting us off the mountain. At one point they told us they were going to lead us down through the fire. It was on both sides of the road with flames about 10 ft. high. on both sides and it was like this for about 2 miles of the road. We had to wait for the Ranger in charge to get the go ahead from a plane flying up above that could see the fire. We were in our car (me crying) waiting for the Ranger to give us the signal when he called all the drivers back up again.

Apparently the pilot had called and said the wind was too strong and it was blowing flames back and forth across the road and it was too dangerous for us to go down just then. He also said it was headed our way! So now there was a choice to make:

Go down a really dangerous road that was used only for rangers (dirt road, curvy, lots of ruts, straight down hill, etc.)

or

Go up even higher on the mountain (where they were making the motorcycles and RVs go because the dirt road was to bad for them) and hope they would get it under control enough for us to drive down.

The group listening to the Park Ranger...

We decided to follow the Ranger on the bad road that would take us 20 miles down and around the mountain but to safety which was what was important!

All the cars trying to escape the fire through the pasture they were leading us through.

We could see part of the fire from down below on the 20 mile road they were leading us out on (it took us 2 hours to drive this 20 mile road out)...

Once we were safe we headed back into the park to one of the overlooks on the bottom side of the mountain. This is what Bryce canyon looks like. Isn't it amazing?!

I have to be honest and tell you that by the end of day 10 I felt emotionally and physically drained! I was cranky and just wanted to go home in all honesty! My attitude was not he best and I needed to have it checked I have to say! But we went back to our campsite (yes in the park where the big fire was blazing!) made some supper and headed to bed in our 2 person tent!


Day 11: Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park - and a better attitude!

We woke up early day 11 at Bryce Canyon N.P.. We had to pack up camp and eat some breakfast before heading out. Nolan made us some yummy eggs and oatmeal. Here's our humble little campsite.

The water spout was right by our site so we were able to get drinks and wash dishes pretty easily. Ruthie was a big help while washing dishes. (she was so dirty while camping! She had dirt from one end to the other!) It was pretty cold while camping up in the mountains.

I woke up this day with a better attitude and feeling of being refreshed (an answered prayer)! So instead of heading straight out of the park we went and did one of the hikes that we were supposed to have done the day before.

The start of our 3 mile Sunrise hike at Bryce Canyon N.P. before we headed out to Zion. The beginning was way down hill and then the end was way up hill and super hard!

On our way down into the canyon. And yes those are people way down at the bottom, and yes that is where we were headed! I did pretty well I have to say. It just zig-zagged all the way to the bottom.

This is looking up from the bottom. All the way at the top of the picture is close to where we started the hike. Can you say Scary!

Finally we made it down into the canyon and of course the boys had to climb the very first big rock they came across! Silly boys!

Me and the Kane-man down in the canyon (at this point of the hike we still had about 2.5 miles left)...

Right in the middle of this canyon were these 2 random trees...

Did I mention they were huge trees!

Kane had to take a rest from walking. We had to take a few rests along the way actually.

Along the hike we came up to a Y in the road. One way was our way which was 1.5 miles left or you could go the other way and go another 5 miles. Kane wanted to go the 5! Crazy guy- he doesn't even know what miles mean! But he kept saying "I can do it!" and then he plopped down on the ground and had a whine session about not getting to go 5 more miles!

The last 3/4 mile was straight up hill! It was so hard!!! and I had to carry Ruthie on my back for a lot of it so that Nolan could carry Kane. I thought I might fall out right on the side of the mountain! But I made it and I have to say it was the best and prettiest hike we went on the whole time!

After the hike we had a quick picnic and then headed out for National Park #6 - Zion National Park.

Zion is apparently known for its river that rolls down through its canyons. It was really pretty and had some really great rock formations.

It also had a 1 mile tunnel through the mountains, and yes both boys tried to hold their breath through it. They both failed to do it the whole way in case you were wondering.

Kane became a Junior Ranger at Zion (as well as Bryce Canyon). Here he is with a Ranger excepting his badge. He was so proud! (The Junior Ranger program is this really neat program that each National Park has where they give you a book with tasks to do and worksheets to complete and you have to pick up some trash and you are awarded with a badge to let everyone know you are a Jr. Ranger!)

His badges...

We ended the day eating some Mexican food out and then swimming and heading to bed at the hotel! It was another great day!

(and yes I know I have a lot of run-on sentences in this post- thank you!)

Vacation '09 - Days 7, 8, & 9

Day 7: National Park #2

I woke up about 5:45 day 7 and went for a run in Grand Junction, CO. It was hard! The air is so thin and dry in the desert! I feel like I can't get enough water and all of our lips are so chapped!

We got around and ate a really good complimentary breakfast at our hotel before hitting the road. This is what most of our drive looked like...

We got to Moab, Utah about 10:30 a.m. and headed straight to Arches National park.

We've decided the next time we cruise America we're going to do it in style! We've seen about 50 of these Cruise America RVs.


Outside the Visitors Center they had these fun guys that the kiddos had a hoot climbing on (his eye is still bothering him in the sun so he is having to wear sunglasses a lot)...

Some of the crazy stuff we're seeing here in Utah...

We hung out at Balancing Rock...

Went on a short little hike to hang out under the shade of one of the arches. Look how tiny they look. It was super HUGE!

They climbed up some of the rocks under the arch...

I just love how blue the sky is here and how it looks up against all of the rock and mountains...

The north and south Windows. We have heard some different stories about how these crazy arches were formed. We heard erosion from water and we also heard from wind. I'm going with both (how's that for riding the fence? HA!). We went up and stood under the one on the left...

One of the many arches in Arches National Park. We climbed up into this one too.

Showing me his booboo from sliding down the rocks on his hinie...

After this little hike we had a picnic lunch in the car. It was too hot to eat outside and we couldn't find any picnic tables in the shade.

All of these National parks have wonderful driving tours that you can follow that take you all over the parks and have hikes or overlooks you can stop at. We try to do at least 1 or 2 hikes (usually no more than 2 miles, but usually just around 1 or 1/2 mile).

I wasn't around when this took place. I guess they had to sneak off! (really I think I was in the car with Ruthie. She was snoozing.)

At one point Ruthie was asleep and Kane didn't want to get out so Nolan went on what he thought was a 100 yd hike to see Delicate Arch. He decided to run since it was supposed to be short. He ended up sprinting about a mile thinking it was just around the next bend. He came back soaken wet and without ever seeing it- he finally gave up!

After we saw all there was to see for a family with 2 little ones we headed to our campsite. Nolan says I'm an outdoor diva because I want to do things outside and I'll camp, but I refuse to camp with no showers and electricity. So that means we have to pay a little more for camping than what they offer in the National parks (national park $8 - our campsite $22). I'm sorry! I have to shower and see my hand in front of my face at night! But really it worked out better because our campsite had a pool and it would be miserable without that! (and did I mention it had WiFi too! Rock on!)

Our campsite also had these little tent things set up to put your tents under. It gave shade and made it a little cooler. Isn't our tent sad! It's a 2 person tent. Now tell me I'm not a trooper!

Taking cover while it rained 1 of the 10 days a year it does this here! But it did help cool things down a little.

Right next to us camping we met a couple of families with little boys around Kane's age. One family was from Texas and the other was from Norway. The little boy from Norway didn't speak any English and it was so amazing to watch him and Kane play together even though they couldn't understand one another. His parents and grandparents spoke english so they would translate for us and him. We taught him how to play baseball and American football.

Kane is getting better and better at swimming. By the end of the summer he will have grown fins I think!

We swam until dark and then went and showered and hit the sack! We were pooped!!!

Day 8: National Park #3

We woke up early and got around and headed over to the huge chess set that our campsite has. Little Man had been asking to play his daddy. He dominated his dad!

We ate the best breakfast yet at a fun restaurant in Moab, Utah called EclectiCafe. We had their twist on Wavos Rancheros, which is an egg dish, it was slightly spicy, and so good (lots of chiles, and we LOVE chiles!)!

We then headed out about 30 minutes to...

Gorgeous views of the canyons (notice the death grip on the little man. I practically had a breakdown to the hubs about letting go of his hand the day before and now he is all over it!, and I feel much better. Still nervous, but better!)

A view of one of the many canyons. Doesn't it look like a 3 fingered hand?

Look at me right up against the railing! I'm getting a little better. The hubby says the best way to over come fears is to face them head on! I'm trying (you can't see it but I have a hand full of Kane's shirt here)!

This is one of the arches, the Mesa Arch. I love this picture!

It is so hot here! I bet we have gone through about 100 of these...

We went on a 1 mile hike, in the heat of the day, to the top of Whale Rock and I had to carry the baby so hubs could carry little man some. We had to rest about half way up! I was so tired! I have a new respect for my husband for how much he has lugged that sweet baby around on his back!

Headed up Whale Rock. Look how far behind I was. Isn't that sad?! I think I can, I think I can...

I made it and hubs relieved me of stink bug, YES!!!

After the Whale Rock hike we had a picnic and then headed back to the campsite to swim. We could only swim for so long and since it is so hot we couldn't just hang around so we showered and headed out for some Mexican food and a movie (Ice Age 3). When the movie let out is was getting darker and the weather was cooling down so back to the site we went and headed to bed!


Day 9: National Park #4

We woke up really early at the camp site this morning ate some breakfast and headed out. It took us about 3 hours to get to Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. It's still hot!

As we drove into the park we found these way cool holes in the side of the mountain. Kane thought it was way cool. Right in front of these was an old cabin about the size of my bedroom. It said on the little sign outside the cabin that a family of 10 lived in it at one time. It said that the parents and 2 youngest slept in the cabin, the girls slept in a wagon out front, and the boys slept in these holes...comfy huh?!

We did a 2 mile hike today. It was uphill a lot of the way and since I was pooped and my man's a stud! he carried both of our children for a while! He's the man!

This is what part of our hike looked like. We are right in the desert, and did I mention how hot it is here!

This is the arch that we stood under today at the end of our hike. Isn't it so cool! It was so much cooler in the shade of this arch! It is so amazing some of the things we've seen! God has done some amazing things!

My crew resting at the destination of the hike before we headed back to the car...

Right in the middle of the park was this little town called Fruita that had all these amazing fruit orchards that you could pick fruit for free as long as you ate it in the park. The peaches weren't quite ready yet, but they were okay. But we also found these mule deer goin' to town on these apples. After our picnic lunch we walked over to them and they let us get about 10 ft from them. It was so crazy!

After lunch we did a driving tour and part of the drive took us on some back roading. It was so fun driving through the canyons.

The kids and I fell asleep on our way out of the park and so when we got to the hotel Nolan rolled down all the windows, parked in the shade and let us all sleep for about an hour. We have been so busy that by the end of the day we are all exhausted!

Once we woke up we went swimming for a while. Kane met another little boy that does not speak english. He and his family are from Germany. I visited with his mother for a little while and they were super nice.

We then went to dinner. It was so yummy! We had a 10 veggie salad, mushroom lasagna, and bosenberry pie ala mode. We ended the night with a little workout with weights and then we found a dirt road to run on. On the run we could see the sun setting behind the mountains and it was just perfect!

It's been another great few days!