Wandering Retirees

Dead Horse Point State Park, Arches National Park and Scenic RT 128 near Moab, UT

 A wonderful day. We hit the road before sunrise to catch the sights at Dead Horse Point State Park. We got there before the gates were open at 6 and arrived at a great lookout just before the sun’s rays hit the canyon walls. Just beautiful. Though much smaller than Grand Canyon, we got the feel of the Colorado River cutting through the gorge 2,000 feet below. The river has been cutting through the rock since the Colorado Plateau was thrust up around 10 million years ago. The oldest exposed rock at the river’s edge is the Rico strata, approximately 275 million years old. Amazing. We overheard many conversations all expressing pleasure at the sight – one in German and another with a woman in a jazzy who wheeled up just in time. We had our breakfast while basking in the early morning light.

We saddle up again and left the Park around 7:30. Still no one at the entrance gate. Guess we got a freebie from the State of Utah. Feel a little guilty. But not so guilty that we couldn’t enjoy going to Arches Nat’l Park. (No one at the gate there either, though we have an annual pass courtesy of a nice Christmas gift.)

We rode deep into the park to visit the “Windows” formations. The lot was already full but there was a sliver of space for the bike. We hiked to the double arches about a ¼ mile away, passing the formations known as the “Elephants.” They are immense and seemingly delicate and so beautiful. Heading back the other way, we saw a cactus coming into bloom, a prickly pear. A pic is attached. We were very fortunate.

A nice hike on a hike “primitive” trail took us across a dry wash and a nice climb over a rock hill to the backside of the Windows. On the way we met the same couple we met in Cortez, Jurdis and Katinka Spork from the Netherlands. We were delighted to meet each other again. Jurdis is a composer of some repute and shares our love of traveling in Germany. The Sporks even have a vacation home in Fritzlar near Kassel where Dave spent his exchange year. We shared contact info and went our separate ways to the wondrous sight of thousands of tons of rock suspended in arches high above the ground. About that time a couple of tour busses let off their charges who promptly charged to the formations. That is to say, it got very crowded very fast. Phew! We took our time though, and Connie got some amazing shots.

We returned to the bike with the intent to visit the Delicate Arch deeper into the park. There was a long line of cars waiting to park in our spot, so we made someone happy. A note: when you visit a National Park, especially in the west, you should go early in the morning, certainly before 11 AM. That way you can get in and find parking. Otherwise, you take your chances.

We got to the area for Delicate Arch but ran into a veritable traffic jam with a Lone Ranger working hard to keep order. By the time we got off the bike, talked to the ranger named Ralph who is himself a biker, and talked with Bob and Peter from Queens no less, the weather became hot, we were out of water and were dubious of a 3 mile hike that lay ahead. Discretion being the better part of valor, we loaded back up and left the Park to get supplies and take a relaxing ride along the Colorado River along Scenic Rt. 128. A gorgeous, easy and fun ride. We had a late lunch at a boat launch site and relaxed. A wonderful day, covering about 150 miles and tons of dreams. Nice.

Tomorrow we head out early for a long ride to Ely, NV, on the way toward Yosemite in California. Looking forward to the ride, and hoping the livestock stays somewhere other than in our lane. Tonight it’s rest and a little Stanley Cup finals. Just a period. Maybe two.

Dead Horse Point

Arches National Park

Xx

Scenic drive along the Colorado River.

We bid farewell to Ouray, CO this morning and set out for Moab, UT.  It was a wistful departure because we both loved our short time in Ouray. It’s a quaint, very pretty little town set in a narrow gorge in the San Juan mountains, with snow capped peaks towering over sheer sandstone cliffs within yards of the cinder streets. Our hosts were so kind, the inn so charming, and the people so welcoming that we felt we could stay for a long while. It made me as though we were tucked in an Alpine village in Switzerland or southern Germany. We’ll be back one day. 

The ride was wonderful. We climbed some mountain roads complete with tight switchbacks and descended into valleys where the road opened up to allow the bike to stretch its legs. There were very few people or cars sharing the road. We did however share the road with a herd of cattle and calves for a spell. We had seen signs warning that cattle might be found in the roadway, but didn’t expect to encounter a hundred head being driven by herd dogs, real mounted cowboys and a foreman in his pickup. Seeing as the beasts were bigger than us, we obligingly (wisely) stopped to allow them by. At one point we were surrounded by the beasts and treated to a chorus/cacophony of moo’s. There was one senior cow that stood in the middle of the road glaring at us. She wasn’t moving, so neither did we.  There was literally nothing we could do, so we sat and hoped for the best. The rest wandered by munching on the abundant grass on the verge, leaving pungent evidence of their passage. Finally, momma figured we were no threat and moved aside allowing us to gingerly make our way through. A truly bucolic pause in our march.
We arrived in Moab in early afternoon. It was very hot and we were hungry, so to a chain restaurant we went. About the time we checked in, we were feeling punky – the food didn’t sit well. So we took the afternoon off, hoping to feel better in the morning. We may miss out on Canyon Lands and a State park called Dead Horse Point. A little disappointing, but we comfort ourselves with the thought that we can’t see everything, and recovery is more important.  (Sipping cold water and munching on the blandest crackers on the planet as I write.)   
Tomorrow we plan to visit Arches Nat’l Park, an iconic Utah site. So looking forward to it.
A couple of notes. Connie’s pics are again wonderful. There are a couple of shots coming out of Ouray that take in the town fairgrounds with high peaks in the background. They are stunning. At the same stop, we found old rail cars with the logos of the Denver- Rio Grande – Western Railroad. This pleases us so much because it grounds our love of the game, Rail Baron, in real life. 
We passed through the teeming community of Bedrock, CO, about 40 miles south and east of Moab. We saw 4 buildings and a small (the size of a modest water closet) post office, zip code 81411. Neither Barney nor Fred were in sight, and no sign of a Brontoburger drive in.  It is on the map though. I suspect that cartographers include such tiny burgs in order to fill up otherwise empty space. Seriously, it is a reminder that many folks live in small towns, and they necessarily experience this American life differently than we do. Not more or less important or real, just different.
Going back to Mesa Verde, I want to mention the Ranger who guided our tour. His name is Jeff Brown, about 40-ish and clearly a scholar; he cited research papers and articles during his narrative, including author and page. You know he isn’t paid much, but he loves what he does and his enthusiasm was contagious. We have met many like him. And the Park Service is very fortunate to have these folks, and so are we.
Finally, we have ridden over 4,600 miles as of today. We will be well over 5,500 in a few days when we drive toward Yosemite. 
Good night / good morning for now. More Wednesday night.

The ride today took us through lush valleys and red rock and desert and back again. Finally ending in Moab.

The “Million Dollar Highway” to Ouray, CO

Ok. Simple summary of the day. Wow. Just wow. We left Cortez before 9 AM and headed east on US Rt. 160 toward Durango, CO. As we were packing we met another couple from the Netherlands who expressed great wonder at the beautiful resources of the US. They were headed toward Monument Valley on their 2 week trip. Though their land has much beauty to enjoy, the US has such a rich bounty of natural beauty. They hope their grandchildren (yes, they are folks of a certain age) will also come to visit and explore the natural wonders our country has so wisely set aside as national parks and monuments.  
The ride to Durango was quick and a bit cool. You don’t expect 50 degrees in Jersey in late May. We had breakfast and then set out on the road north, US Rt. 550 aka “The Million Dollar Highway.” Over the next 75 miles through the San Juan mountains within the Rockies took us from a little over 5,000 feet to over 11,000 feet, through three passes (Coal Bank Pass, Molas Pass, and Red Mountain Pass.). The town of Silverton sits between the 2nd and 3rd passes and offers a great chance for a break. The route was created as a mining support road and built for the stage and a narrow gauge railroad to transport ore for shipment. Before debouching in Ouray, CO there are a multitude of hairpin turns and switchbacks with tremendous drops off the roadway. I am tickled to say we made it in great style and grand fashion (beats the alternative) and we saw some fabulous sights. You’ll notice some stunning pics of snow capped mountains, water falls, and even some Rocky Mountain Longhorn Sheep: we were much more impressed with them than they with us. Although traffic came to a stop, the sheep acted as though we all didn’t exist. (Human conveyances can continue their way when WE decide to give up our road, thank you.) An amazing ride and we’re proud of ourselves for making the trip.

Then Ouray. A small town that is just stunning. Snow capped peaks, forested vales, and startling blue skies at 7,200 feet. The last time we saw a sight like this was in the Swiss Alps. And so laid back. We checked into this charming little motel called the Ouray Inn and proceeded to the public thermal baths. The water in the kiddie pool is 92 degrees, and the adult soak is 104 degrees. If you have an ache or pain, it is soaked away in short order. While looking at the towering peaks. While watching climbers ascend a rock face less than 1,000 feet away. And no worries about drowning: there are about 50 high school aged lifeguards close to hand to make sure we don’t drown in the 3-foot deep water. Even though some of us have too much built-in flotation to risk drowning. But I digress. Again.

We met a wonderful couple from Phoenix, AZ, Lance and Ann, who sharde a table with us for happy hour offered by the motel. We appreciated their suggestions for sight seeing and their love of books, which endeared them to us immediately. We have fallen in love with this area and are determined to come again for an extended stay.

Had supper at a local pub and watched Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals. Stupid Penguins won. But the beer was very good.

Tomorrow to Moab, UT and some more great parks. And now to bed.

The first wildlife we’ve seen bigger than a Prairie Dog.

“There’s iron in them hills.”

Heading into Ouray.

Cortez, CO

Had a relaxing day here in Cortez.  Not much news to report except that the ice cream from Sonic was yummy and our respective books have made for good reading.

Tomorrow we head into the San Juan mountains of Colorado to ride the “Million Dollar Highway.”  The day looks to be sunny and cool.  We’re both excited to make the journey as we’ve been looking forward to this ride since we decided to take this trip.

Cortez, CO and Mesa Verde National Park

 We rode 290 miles from Kanab and arrived in Cortez, Co around 4 PM. A longish but beautiful day. More desert and more red rock. We rested a bit then rode to Mesa Verde Nat’l Park for a twilight tour of the Cliff Palace where Pueblo’s built a community in an over- hanging sandstone cliff. Amazing hike! We clambered down rough hewn steps and a ladder to get below the cliff and into a grotto where a thriving community built a home out of native rock and mortar. The people developed a sophisticated agricultural system primarily on the Mesa above that fed its people and allowed flourishing culture between about 950 and 1250 AD. Most of the building we saw was completed by around 1240. There is evidence of several distinct cultures that lived in and on Mesa Verde beginning as early as 5,000 BC. They were all tough, hard working and completely unafraid of heights. Wow! Can you imagine raising small children where your front porch suddenly drops off over 1,000 feet? DYFS would have conniptions. Everything from food and water to building supplies, had to be carried up and down steep rock walls using hand and footholds carved into the rock face. No wimpy ladders for you, Laddie! (Take a look at the pics. Just saying) And the construction was perfectly proportioned: corners remain absolutely square and walls perfectly vertical (plumbed) using only very basic tools. Chopping was accomplished with stone axes carefully made by hand; an 8 inch thick tree took about 300 strokes. Most structure required up to 100 lengths of lumber. There are dozens of structures divided into a total of 150 rooms. It’s remarkable how smart and ingenious so-called primitive people were. And the dry climate has helped preserve the abandoned dwellings for the better part of 1,000 years. Ultimately population density and several severe droughts force the inhabitants to move elsewhere to find arable land.  
It was about a 20 mile ride to the park, and then another 22 miles back to the Cliff Palace over mountain roads with very tight curves and switchbacks. A little nerve wracking but very doable in daylight. The ride out of the park was a bit more interesting once darkness descended. No street lights and few caution signs. Hairpins are a LOT more interesting in the dark. 20 miles. We are the bomb. Mt. Washington, you are so much dust in our wake.

This visit is so meaningful because my folks took Mark, Mary Jane and me to this same place 50 years ago. We kids were small and completely unafraid and there were rock walls to climb. Looking back, I can only imagine what our mom was feeling. Speaking for myself, I don’t remember a lot about the visit back into 1966 other than fleeting snapshots in the memory bank. To return now closer to the other end of life fills me with love and thanksgiving for the life I really didn’t realize I had. (Tissues please.) Enough maudlininity.

Ok, now to some fun on our way here. At the junction of Rt. 89and US Rt. 160 that led us to Cortez, we stopped at a Shell station for a potty break. Upon returning to the bike from my foray to the necessary, I find a troupe of Chinese tourists surrounding the bike and applauding Connie. I was curious. (Understatement.) Turns out a group of 20 good folks from Hunan Province were disembarked from their Mercedes bus to find relief. They were parked right next to our bike. When I came out they were applauding my Queen for her courage and whatever on her trek across this great country on this flimsy steed. Not wanting to interrupt the plaudits to Her Majesty, I snapped a picture. (It may be included in the portfolio.) Modesty prevented me from interfering, but these sagacious easterners divined I was associated with the Queen’s quest. So we all simultaneously began snapping pictures of each other. It was very confusing.

Using the services of the translator from the group, we all shared where we were from and where we were headed. Connie, as Queen Regnant, (look it up), was given highest prestige, as was proper. Pictures were proposed and taken all around. (Sometimes stereotypes are spot on.) Turns out the translator had worked in Rochester, NY for 8 years and was familiar with American ways. Her name was Xi Xian Jiu and she was delighted to say she had worked in Rochester, NY during the 90’s and vacationed at her American boss’ cabin at Lake George in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. She was so happy to meet Americans who were glad to meet her on this trip. She remembers her stay in the US with fondness and pride. Anyway, we had the most touching and hilarious photo-op in recent history. We enjoyed it immensely. And we are so proud that folks from foreign lands are happy to invest heavily in visiting our wonderful country.

Well enough for today. An adult beverage is singing its siren song and I must partake. Be well. And blessings.

Red Mesa

Mesa Verde

Cliff Palace

Thanks for seeing us!

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Kanab, UT

We had a short range day. Rode a little out of town to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park to see what the hubbub was about. After paying a whopping $4 entrance fee, we parked and went onto the dunes. It was fascinating. The color was as advertised – such a striking pink caused by just the right amount of iron oxide (yes, rust) bonded to the silicates in the sand. The texture was as fine as any beach sand we’ve seen. We walked out onto some semi-stable dunes that had very hardy plants that had taken root and quite a few tiny lizards scooting about from bush to bush leaving serpentine behind them. Beginning a few yards further out and extending for miles in every direction were towering dunes that the wind kicked plumes of sand down range. Some of the dunes were open to ATV’s, and there were kids sand (snow?) boarding down the tallest dune on several sides. Just like the winter equivalent, the rides down were quick, but the slog back uphill was quite a lot of work. We were happy to watch, thanks.

We had lunch at a camp site in a grove of ponderosa pines. It was calm and peaceful place. Campsites were only $5 a night and collection was on the honor system – a collection box served as toll taker for the spot. Not something you find in NJ.

This afternoon was taken with packing, hair cuts and a nap. My barber was Ken Adams who served as an Army Ranger and medic in Vietnam. Stories he had aplenty for his captive audience. That would be me. A 15 minute trim took an hour and a half because he got so caught up in his tale he’d leave off with scissors. Snip, talk talk talk, snip, talk, so forth. But such a happy, energetic man. And his tales of growing up on a Utah cattle ranch and his time on patrol were really engaging. Best of all, he did a great job on my hair. On the way out, I thanked him for his service, his tales, and had to ask him how much. If you ever need an urgent haircut in Kanab, he’s your man.

Connie also tended to her coiffure but was done before me. We got some awesome ice cream and headed back to get ready for tomorrow when we head for Cortez, CO. The good news is it will be a beautiful day. The bad news is it’s about 300 miles on Memorial Day weekend. Not so bad, actually: we’ll be riding through beautiful country.

A reflection. When you think of a desert, what do you see in your mind’s eye? I always thought only of cacti, hot sand, boulders, rattlers and vultures, but an otherwise lifeless and bleak earth.

We have seen so much desert in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada. And there is so much diversity to desert terrain. Around Las Vegas thousands of square miles appear pounded flat and lifeless from the scorching sun. That fit my preconceptions. Here in Utah and the parts of AZ, NM and TX we’ve seen huge swaths of desert that are hot and dry, but also filled with life, from scrub to cacti to hardy trees and wildlife. Dry washes are common, indicating that at least some rainfall hits the earth. Some areas even have sufficient forage for cattle and bison herds. Horses, donkeys and mules (we assume part of domestic herds) are more common than you’d think. Yet this is still “desert”. I’m sure many of you already knew how diverse desert ecologists can be. For Connie and me, it has been eye opening. We are so fortunate to have our vantage from the back of the bike.

Well, tomorrow we leave this wonderful villa in Kanab, UT and forge onto Cortez.

Bryce Canyon

To Bryce we went and it was magnificent. It’s about 75 miles north of Kanab through some really diverse terrain. Lots of desert scrub and lots of lush, green pastures where streams are close. We saw horse farms and riding ranches, grazing land for cattle and sheep, and an amazing amount of timber, particularly as we got close to our destination. We parked the bike, skinnied out of our riding gear and caught the park shuttle up Canyon. We got off at the top spot, Bryce Point and hiked down the rim trail to Sunset Point. After lunch we headed down the Navajo Trail to the intersection with the Queens Garden Trail and back to the rim.  
Peripherals: its dusty and sometimes steep, but doable for retirees who take their time; we filled our water bottles a couple of times and glad we did to cut the dust; our walking sticks were an awesome help, sometimes to assist the change in grade but often just to give confidence on sketchy ground. (Again, thanks Tim and Dave, and Connie for insisting we find room on the bike! I will never doubt you again.)

The view from the rim is magnificent: looking down on the Amphitheater and the hundreds of hoodoos is amazing. But walking among them more than a thousand feet below is both wondrous and intimate. The process of freeze/thaw that creates the hoodoos and changes them noticeably within the course of a human lifetime is so fast in geologic time. And they play to our imaginations. The Queen’s Garden was named for a formation that appeared to be Queen Victoria astride some animal. Maybe a charger, maybe an elephant, maybe a griffin … It’s wonderful. We saw one that is named Thor’s Hammer. There were formations I thought looked like knights dressing their lines for a charge, bishops engaged in dispute, and one that looked like ET. There will be some pics of these fabulous rocks. Someone said the hoodoos were a form of Rorschach Ink Blot test. Whatever. Lots of fun. Bryce was my #1 destination and it did not disappoint.

Oh, just because … we hiked over 6-1/2 miles today, with 1,000 foot elevation change. We were thinking of Bob Francisco and wondered how his day went. Just saying.

We met some more interesting folks. Jorrit, who is visiting with his wife and very young family (18 months and 3 years) is from Delft, the Netherlands. They are blown away by the beauty of our American Parks and Monuments. (He does miss his local beer, though).

A Sheriff’s Deputy we met a few days ago named Eric Holman was taking a break from patrol in Garfield County near Bryce. I will only mention that he had the stereotypical cop snack in his hand at checkout. However, when Bob and I thanked him for his service and wished him a safe shift, he happily took time to talk with us. He has nearly 20 years on the force and is responsible for training some newer officers. It’s clear from his demeanor that there is iron mixed with his kind sociability. (Reminds me of Ben and Jeff Smith.) He clearly likes his job, and recognizes that he sees people on their worst days, not their best. He is usually posted on road patrol in the western part of the county. To give you an idea of the size of his patrol area, it took two hours one day to drive to back up another officer on a call. The eastern side covers a number of parks, so those officers are heavily involved with search and rescue. Eric would rather drive, it seems. From what I can gather, his county is roughly the size of Burlington and Monmouth Counties combined.

We met a couple from Knoxville, TN.  They were about out age and kept us company during the ascent to the rim.  We played leap frog and pointed out interesting formations and ideas for great photos.

Well, that’s it for tonight. (Read: we’re bushed.) More fun tomorrow.

We decided this was a memorial to “E.T.”  Phone home.

The “Queen”

Another photo of the National Monument:  Grand Staircase Escalante.  This monument covers a huge area in Southern Utah.  For the past two weeks, it seems that around every bend in the road, the grand monument is in front of us.

We wimped out today and decided to rest up and take care of some logistical chores. The nap was so decadent. Tomorrow morning we head back to Bryce. We’re looking to hike most of two trails that circumnavigate the amphitheater and its attendant HOODOOS! Lunch and snacks and water are already packed and ready in the fridge. Just need to gather our stuff and go. My guess is there will be some wonderful pics tomorrow.

We had a chance to talk with our hosts today. They are wonderful people and they have provided a comfortable and lovely place to stay. They also have some great ideas on what to do and where to do them. If you come this way, let us know and we’ll give contact info. Generally, Kanab is a great place to visit.

That’s all folks. 😀

We had a busy morning in Las Vegas, got the bike serviced and set out back to our “villa” in Kanab. It was 100 degrees when we left. Stop and go riding under the beating sun was somewhat less than thrilling. It is part of the experience – sometimes a ride will feel like less than a five star event due to weather or traffic or whatever. Still worth it. Today I consoled myself with memories of the cool, refreshing ads for York Peppermint Patties. (Remember?) No apologies here – it’s our blog and I can be corny if I want to. But it was so hot that we didn’t take time to set up Spot (GPS) Had to get moving and stay moving. (We covered about 250 miles yesterday and today.)

As we climbed out of the desert plain toward Utah and the higher altitudes of the Colorado Plateau, we luxuriated in the drop in temp. Almost 10 degrees by the time we reached 6,000 feet 160 miles out. Read: we were hot for a long time. We stopped for a cool down several times in shady spots. A Chevron station actually had a tree to pull under. Now that’s luxury! We rolled into the Villa as the sun was lowering and treated ourselves to cool showers. Bliss!

Tomorrow, we’re planning to head back to Bryce Canyon to do some hiking and (maybe) hang around to sunset. I want to see more of those hoodoos. Can’t wait.

Now to laundry and supper and a cold beverage, though not necessarily in that order. A terrific ending to a neat day.

Connie:  “I have no pictures which adequately capture the desolation.  Nor would any photo capture the desert heat.  It’s like being wrapped in a hot towel.  The moving air only feels like a new towel is being wrapped around you.  It evoked in me a sense of unease until I recognized why and could reason it out.  We weren’t going to end up dehydrated and mummified by the side of the road!  We had water.  There was a constant flow of traffic.  We would be ok if the bike broke down.”

Connie: “Wanted to add in this photo of the power lines heading into Vegas for any Stephen King fans.”

Valley of Fire, Nevada State Park and Las Vegas 

Bob, Val and Pat got underway home today. We had such a good time together! Lots of memories to share. 
We headed out toward Las Vegas (Lost Wages) to see the city all lit up and get the bike serviced tomorrow. On the way, we stopped at the Valley of Fire, an Arizona State Park to see .. wait for it … more red rock. Though this is a deep, fire pit red that seems to glow at mid-day. There are contrasting domes and strata of silicate rock that are bone white that make the red just pop. And the tectonic forces that forced the layers of rock to shift shift millions of years ago created fantastic shapes with unlikely names like the Seven Sisters, the Beehives and the Elephant. Gorgeous. And the ride was a lot of fun winding through breaks in the rock formations, lots of curves and changes in elevation in this dry and very hot desert.

We headed for LV early in the afternoon and got a taste for the back roads here. We found the roads appear to lead straight away into the distance. It’s a bit deceiving, though. Our line of sight extended up to 10 miles, but the road managed to take unexpected dips through dry washes and through seemingly modest breaks in the terrain that didn’t appear until we were right on top of them. Wonderful to have long term goals, but it pays to pay attention to what’s right in front of you. (Moral for the day.)

We’re staying at the Luxor at the base of the Strip at Tim’s suggestion. We’re in the main pyramid so our room’s ceiling slopes like the second floor of a cape cod. The view is nice, though I keep forgetting to duck.

We got cleaned up and had supper at the House of Blues a bit before the evening rush. Felt like real retirees looking for the early bird special – no discount meals but it was Happy Hour. We call that a win. Then we went for a stroll up the Strip toward the Bellagio, looking forward to the fountains. They did not disappoint. Check out the pics Connie took. The reality is just like the final scene from Oceans Eleven. Thanks, Tim, for your help in planning.

We walked back to our room and have our feet up now. After so much time in quiet surroundings, we found that we didn’t have a great appetite for all the noise and general clamor for attention. We did not play any games and thereby contribute to the general accounts of MGM which owns this hotel. So we still have cash for breakfast. Much more important.

We met some interesting people, especially Ben and Freeman from San Francisco who showed us a wonderful exhibition on the theme of the Japanese Tea Garden in the Bellagio’s atrium. We shamelessly promoted Dan’s restaurant in SF and his clientele may grow by a couple.

That’s all for tonight. Sleep well.

Approaching Hurricane, Utah.  The view left us breathless.

Entering the Virgin River Gorge.  After we passed through the gorge, we were in hot, dry desert.

Las Vegas – although it really is obvious we aren’t at a National Park!