Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Whew!
Not much cell coverage, let alone wireless internet access in the "wilds" of Utah and Colorado. Sadly, we're back in the civilized world on our way to Chicago and now can post to my heart's content.
We spent Saturday and Sunday visiting Zion National Park in Utah. The Narrows, a hike along the Virgin River through a canyon, was a huge hit with Alex!
Bryce Canyon was Monday and Tuesday. We camped in a tipi, took a half day ride of the canyon (learned some interesting if not quite true history of the canyon, i.e. Sinking Ship Rock was the inspiration for the movie Titanic), took a ranger guided tour (learned a little more about the park; Mr. Bryce, park namesake, who lived with the park in his backyard and commented that "it's a hell of a place to lose a cow"), and went to an evening ranger lecture about the park in the dark (and got to see the Space Station and the Space Shuttle as they passed over the park!!). Oh, we also did some hikes down into the canyon as well.
Wednesday went to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon; stayed up top! It was very blustery and Alex declared "it's a heck of a place to loose a hat!"
Thursday and Friday we visited Mesa Verde and got to climb into and around several ancient cliff dwellings.
Saturday we moved camp to Durango and today took a class 3 raft trip on the Animas River (got sloppy wet!! Alex actually JUMPED off the raft INTO the river at one point (the guide asked if anyone wanted to . . .)!
We're now on our way to Chicago . . .
We spent Saturday and Sunday visiting Zion National Park in Utah. The Narrows, a hike along the Virgin River through a canyon, was a huge hit with Alex!
Bryce Canyon was Monday and Tuesday. We camped in a tipi, took a half day ride of the canyon (learned some interesting if not quite true history of the canyon, i.e. Sinking Ship Rock was the inspiration for the movie Titanic), took a ranger guided tour (learned a little more about the park; Mr. Bryce, park namesake, who lived with the park in his backyard and commented that "it's a hell of a place to lose a cow"), and went to an evening ranger lecture about the park in the dark (and got to see the Space Station and the Space Shuttle as they passed over the park!!). Oh, we also did some hikes down into the canyon as well.
Wednesday went to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon; stayed up top! It was very blustery and Alex declared "it's a heck of a place to loose a hat!"
Thursday and Friday we visited Mesa Verde and got to climb into and around several ancient cliff dwellings.
Saturday we moved camp to Durango and today took a class 3 raft trip on the Animas River (got sloppy wet!! Alex actually JUMPED off the raft INTO the river at one point (the guide asked if anyone wanted to . . .)!
We're now on our way to Chicago . . .
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Tucson and Vegas
Although we had a great time there, we finally made it out of Texas! We stayed in Tucson, Arizona one night while on the way to Las Vegas. Before leaving Tucson we drove past a small portion of the many airplane graveyards that take advantage of the dry climate (no rust). Incredible the number of planes, from small military fighters to huge commercial planes, just lined up in dirt fields. Also passed what Alex dubbed Watto's Junk Yard (Star Wars fans will understand) with every size airplane part imaginable!
We also visited the Saguara National Park. Not only saw several different types of cactus and many birds (including two roadrunners), but a very scared bunny who stayed very still hoping we didn't see him!
On to Vegas. It was extremely hot. Triple digits remained late into the night. Alex loved the different hotels and their themes! We stayed at the Luxor; the twenty foot Jackals were Alex's favorite (think Night at the Museum). Recently introduced to the humor of Monty Python, Alex was thrilled to find out that we had gotten tickets to see Spamalot! Very, very (Alex feels that there should be at least 5 verys, just to give everyone the main idea) funny adaptation of the Holy Grail and a few other Monty Python skits.
We also visited the Saguara National Park. Not only saw several different types of cactus and many birds (including two roadrunners), but a very scared bunny who stayed very still hoping we didn't see him!
On to Vegas. It was extremely hot. Triple digits remained late into the night. Alex loved the different hotels and their themes! We stayed at the Luxor; the twenty foot Jackals were Alex's favorite (think Night at the Museum). Recently introduced to the humor of Monty Python, Alex was thrilled to find out that we had gotten tickets to see Spamalot! Very, very (Alex feels that there should be at least 5 verys, just to give everyone the main idea) funny adaptation of the Holy Grail and a few other Monty Python skits.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Road Trip
OK. Thinking that next summer we will be a family of four and incapable of such a trip, Alex and I decided that there were some places out west that needed visiting. And thus begins The Road Trip. Phil graciously agreed to use a weeks worth of much coveted vacation time (still ever hopeful that somehow, someway we’ll be traveling to China before the end of this calendar year) to escort us as far as Las Vegas at which point we’ll slowly begin heading back Eastward.
We started in New Orleans, Louisiana, via Atlanta, Georgia. This was my first real visit to New Orleans and I just couldn’t get over the number of homes devastated and still abandoned from Katrina. When you consider that each empty home represents a family affected by the storm; a family displaced and lives turned upside down. Just heartbreaking.
We stayed in the French Quarter, just one block from both Canal Street and Bourbon Street. While we did stroll down Bourbon on our first afternoon, we stayed clear of it from then on out. One of the few time I wish Alex wasn’t such the reader!! We had beignets and café au lait at the Café du Monde and saw where 80% of the Mardi Gras floats are built and housed. We also visited Oak Alley, a plantation home along the Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
Then it was on to San Antonio, Texas. We learned all about the history of the Republic of Texas while visiting the Alamo and learned about the history of the city while on a riverboat tour.
We’re headed to Tucson right now. But we have to get out of Texas first! This is a huge state, especially when you cruise it’s width on Interstate 10. But thankfully they have wireless internet access at the rest areas so we can get a blog post out!!
We started in New Orleans, Louisiana, via Atlanta, Georgia. This was my first real visit to New Orleans and I just couldn’t get over the number of homes devastated and still abandoned from Katrina. When you consider that each empty home represents a family affected by the storm; a family displaced and lives turned upside down. Just heartbreaking.
We stayed in the French Quarter, just one block from both Canal Street and Bourbon Street. While we did stroll down Bourbon on our first afternoon, we stayed clear of it from then on out. One of the few time I wish Alex wasn’t such the reader!! We had beignets and café au lait at the Café du Monde and saw where 80% of the Mardi Gras floats are built and housed. We also visited Oak Alley, a plantation home along the Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
Then it was on to San Antonio, Texas. We learned all about the history of the Republic of Texas while visiting the Alamo and learned about the history of the city while on a riverboat tour.
We’re headed to Tucson right now. But we have to get out of Texas first! This is a huge state, especially when you cruise it’s width on Interstate 10. But thankfully they have wireless internet access at the rest areas so we can get a blog post out!!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!!!
Eleven years ago today we finally got to hold, hug and kiss this most wonderful boy!! You are the joy of our life and we love you so so very much! Happy 11th birthday!
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Family Of Three
Caught sight of this little family Saturday morning as they carefully made their way to The Plond (a not quite small yet not quite large body of water), which is around the corner from our house.
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