Our New Journey

Two things as usual...we are back to traveling south for the winter...and I am playing catch up on the blog!

We began with a short but very sweet stay at the grandkids house.  We then headed south to Zion, Utah...sort of catching up where covid19 left us off last spring.  We rented ebikes for a day to get the lay of the land and despite my getting us lost (who knew that "Shuttle busses only" and "Authorized Vehicles only" on the signs meant bikes were to go that way?) we made it to the riverside walk trail and got our first hike in of the season!

We were both amazed at the difference in the rock formations between Zion and Bryce, yet they are so close in proximity.  We enjoyed a few more hikes...and I was able (with the moral support of many and various other hikers on the trail) to make it to the top of Angel's Landing...

Google it if you would like...it was a fun accomplishment for me!

We drove through Las Vegas and then Wickenburg to get to one of our favorite places, Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona.

We have done some short hikes and bike riding.  We had some usually HOT weather (mid 90's) and WIND for the first week we were here and thankfully now it has cooled to the mid 60's.  Of course that also means it gets a little cooler at night!  We met up with Bryants brother and sister in law for a few hikes as well.

And....you may wonder what this "new journey" is all about...why is that the title for this blog?  Some know that Bryant was very sick this spring.  He has continued seeing his doctors and was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. He has said that now more than ever it is about our journey, the one that he and I are on together.  We are still planning on traveling and living our lives the way that we wanted to before his diagnosis.  For how long?  We do not know the answer to that...we will however share all of it with you via this blog.  The good and the bad...yes, Bryant wants to share so that maybe it will help others.  Bryant will remain "in control" of our journey as long as he can...and he has made it perfectly clear that when he can no longer be...he has chosen me.  For those who love us, you can show us  your love by being respectful and understanding of what he and I are going through, what we want now...and then on this journey we are taking together what he has told me he wants for the future.

From Page To Kanab and beyond...

Well, not yet to beyond...

From Page our plan was to go to the North rim of the Grand Canyon.  We drove over the Colorado River near the Vermillion Cliffs.  Then GPS had us turn onto a road that was unpaved...and it began to snow...

We chose to continue out the paved road, leaving the north rim for another day!  We found the remnants of these wonderful rock homes...

built around large boulders that had fallen from the cliffs above. 

Weather was being a bit "iffy" so we returned back to the bridge and I was able to get a picture of one of the California Condors that they have reintroduced to the area.

It had a tag with  the number 54 on both sides of its wings.  While they are quite ugly it was fun to see them and then also watch them fly about.

The following day we went to Monument Valley.  The visitors center was closed so we pulled over to the side of the road, let Moxie out to sniff and stretch a little, ate our lunch, took some pictures, and drove back home to the VIA.  We have since heard that the Navajo Nation is struggling to deal with covid-19. 

On to Kanab...where for the first time in a month there was an actual dog Park for Bryant to throw the ball for Moxie...she was so happy!!

It is quite sad to see that the hotels are almost empty here...nothing is crowded.   Since we missed the slot canyon tours out of Page...I called and got a gentleman to take us out to the Red Canyon Peek a boo slot canyons.  He drove us three and a half miles down a deep sandy wash.  

It was beautiful and we had them to ourselves almost the entire time!

The gentleman that was our guide gave us some geologic history of the area as well as some of the differences between the Navajo Antelope slot canyons and the peek a boo slot canyons

The peek a boo slot canyon is natural, not cleaned or spruced up for tourists...and of course the best for us to hear was the tours of Antelope canyons (when they are open) are jammed with people...win...win for us!

The following day we went to Moqui Cave...scaling the rocks to get up there but a beautiful cave.

To the Coral Sand Dune State Park...which after we got there we found out that the governor mandated that the parks are only "open" for local residents...so I hiked to the top of a dune on the side of the road for a few pictures.

Our guide from the previous day told us of this hike...again more rock climbing than hiking and the route I took had us going through this rock crevasse...

we made it...

through the "skinny ass thing"...that is a direct quote from Bryant...to...

the dinosaur footprints on the top!!

There was again only one other couple on the trail, going down as we were coming up so our social distancing is working out quite well!

Today, being Bryant's birthday, I gave him his one wish of no hiking today.  We went out riding our bikes this morning instead!  He will be grilling his own steak dinner while I steam some brocolli and asparagus.

Tomorrow is another day and so  another hike is planned here near Kanab...another slot canyon!  Hopefully we can find it!  Wooohooo!!

So happy birthday Bryant!  Love you and love us! 

Heading north amid virus concerns and Campground closures

Before we left Lost Dutchman State Park, Bryant was determined  to hike to the waterfall with me.  We left early leaving Moxie at home in the Via.  

It is not an easy hike!

I am glad to let you know that Bryant's stubbornness won and we made it!

I wanted to go up a little further...which became a little further...and a little further!

A couple of looking up pictures...

up to what is called the "saddle"...

with the eventual goal (next year) of hiking up to Flatiron another mile according to some a straight up rock scramble!

I had gone further than I had planned with Bryant waiting at the waterfall so I turned around there at the saddle and headed down!

looking down the path...

and once down a little...taking a picture back up!  Meeting back up with Bryant and heading down!  We heard of a rattlesnake on the trail so I ventured ahead to try to get a picture before he/she disappeared...but, no luck this time!  Perhaps a good thing!  We were able to have a day of rest before heading out!  

The drive through Phoenix was the easiest, least stressful we have had!  The lack of cars on the road at times was eerie.

We got to Page Arizona close to five in the afternoon.  All of our slot canyon tours were cancelled, so we started looking for things to do here.  We also got an email yesterday that our Capitol Reef Campground reservations are cancelled! 

So yesterday we went to Horseshoe Bend 

and today we took Moxie to Lake Powell so she could go swimming!  

Oh, we do have one happy dog!  

She has had to be on a leash (except when at DTRVP dog park) for months...and since there was NO ONE on the beach and no park workers (parks are "no fee" and pretty much closed up) she got be be off leash for swimming AND for returning the small hike back to the jeep!  We are planning a few sight-seeing drives from here...through monument Valley and hopefully to the Grand Canyon north rim since we are here for a few more days!  We are getting spoiled by the lack of people out and around...as we slowly head north!

Catching up...

Once again we are looking back a little so that we can catch up to where we are today!

From Tubac we were able to get a couple of nights at the Chiricahua Campgrounds east of Tucson.  The Via at 25.5 feet met the restrictions of 29 feet to be able to be in this cute quiet Campground.  We set up the Via which was easy as the site was quite level already and no hookups needed as it was dry camping only.  We drove the jeep to the top overlook and took a short hike 

Along the rim of the Chiricahua National Monument...

looking down on the rock formations.  It was impressive! And, driving back down to the campsite we stopped at the pipe organ formations.

On our full day we got a bit of a late start and decided to take a five mile loop hike...

going down into the canyons to the middle of the rock formations.  There were all sorts of names for the formations...

mushroom rock...

balancing rock...duck rock...

and, then we decided to keep going to the heart of the rocks loop!  Why not...we were already down in the canyon and so close!  It only added 2.7 additional miles.

Pinnacle rock.  

Just before we got to the loop we ran into another hiker that mentioned we would need to hurry if we were going to get out of the canyon before dark!

so we did pick up the pace...

Camel head rock...

and believe it or not I took less pictures!

we were in such a hurry that we took a picture in front of kissing rock...but didn't take the time to kiss in front of kissing rock!  Perhaps next year if we go back!

The next day we read about the history of this National monument at Faraway Ranch.

With incoming weather we left for Tucson and DTRV Park.  Back to our bike riding, hiking,  and yoga for 5 days! 

The hike that the DTRV Park group went on was to Picture Rocks.  

we always enjoy seeing the petroglyphs!

We went for a bike ride on the Tucson loop trail...only 10 miles.  On the way back Bryant got his shoelace caught up in his gears.  It sprained/strained his ankle pretty bad, all the way to his hip!  We went to yoga for two more days anyway thinking it would help...but it finally took a trip to the VA and some pain meds!  In the meantime we came back to one of our favorite places

Lost Dutchman State Park.  Moxie and I went on some short hikes while Bryant was resting.  He got to feeling a little better and we started riding our bikes around the park. 

I decided to hike up to the waterfall...without Bryant or Moxie.  Only a four mile hike round trip...with a lot of elevation gain!  

It was a beautiful hike...

and I reached my goal of the waterfall!!

Well, an Arizona waterfall...and I'm sure when it really rains it can flow a lot more water! 

We have our bird feeder out and there is a resident Red Cardinal that seems to want to bully his reflection daily.  With the 500 zoom I did get some interesting shots of him with his reflextion...just havent downloaded them yet. 

And to today...we drove up to Sagurao Lake

yes, a lake in the middle of the desert rocky hills...and, yes, that is a dam on the far side...so a man-made lake.

A very popular lake with a lot of kayakers, paddle boarders, and boaters!  At nine o'clock in the morning the boat ramp was constantly in use...two at a time...side by side.  It is a Saturday...it is a beautiful day...and I cant think of a better place to quarantine than on a boat in the middle of a lake!  Makes me want to start looking for a boat for us to have at the lake!  Hahaha!

So, that is the looking back...looking forward we have had our reservations cancelled at Arches Campground...in fact the county that Moab  is in has basically "shut down" until April 18th.  Our Antelope Canyon tours have been cancelled as well.  Our Page/Lake Powell, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion reservations so far have not been cancelled so next week we leave here with our travel route a bit different than originally planned but destination the same...slowly getting home to the lake!  Stay safe all!