Friday September 26, Float trip photos

Friday September 26, 2008

Another sunny, hot day. We had breakfast early this morning, 0600. At 0630 we loaded up our bags and headed for the Glen Canyon Dam. We are going on a 16 mile raft trip down the Colorado River.

The trip started immediately downstream of the dam. The trip was great. Vertical rock walls were located on both sides of the river. At the dam the walls were 750 feet high. Ten miles downstream the walls were 1000 feet high. Our guide and raft driver gave us a running dialog about the geologic formation of the canyon and wildlife along the canyon. We were looking for big horn sheep but did not see any. We stopped at one spot along the trip to view some Indian wall graffiti. The graffiti was over 1000 years old. The termini of the trip was at the start of the Grand Canyon.

After the trip we got on the bus and headed for Lake Powell. Lake Powell is the impoundment created by the Glen Canyon Dam. Tonight we are staying at the Wahweap Lodge on Lake Powell. Lunch was a buffet at the Lodge.

In the PM we visited the Visitor Center at the dam and had several lectures on the dam and surrounding area. I rate the raft trip at a 3.92. The trip through the canyon was a first for me.

In the evening we visited a Navajo culture center and had a Navajo meal. We saw native dances and had several lectures on Navajo life. I rated this part only 2.5. I cannot get photos to this page so please see Float trip photos.

Thursday September 25, 2008

Hot and sunny. We had breakfast at the hotel (Shilo Inn). We loaded up the bus and headed to Bryce Canyon. This was my favorite day. We hiked 3.5 miles to the bottom of the Canyon. In some areas the trail was very narrow and it was 1000 feet straight down. Bryce Canyon is spectacular.

We had lunch at Ruby's. It was a very good buffet. In the PM we took several short walks.

We returned to Kanab and had dinner at Frontier Movie Town. The entire group dressed up as cowboys and Indians and had a hokey movie made. Dinner was ranch style. Just what a boy from Alpena, Michigan enjoys. Beer was available. Bryce Canyon is 4.0.

Wednesday September 24, 2008

If you notice mistakes in yesterday's blog, please ignore. I did not edit. Wednesday was hot and sunny. (what's new)

We had breakfast at the Dixie College Inn. We loaded up the bus with our bags and headed to Zion National Park. Immediately after arriving at Zion we took a 3 mile hike. We saw waterfalls, spectacular geology, and huge rock canyons. We had a box lunch at the Visitors Center.

In the PM we took a short hike up the Virgin River Canyon. I graded both walks as 3.95. The scale of Zion is hard to describe. You have to see it first hand.

After the walk we headed to Kanab, Utah. We stayed at the Shilo Inn. Dinner was at Fernando's. Beer was served.

Nancy and I and the Nameys walked around Kanab after dinner. The town's claim to fame is that many western movies were filmed here.

Tuesday September 23, 2008

The adventure continues. It was a hot sunny day. We had breakfast at the Dixie College Inn. After breakfast we were given a very enjoyable lecture about the founding of St George Utah by the Mormons. The lecture was given by Dr Alder, the retired president of Dixie State College. We visited the courthouse, civic theater and a Mormon Tabernacle.

Later on in the morning we visited a dinosaur track site. The was my least favorite activity. We had lunch at the Dixie State College's "Red Rock Cafe".

In the afternoon we took a walking tour of Snow Canyon State Park. It was a walk about 2 miles. See photo top. The walk and tour and lectures along the way were a sample of things to come. I rate this hike 3.5.

Dinner was in St. George at the Palms. Still no beer. Stay tuned.

Monday September 22, 2008

The day started hot, clear and sunny. We had arranged for a shuttle bus to take us to St. George, Utah the starting and ending point for the Elderhostel. St George is a city of about 28,000 people. It is one of the fastest growing areas in the US. Old folks like to retire in St George.

We got in early so we walked around town and had lunch at the Bear Claw Inn. Our lodging was at the Dixie College Inn. This Elderhostel is affiliated with Dixie State College. Dixie State is a 4 year public college. The area around St George is called Dixie because the early settlers tried to raise cotton (just like in Dixie).

The Elderhostel (EH) had 40 people. We had husband and wife team directing the EH. Dennis Miller was the geology expert and Linda did all the coordination. They were a great team.

We all piled into a bus and headed to "The Palms" a local eatery for dinner. Like most eating places in Utah The Palms was dry. After dinner we had a lecture on the geology of the places we are going to visit. I found the lecture interesting. A lot of folks did not like all the technical terms.

After the lecture we retired to our room. The room was clean but lacked a TV. Luckily Nancy and Bob brought reading material.

Sunday September 21, 2008

We got up at 0300. Our flight for Las Vegas is scheduled to depart at 0515. The flight to LV via Houston was smooth. We got into LV around 1100. We stayed at the Hampton Inn. The first thing Bob and Nancy did was to take a walk along the strip. The strip was located 4 blocks from the Hampton Inn. The last time we were in LV was 2004. Nothing had changed much. I think in order to enjoy LV you must visit it only once a decade.

Ed and Mary Namey who are going on the Elderhostel with us arrived in LV in the late afternoon. In the evening Nancy and I, along with Mary, took the shuttle to the MGM Grand. Ed Namey had a bad cold and stayed in his room. The evening was hot. LV was crowded. We walked through the Bellagio and had dinner at their food court. I grade LV a C.

We retired early because Monday starts our Elderhostel.

How come spell check highlights Las?