Out West Trip

Here's a bit of a summary of my trip through lots of states, National Parks and Monuments, etc...

22 Sept: Dad and I left for St. Louis, getting in late.

23 Sept: go to Arch, tour museum, see "Louis and Clark" on IMAX, see Old Courthouse, gardens, art museum, US Grant's home, stop for food and drink at weird sports bar, drive to Tulsa, OK. (photo: me in front of the Arch)

24 Sept: Rte. 66 to Oklahoma City stopping at Davenport to talk with couple from Grayling, MI and eat at Gar Wooly's, State Capitol, Oklahoma City Memorial, Washita Battlefield, through Texas panhandle, get into eastern New Mexico for fabulous southwestern dinner. (photo: Oklahoma City Bombing memorial)

25 Sept: Salinas ruins, Albuquerque and Old Town for shopping and food, climb mesa at Petroglyph Nat'l Monument, drive to AZ. (photos: Salinas Mission ruins, Petroglyph Nat'l Mon'mt)



26 Sept: Sunrise at Monument Valley, amazing drive thru Valley of the Gods into Utah, Hovenweep Nat'l Mon'mt, Four Corners and fry bread again (!!!), Canyon de Chelly (pronounced "da-Shay"), super fast drive for passport stamps and sunset at Painted Desert and Petrified Forrest, pizza in Winslow, AZ. (photos: Monument Valley, Dad at Four Corners, sunset at the Petrified Forrest)



27 Sept: Meteor Crater (but didn't enter since $12/person), Walnut Canyon (canyon and ruins), Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki Nat'l Mon'mt (ruins), south rim of the Grand Canyon complete with tons of rainbows, Hoover Dam at night en route to Vegas. (photos: me at the Grand Canyon, sunset in western Arizona)


28 Sept: realization that Vegas smells nasty in the morning, pick up mom and Joe at airport, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam for dam(n) tour, Vegas to rest, to the strip to visit hotels and attempt to find dinner. (photos: Vegas strip, family at Vegas, and Hoover Dam)



29 Sept: Mom and I tour more hotels, drive to Zion Nat'l Park, shop, laundry, dinner, and learn about Mountain Lion.

30 Sept: Joe and Steph hike Angel's Landing, lunch, hike, museum, hike, Joe and Dad hike in river, and I'm forbidden to eat eggplant ever again. (photos: Last half mile to Angel's Landing, Joe and hiking up to Angel's Landing (chains used as handles and railings while hiking to landing), and Zion National Park)




1 Oct: Mom and Steph 1-mile morning stroll turns into 3-mile hikey hikey, leave Zion, Cedar Breaks Nat'l Mon'mt (canyon 2-mi above sea level), Bryce Canyon Nat'l Park, stargaze, and begin Euchre saga...

2 Oct: Joe and Steph hike 8 mile loop into canyon while Mom and Dad hike, re-energize with cheese and crackers, laundry, dinner, and more Euchre. (photos: hiking into the Bryce Canyon in the Wall Street area, and trees in Wall Street)



3 Oct: Mom and Steph hike v. windy trail and look for a poodle hoo doo, Dad bans ladies from using his car while in another snit, great view of Grand Staircase, north rim of Grand Canyon, Joe does Jim Cantore, drive to Cape Royal, dinner. (photos: Bryce at sunrise, Mom and Joe relaxing at the Grand Canyon Lodge)



4 Oct: Rest, lunch, Joe and Steph ride Rufus and Fancy the mules into the Canyon, dinner, hike and sunset, and ladies dominate in Euchre. (photos: Windy morning at the Canyon, Joe getting ready to ride Rufus)


5 Oct: I watch the sunrise (sorry about the back and forth of 1st and 3rd person...), mule deer frolic outside cabin window, breakfast, Pipe Springs Nat'l Mon'mt (living history!!!), back to Vegas and Ceasar's Palace, drop Mom and Joe off at airport, begin drive...

6 Oct: Dad and Steph alternate driving, get to Moab, UT around 5:30am and sleep in gas station parking lot, Arches Nat'l Park for sunrise, Canyonlands Nat'l Park, drive to Colorado Nat'l Mon'mt (about 200th canyon on trip), Denver and a tour for Steph (finally!!!), spend night in a motel (!) in Nebraska.

7 Oct: Drove, stopped near Des Moines to visit family, drove, we hate Chicago traffic.

8 Oct: about 1am, get to Lansing. It's about time...