Monday, March 30, 2009
Zion National Park
We met up with Gerry and Dia TerHaar again in Zion. This is a gorgeous canyon carved by the Virgin River and first discoverd by the Mormons as they emmigrated across Utah. It is marked by steep cliff faces of red rock and a twisty winding road up to the head of the canyon. Gerry walked up the river with boots in the icy water for about a mile but turned back when he got too cold. On Saturday, Jack, Mary and Gerry hiked Angel's Landing Trail. WOW! It is 5 miles RT and has a 1500' elevation gain. This is done via innumerable switchbacks and it is a constant uphill climb. At the top of the switchbacks, you walk deep into a canyon, then climb again - coming out near the top of a ridge, 5000' above the river and canyon floor, Then begins the "fun". You must negotiate your way along a spine with sheer dropoffs on either side and only a few feet wide. There are chains to hold on to and a fear of heights will stop you for sure. Jack was a bit groggy from pain meds so he did not attempt this part - Mary did a part but got scared and stopped, but Gerry made it all the way - another 500' climbing to the very top of Angel's Landing. Quite an accomplishment! On the way down, we heard some young people talking behind us - they were all Calvin College grads and from Grand Rapids, Mich but were now teachers at Rehoboth Chr High School in Gallup New Mexico and knew some our our mutual friends. Small world!
Phoenix to Antelope Canyon to Toothache
Reluctently, we left the warmth of Phoenix and drove north on Monday, March 23. Elevations increased and temperatures dropped. But the sun shone brightly. At a high elevation viewpoint, we met a couple from Holland and chatted for a bit. The next day, we met again on a tour to Antelope Canyon. This is a very narrow slot canyon near Page, AZ that has been weathered by water and wind into the most gorgeous formations. Photographers come from around the world to take pictures here and these grace many art calendars, etc. Tours are run by th Navaho and you ride to the canyon in open trucks and are shaken around and windblown by the time you arrive at the canyon. We took a noon tour so we could capture the rays of the sun beaming down into the narrow "rooms" Fantastic!! We also enjoyed the company of the Dutch couple and went out to lunch with them after the tour.
Jack began developing a toothache as we left Phoenix and it was quite painful for him. We phoned a dentist in Page but they were full and referred us to a town up the road (Kanab) and we got an appt for the following day. We spent the night at Lee's Ferry on the Colorado River - a real find! Red rock canyon walls and the river right at the edge of the campground - still and quite at night with rushing water sounds to put you to sleep - unless you have a toothache! This is the place where many rafting tours begin.
On Tuesday. we got to Kanab in time for the dental appt. Dr Armstrong drilled the cavity and cleaned the infection and put a temporary cap on Jack's tooth and sent him away with penicillin and pain meds. But for the next 3 days, the pain continued off and on, to the point where we were ready to make an appt for a root canal in a town near Zion National Park. But finally on Saturday, March 28, the discomfort abated and we canceled the root canal appt and are hoping for the best -and will take care of things when we get home and our insurance kicks in and we can go to our own dentist.
Jack began developing a toothache as we left Phoenix and it was quite painful for him. We phoned a dentist in Page but they were full and referred us to a town up the road (Kanab) and we got an appt for the following day. We spent the night at Lee's Ferry on the Colorado River - a real find! Red rock canyon walls and the river right at the edge of the campground - still and quite at night with rushing water sounds to put you to sleep - unless you have a toothache! This is the place where many rafting tours begin.
On Tuesday. we got to Kanab in time for the dental appt. Dr Armstrong drilled the cavity and cleaned the infection and put a temporary cap on Jack's tooth and sent him away with penicillin and pain meds. But for the next 3 days, the pain continued off and on, to the point where we were ready to make an appt for a root canal in a town near Zion National Park. But finally on Saturday, March 28, the discomfort abated and we canceled the root canal appt and are hoping for the best -and will take care of things when we get home and our insurance kicks in and we can go to our own dentist.
40th Anniversery
The week in Mesa, Arizona was wonderful and warm - we love to sit by the pool and read and swim when we get too warm and that was exactly what we did. We met a couple from the town where Mary grew up and had a couple of afternoons of interesting conversations. One day, we drove with the Bloems to Bryce Thompson Arboretum east of Apache Junction and though it was 90F, we enjoyed our walk among gardens and desert plants. The hummingbird garden was in full bloom and had lots of the tiny creatures flitting about and drinking nectar from the flowers. Our anniversery was on Sunday and the Phoenix CRC was celebrating with another couple, their 50th, so we joined the festivities with cake and renewal of vows. Church quicly becomes family when you are away from home. Jack gave me a bouquet of lovely yellow roses and we had dinner at Red Lobster and shared the day with phone calls from family. We are blessed!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Red Sand Beach, Surfers and Kahalui
The final day of our Hawaiian anniversery trip was spent driving back to civilization from Hana. We found a small secluded deep red sand beach with it own protective coral barrier reef. Near Pa'ia we stopped for lunch at Ho'okipa Bay and watched the surf - huge waves and very sad, bored surfers as it was too dangerous to take to their surf boards. What a rag- tag group they are - I think they live only for surfing - certainly not for haircuts or clothing other that swimsuits. We spent our last night a beachside motel in Kahalui just a mile from the airport.
On Saturday,, March 14, we flew back to Phoenix without any delays. Gerry and Dia flew to San Diego. We will meet again at the end of the month in Zion National Park in Utah and travel together as we make our way home.We had left our RV in storage here. The sun is shining and the humidity is 10%. Later this week it will be 90F!
We are now in Phoenix at the same RV park.
On Saturday,, March 14, we flew back to Phoenix without any delays. Gerry and Dia flew to San Diego. We will meet again at the end of the month in Zion National Park in Utah and travel together as we make our way home.We had left our RV in storage here. The sun is shining and the humidity is 10%. Later this week it will be 90F!
We are now in Phoenix at the same RV park.
The Heavenly Road to Hana
THE best thing to do on Maui is to drive to Hana - a small village on the lush windward side that is the way Hawaii used to be before tourism hit. The road hugs the edge of the mountain and had 57 one lane bridges and 617 curves in the road. Many people drive up and back in a day but Gerry wisely rented a cottage in Hana for 2 nights so we could take our time and we did indeed do that. There are many waterfalls along the way and we stopped to see them all - hiked to some and several were right along the road along with pools at their base for swimming. We saw a mountain biker bouncing his bike up a steep hill with huge rocks that he bounced from one to the other in the ascent. At Wa'inanpanapa State Park, there is a lovely black sand beach, a huge blowhole and lava tube caves. Tropical flowers grow in profusion - bird-of-paradise, enormous proteas, ginger, and bamboo forests so dense they waved and rippled in the breeze - amazing!! We saw seveal mongooses (geese?) running after smalller rodents - they were brought to th islands to eat rats but ar now a pest themselves.
Our cottage in Hana was lovely with papaya, banana and mango trees surrounding it and and a mile from Hamoa Beach. The next day we explored some more - found Spam sushi in the local grocery store - Hawaiian LOVE Spam! We also found the grave of Charles Lindbergh buried at Palapala Congregational Church right at the edge of the ocean. Two falls- Wailu and Makahiku - flow to the ocean at O'heo Gulch and the Seven Sacred Pools. The last pool overflows into the ocean - and can be a dangerous place to swim after a rain - but it was quiet when we were there. This area was used by ancient Hawaiian kings as a special place for sacred ceremonies and burials high on the mountain.
Our cottage in Hana was lovely with papaya, banana and mango trees surrounding it and and a mile from Hamoa Beach. The next day we explored some more - found Spam sushi in the local grocery store - Hawaiian LOVE Spam! We also found the grave of Charles Lindbergh buried at Palapala Congregational Church right at the edge of the ocean. Two falls- Wailu and Makahiku - flow to the ocean at O'heo Gulch and the Seven Sacred Pools. The last pool overflows into the ocean - and can be a dangerous place to swim after a rain - but it was quiet when we were there. This area was used by ancient Hawaiian kings as a special place for sacred ceremonies and burials high on the mountain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
