This blog, a favorite for the record, has four options for the viewer.
1. Close immediately, realizing you hit the wrong button; return to watching football; or
2. Ignore the text and photographs and proceed to the end to watch a musical video; or
3. Read text and view photographs but ignore video; or
4. View everything after deciding to show misplaced loyalty to Lawrence and his Camel(ia).
Tracks in the sand or perhaps a 'line in the sand before a desert storm'.
After leaving Zion National Park, we headed for Bryce Canyon to slow down a little. One does not need
much time in Bryce or to the contrary, one can spend a lifetime there. There are thousands of different shapes
of eroding sandstones, each in a form identifiable with a little imagination. The hikes are good, too,
particularly those that lead down into the canyon and allow one to wonder about the amphitheater and gain
interesting perspectives. The hoodoos are more attractive at level viewing or from below. As always but more so
in this region, light is a critical factor in optimizing views. (Bryce pictures are a little lower down as we
have been a little besotted with dunes. The video shows much more.)
Pink coral...we get it as light plays with sand and dust.
Golden grass below the dunes.
"Which way now, Lawrence?" 'I'm looking for Camelia.'
We love the great state of Utah, particularly the southern region. It's another beautiful and unique
part of the United States. A funny thing happens as we cross the border on each occasion though. We think of the
Mormons, people for which we have much respect and in the case of some men, admiration. In fact, we were
thinking of adopting one of their customs but making a minor modification. The idea of having ten or so wives
is an intriguing concept and we would like to explore it further. After a while, we realized the responsibilities
that some Mormon assume are too much for us—we recognize our many shortcomings. Not to be waylaid so to speak,
we decided to pursue the concept further. Would it not be a better thinking should we give up the idea of ten wives
but...and here's the point: Have ten girlfriends instead. That, we think is a smart idea. We probably should
run it past the editor first. Now that's really smart thinking!
'What is she doing?' "She's having something to eat because of all the 'sandwiches' that are there."
Sunset on another occasion.
Our own interpretation of molars. Perhaps, too late for flossing.
My Camelia shows her stuff as she prepares for a dune roll.
You win some, you lose some. Anyway, there's always next time
The weather hit us in Bryce after we completed the Peekaboo hike. We needed the rest on Saturday
but it was extended through Sunday. When we awoke, our editor's wish had come true. The area was blanketed
in snow. She forgot that the beauty of fresh snow brings with it icy conditions. We had our crampons with us
and headed to a trail. By the way, the temperature at the trailhead was 14 degrees F. We stood at the commencement,
felt our hands, which were wrapped in gloves, freezing as well as faces frozen and so returned to the room to thaw.
The plan was to go out again at 2pm when the temperature was due to rise to 30 degrees. We tried but the weather did
not cooperate and for a second time, returned to the lodge. We don't ever remember being in weather that cold while
the sun shone brightly.
Thor, the Hammer hangs out along Navajo trail, an adjunct of peekaboo.
We went back to the dunes, a favorite pastime these days, for a sunset.
Camelia, making her way slowly at first before accelerating. Having the dunes to ourselves made
all the difference...we didn't have to wipe away our footprints either.
Onwards to Kanab, a small town in Utah which is the gateway to the world-renowned Coyote Butte's
hike or 'The Wave'. The number of admissions is limited to twenty persons per day, a hike that has world
attraction. Of the applications, ten are taken from 'walk-ins' on the day in the form of a lottery. Suffice to say,
we were the seventh in line but with forty-five people in the draw, our chances weren't good. Unfortunately,
we missed it but will try again on the morrow. The luck of the draw is a terrible system to rely upon.
We tried again the following day and alas, the result was negative again. Time to move from Kanab.
A close knit group awaits the incoming snow.
Lawrence makes his way towards the top.
Sun provides a golden tint to a lucky few.
Just to give you a heads up on her progress.
Enough said.
We returned to another set of dunes, this time the Pink Coral ones of Utah. Once again, it proved to
be a wonderful opportunity to explore and 'let the hair down'. The editor is very fond of the desert,
particularly dunes and so we were able to de-mature and have an awful lot of fun while exercising the muscles
as we traipsed and trotted in the soft and very soft sand. We had the area to ourselves so upon arrival, apart
from a few tracks left by buggies, the dunes had a virgin covering of sand. All tracks left at the park were ours.
So streamlined, it could almost fly. Actually, it does and especially as a dust storm.
The changing light, the varying colors on our second visit, late afternoon.
The video below highlights some of the features of Bryce Amphitheater and the dunes at Pink Coral State Park in Utah.
To break the pattern, we threw some blue water between the hoodoos and sand. Should you still have the energy, click
the arrow.
Click arrow to watch video, listen to Brian Murray sing with Neville Stanger on bass. They're
better than the pictures.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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