Saturday 30 April 2011

antelope canyon and monument valley

our 4x4 that took us to antelope canyon
the start of the canyon in the dry river bed

inside the canyon

us at the other end of the canyon

inside the canyon

water and wind have carved the rocks

monument valley entrance

the sandstone buttes



up high!

the cube

us at the visitor centre
canyon king paddle boat


this is now a pizzeria



Thursday 28th April 2011.

Today was a day of of two halves where we had decided that we were going to do a canyon tour with a company straight across the road from our motel, and the second was a trip to monument valley. Our Antelope Canyon tour was booked for 9.30am where we were put onto the back of 4x4 pickups with big wheels like monster trucks. The trip to the canyon was out of the town a couple of miles and then along a few miles of sandy river bed where they needed 4wd to get us there. The trip in was really cool, it was a v8 ute and it was really beefy as it ploughed through the dry sand. Once at the canyon we were shown through by the driver to give a run down and then we had about 50 minutes to spend walking back through as many times as we wanted. We took loads of photos as the light on the walls of the carved out sandstone was just amazing to look at. The light captured the lines in the stone with the shadows falling across the rock with brilliant shades of pinks and oranges. It was hard to take photos as there was so much light from the top but very dark in the base where we were. The trip took just a bit less then 2 hours where we went back to our car, got some lunch and then headed to Monument Valley.

Monument Valley was 195km drive from Page and took us just two hours to get there. The sandstone buttes are just amazing, the view is spectacular and you really need to be there to get the most out of it. The photos do look good, but real life is just so much better. We entered the park and followed the 17 mile trail which does a loop around a few of the buttes. We got some really nice photos of the valley as we made our way around the loop track. Once at the end we went to the visitor centre where we took some photos from the edge of the valley with three buttes in the background. A drink from the shop and then the 2 hour drive back to Page.

On the way back into town it was now dinner time and we wanted something different. We had seen the day before a paddle steamer which had been moved to dry land and placed next to a bar. The boat was in the river at Lake Powell up till 2008 where it was purchased by the owner of the bar. The boat then was moved and converted to a pizzeria restaurant. The pizza was delicious and I would highly recommend it if you are in Arizona.

Tomorrow we head to the Grand Canyon which is only about 2 hours from Page. We are then going to be in Las Vegas where I will catch up with my brother as he is there for work.

Friday 29 April 2011

bryce canyon

dixie national park with zion in background
entering the red canyon

red canyon

red canyon

entrance to bryce

sunrise point



walking to queens garden

one of the many view points

rainbow point



natural bridge

the bridge

utah prairie dog

mule deer

a tribute to butch cassidy


Wednesday 27th April 2011.

Today we had about a 200km drive to reach Bryce Canyon, part of this drive takes us through the scenic byway which cuts through Dixie Forest. The drive starts off going through a canyon until it reaches a plateau where you can see Zion National Park in the distance. Along the way through the canyon it was about zero degrees and there was plenty of snow on the sides of the road. You could see where the snow and ice had melted during the previous day and had run across the road. Most of this was just pools of water. As we travelled we came around a corner and you could see some ice on the road. I slowed down and went over the ice but directly after the ice was what look like water, wrong! it was black ice. The car lost traction and slid to the side and felt like we were going to do a 360 spin. A little bit of professional driving kept the car on the road and avoided near death. Well at least a crash anyway. I think Cassidy nearly had an accident in her pants, (-:

We arrived safely at the entrance to Bryce where we paid our entrance fee and set off armed with the map. There are numerous walks and vantage points all through the park. We started off at the sunrise point where we did a walk down into the canyon known as the Queens Garden. From there we drove the length of the park stopping at all the listed viewing areas.

On the way out of the park we stopped and looked at some mule deer that were grazing and took some photos. There were also prairie dogs that had come out of their burrows. The prairie dogs were so cute and some of them were even doing their call which was also very cute.

We had about a two hour drive at the end to get to Page Arizona which is now taking us closer to the Grand Canyon. Hoping to be at the Grand Canyon by Friday..

Tuesday 26 April 2011

antelope island

bison statues on antelope island
lookout on island
coyote
view over salt lake

bison grazing

us on the island

bear statue at a roadhouse on route to cedar city




Tuesday 26th April 2011.

Waking up this morning and out to the breakfast room to be confronted with snow on the car and still actually snowing. Salt Lake City was having some cold and wet weather for the next few days which included a fair amount of snow. Today we had planned to travel to Antelope Island which is situated in Salt Lake. It was about a 50km drive which included driving on the causeway to get to the island. We paid our daily entrance fee and headed to the visitor centre to have a look. From there we had our map of the island so we started travelling around the island taking in the sites. The island is home to many different animals including bison, coyotes, bighorn sheep and deer. The bison are the most well know of the animals and there are about 500 to 700 on the island at any one time. Each year they heard the bison and sell off some so they can keep the numbers consistent.

We managed to see some bison and a coyote which crossed the road right in front of us. We got some good photos of the view across Salt Lake of the snow covered mountains. The view was quite spectacular even though it was a very cool day, only about 10 degrees. We spent to about 1.00pm on the island and then headed back off the island and grabbed some lunch. We were now heading for Cedar City which was only about 450kms away. Cedar City was going to be our next stop and the gateway to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.

salt lake city

on the road to salt lake city

salt lake city


Monday 25th April 2011.

Today was just one full day of driving to get from Ontario to Salt Lake City. It rained and snowed the entire way which was fairly cool but after 600km of it, it was nice to get to the hotel. Once checked in we decided to go to the Gateway shopping centre to have dinner and go to a movie. We had Applebees for dinner and then went and saw Arthur. The movie was great and well worth seeing. Tomorrow we head to Cedar City and then onto Bryce Canyon. Before we leave Salt Lake city we are going to go to Antelope Island and have a look at the salt lake and the bison.

Monday 25 April 2011

crater lake

road to crater lake
more snow as we get higher

some roads closed


clearing the snow at visitor centre


snow fight


throwing snow


entrance to the park


snowing, how beautiful



Sunday 24th April 2011.

Today we leave Medford and head to Crater Lake to see if this year we are able to actually see it. Last year we stopped off here and could not see anything because of the fog. The morning was raining and a bit overcast but appeared OK. We set off with a two hour drive to the lake. With about half an hour to travel the road turns off the main and you head up the mountain. A few minutes in and the road get snow on the sides etc. A few more minutes in and the road is totally covered in ice! We continue on and it starts to snow fairly heavily, thank god we have a 4wd this year. As we get closer a snow plow meets us on the road who was flying along, I thought he was going to run into us. We get to the top and the place is deserted and they are clearing the snow from around the visitor centre and it's totally overcast and snowing. There was no way we could see the lake even though we were only a few metres from it.

We turned and drove back down stopping at the park entrance to throw some snow around. It was then back in the car for about a 5 hour drive to Ontario Oregon which is where we were spending the night. We arrived at Ontario at about 6.30pm which was now 7.30pm as we had crossed into mountain time. Tomorrow we head to Salt Lake City.

Sunday 24 April 2011

san francisco coit tower

houses around alamo square


alamo square with painted ladies in background
driving down lombard st
the jeep can do it!

view from coit tower to lombard st


coit tower






view from tower to golden gate


san francisco fire truck



Saturday 23rd April 2011.


Today it was time to get up early and leave San Francisco heading north to Medford Oregon. But before that we wanted to check out a few places around town. The first one was Alamo Square to see the 'painted ladies' which are the row of houses that you see as you look from the park towards the city. The park is also the location of the theme and start of the show 'Full House.' The location is great, it's on the top of a hill which overlooks the city and other parts of the suburbs with a 360 degree view.


From there we went to Lomabard St so we could drive the car down this time. The first time down we took a photo of us in the car, the second time down I got out and Bronte and Cassidy drove down so I could get some photos of them.


Next stop was the Coit Tower, built in 1933 it stands 64 metres tall. It was a short lift ride to the top which gave fantastic views of the bay, the city and bridges.


It was time to leave the tower now heading to Medford. We are going to try and see Crater Lake this year, last year it was fogged in and we could not see it.

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