Bryce and Zion, Utah 6/27/2011-6/28-2011

The Junior Ranger book was fun and insightful. It included taking time to sit alone to think about the Canyons, write poems in Haiku (5-7-5) and Cinquain forms (I had NEVER heard of this kind of poem, but Kendall had! Here's to 5th Grade English!!)

Cinquain
Topic
2 adjectives
3 verbs
How it makes you feel

Bobby at Bryce...same view 30 years ago on the 1981 trip!

Clair and Kendall at Bryce Point Overlook. Looking down into Bryce Canyon and the evolution of that wearing out of the earth leaving the fragments of red, liquid stone.

Beautiful formations at Bryce Canyon at Paria Point

Andrew (12), Jordan (17), Alexander (19) and Kendall (11) at Bryce Point

The view from Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon. It looks so much like "Silly Sand." It is hard to believe it has eroded from wind, rain and freeze-thaw cycles to result in this type of formation. Looking down into the Canyon, people are the size of ants down on the trails.

JJ squeezin her momma Mugsy at Bryce!!

Bryce Canyon (Haiku)

Shifting sandstone rocks
Balancing spires of stone
Molten waxy forms

What an incredible drive into Zion!! In 1981, Margaret (aka Mugsy) was just getting her drivers license and drove the original Vanagon on this road into Zion. She remembers the switchbacks but not much else...probably because she was white-knuckling it driving in. Actually, I am quite surprised Grandpa gave up the wheel on that one!

There is the Green Chili Relleno headed down into Zion Canyon. There is a natural "Amphitheater" up ahead of the truck on the left which is carved out by the wind.

Zion Canyon (Haiku)

Towering canyon
Overhead looms high above
Red stone, white rimmed peaks

Rubio at the campsite in Zion. Directly across from the camper and over a small ridge is The Virgin River. It was quite cold but very refreshing after a warm, dry day in Bryce and Zion. Hmmm...The closest showers are in the next town! Washing our hair in the river was a delicious dip. Just across the river is a "town" complete with shops, smoothies and movies. We purchased floaty rings so "the kids" (including Bobby and Eric) tubed down the river! What fun - the first taste of white water! (kindof a "white trickle")

(Cinquain)

Vistas
Majestic, Glorious
Rising, Falling, Soaring
My soul is uplifted

Andrew thinks his new shades from Alex are sooooo cool!!!

How do we cook.....Let me count the ways...

Caught at his favorite store looking for ammo!

more Bryce...with "The Boys"

and a hammer of course, "Thor's Hammer!"

Grandpa white-knuckling the drive into Zion...only because he's remembering Mugsy drove it in '81!

Who's winning here? It's Alexander and Kendall vs Andrew and Jordan playing Badminton at Zion.