Connecting in Colorado

What a wonderful time we had visiting my niece Lori and her family in Thornton Colorado just north of Denver.  This is our first visit to their home; they have come to Kincardine but we never see enough of each other.  It has been 5 years so this was a heart warming reunion.  Some sight seeing on the side made this stop a highlight on our road trip home.

Kyle and Katie: thanks for the games, laughs, hugs and lessons in life.  It was a joy to spend time with you.

Picnic at El Dorado State Park

We saw an eagle's nest  from this vantage point at Lake Barr

Deer at Barr Lake 

Lunch at a European cafe at the foot of Pike's Peak at Colorado Springs 

We took a ride on the amazing Cog train to the top of Pike's Peak.  Thin air up there at over 14000 ft.

This was like being on a plane! 

Perched on top!

Brave Wally

Brave Katie

See the "kissing camels" top left? These amazing rock formations are near Colorado Springs at Garden of the Gods

A tight squeeze!

Lori and Robert: thanks for the above and for sharing your beautiful home and for showing us around your stomping grounds.  Love you all.

Hoodoo'd the Hoodoo?

From Zion to Bryce Little Wally was amazed by the formations.  This one is called Checker Board Mesa.  What's with the snow?

And more snow!

Hoodoos...fairy chimney....Voodoo.  There are many words for these spires which have been formed by all kinds of erosion.  But how did it all begin?  An uplifting or upheaval followed by erosion that is always in progress.  That's a simple explanation.  You would need a lot of time to research this but if you are interested go for it.  Incredible! 

Brrrrrrrr!

Grand Canyon?? No but almost as spectacular.  

Stellar Jay

Trying to smile while freezing.

Amphitheatre of the Hoodoos.  You have to see it to believe it. 

Some info

Wally on the Road

Zion National Park, Utah

The drive from North Las Vegas to Utah was interesting.  Most of the routes we have been taking are through areas  low in population but high in spectacular views.  Rocks and cliffs and formations are surprisingly beautiful at every turn.

Zion has a canyon of sheer cliffs and colourful rocks formed by years of geological events.  We did a quick detour on our way from Las Vegas.  A scenic drive deep into the canyon was amazing.  I was a bit jealous of the hikers and campers since we were only spending a couple of hours.  Actually it was too cool for camping so my jealousy was short lived.

This canyon is the result of water erosion by the Virgin River and many complex events over millions of years.  The results are awe inspiring.  I can't believe how many incredible formations we have seen since crossing the Mississippi back in October!  Every time I think I have seen it all something else overwhelms me.  It's as if the earths crust has been exposed for our viewing.

We drove out of Zion Park toward Bryce Canyon which seemed like separate events to me.  In reality, the geological formations are connected in ways I can't even begin to describe here.  We had to drive through a mile long tunnel and thank goodness we asked ahead of time about it.  We would have scraped the mirrors or another vehicle if we hadn't been told to fold them in.  Yikes!  And no lights in this tunnel.

More spectacular rocks and cliffs! 

North Las Vegas Red Rock Canyon

Arriving at the visitor centre

Lucky to be indoors

The elusive Big Horn?

After leaving the Circus Hotel and Las Vegas  we drove about half an hour to North Las Vegas where friends Sally and Mike live.  They were our neighbours at Voyager in Tucson so we decided to get together again since we were going through their territory.  North Las Vegas is aptly described by its name but it is a separate municipality.  There are housing communities and shopping areas with a much different flavour than the other Vegas.  Sally and Mike live in a beautiful adult community which has mountain views and wonderful amenities.  They have a clubhouse, golf, tennis, swimming pool etc. but also a hotel and casino with great restaurants and movie theatres within walking distance.  

View from an interpretive display

Cwazy Wabbits

Thought we were going to lose him!

Stunning scenery with odd skies

Doesn't do it justice but it went on and on

It was great to see this side of Vegas and appreciate the fact that it has more to offer than "The Strip."  Sally and Mike took us to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a few miles from their house.  We took a 13 mile Scenic Drive through this spectacular portion of the Mojave Desert.  The new Visitor Centre was a great place to start.  Scenic stops on the drive provided great photo opportunities.  Mike and Sally have done lots of hiking there but today it was  cold and there was snow in the air and we were happy to stay in the truck most of the time.





























 There are wild horses and burrows (donkeys) in the park and big horn sheep.  We didn't see the horses or burrows but what a thrill it was to see the big horns.  It is like finding Waldo...they are  camouflaged in the rocks and hills.  But we were able to spot a small group with the help of other visitors and zoom in.  What a thrill!

Sure footed 

Majestic

Colourful formations 

Zoomed!  

Sally and Mike provided the one of the best B&B's we have ever been at!  They have a lovely, warm and welcoming home with amazing art and decor.  They have decorated with pieces of art and furniture they have picked up on their travels.  Beautiful photographs of their travels have been enhanced by their daughter in law, a successful photographer and artist.

Las Vegas and the Jersey Boys

The drive from San Clemente California to Las Vegas Nevada was uneventful but as usual the scenery was interesting.  We were traversing the Mojave Desert again but closer to the hills and it didn't seem quite as remote.  We learned that Interstate 15 through to Vegas has the most fatalities of any other freeway in the country.  Yikes!  It is hard to believe since the road is well maintained and wide.  There was a lot of traffic and I suppose going through long stretches of desert makes people kind of mesmerized and maybe they drive too fast or pass carelessly.  No problems for us.

Getting to our hotel in Vegas was not too difficult.  Thanks GPS.  We stayed at Circus Circus a middle of the road type of hotel with way too many children.  Well, what can you expect...they really have a circus and an adventure dome so lots of people take their kids.  And of course it is spring break season.  I would love to stay at one of the very fancy hotels but the cost is unreal!  Circus was big with lots of gambling ( we didn't do any) and restaurants and shops and of course people watching.  We could also walk easily to the Palazzo where the Jersey Boys were playing and as we walked the Strip we visited the hotels we couldn't afford.  Many of you have been there or seen it on TV so I don't have to tell you about the largesse.  It was fascinating and we would like to go back when we have more time and better outfits.  We hadn't really packed for this type of trip since we hadn't pre-planned it when we left home with the RV months ago.  We were too tired to enjoy the night life this trip anyway.  We did find a nice place to eat that was street side and had a great happy hour.

Seeing "The Jersey Boys" was the highlight of this trip.  What a great story and of course the music and dancing were outstanding.  I can't believe how the words of most of the songs were already in my head even though I hadn't heard most of them for ages.  If we go back to Vegas I am sure we will take in another show or two.

San Diego Zoo

 The big cats were amazingly active!  Wow!
We couldn't believe how silently they jumped.  The mountain lion is all over north America.  It is so big.  The snow leopard gave us quite a show.

So thoughtful!

San Diego Zoo

San Diego is only an hour south of San Clemente.  This was on the bucket list of Ken and Ann and I have always wanted to go to San Diego so away we went.  Ann’s cousin Wayne gave us a break on the tickets...much appreciated.  This zoo is in the middle of the city.  It was built in 1916 and of course has changed and improved over the years.  One of the most interesting features is that it is actually a botanical garden with plants from all over the world growing and being harvested to feed the exotic animals housed there. 

 The layout of the zoo is a bit mind boggling.  There are 3 levels and the 2 dimensional map is not easy to read.  No problem...you can ask guide volunteers or take a bus tour which gives you an idea of how to get around.  We saw many animals that are rare.  It was a fun day and made me feel like a kid again.  We didn’t actually get a good image of the rest of San Diego. It was very foggy as we drove in and when we left it was rush hour so we just wanted to get out of there.  Oh well, the zoo was wonderful!  This zoo is a sanctuary for thousands of animals and is also a living classroom.  It has many rare plants as well as animals and is involved in worthwhile projects and studies. 

I can't remember the names of some critters!  There were many that I had never heard of but  also lots that were familiar.  And always fascinating. 

Nothing like taking your camels for a walk!  We saw someone walking a cheetah on a leash as well but I couldn't get a picture.  

Big Baby!

Meerkats...so cute!

Wart Hog...so ugly!

So colourful and noisy!

So unreal looking and quiet.

Tall and graceful.

Eating leaves...could hear him chewing.