Wednesday, April 30, 2014, Move With Kate to Salt Lake City, UT

Moving day again. This one was a little longer than average at 272.7 miles (7,941.5 trip/67,422.6 total). We set up camp in a very nice, practically new park, Pony Express RV, just north of downtown Salt Lake City, UT. Since Kate was along for the trip, she took pictures from a slightly different perspective. She recorded the coach in its traveling condition with everything stowed.

The mountains made a very nice backdrop for the journey as we headed north into the heart of Utah's Ski Country.

Salt Lake City is very compact and modern looking - we will be exploring it in depth over the next week. The first order of business at the new site was some relaxation. I should have worn my hat then my nose would not have been sunburned.

Pony Express RV Park was very well situated for exploring Salt Lake City, so close to downtown.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014, Chinese Tourists Love Kate, Sam and Joani in Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

Our last full day in Bryce Canyon National Park, UT, and it was a beautiful one! We thought it might be good to take in the Ranger talk on the park's geology again. While we waited for it to begin, a rather large group of Chinese tourists spotted Joani, Katie and Sam. One of them asked if she could have her picture taken with them. After that, there was another and then another. There were probably a half dozen before it was all over.

Katie, Sam, and I must have looked very "American."

These very friendly Chinese tourists from Beijing spoke very little English, but said "thank you" and told us where they were from.

As it turned out, Sean (our favorite Ranger) was giving the geology talk today and it was quite different (there was less about dinosaurs and more about rocks.) We learned what makes Bryce unique - the sedimentary rock vertically fractured over the years through tectonic uplifting coupled with the climate that includes more than 200 freeze/thaw cycles per year. Water collects in the cracks, then freezes opening the crack just a bit wider. When it melts it continues deeper into the crack and then refreezes and opens it a bit more. It goes a bit deeper with each freeze/thaw cycle until rock breaks away leaving columns behind.

Monday, April 28, 2014, Peek-a-boo Trail With Kate, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

After studying the maps and quizzing several of the Rangers, we (Joani, Kate and I) had a plan to explore the bottom of Bryce Canyon National Park, UT. Of course, we were only going to see a small part of it, but it was going to be a challenge just the same. The plan started at Sunset Point and headed down the Navajo trail (1.3 miles).

It was very steep and included a lot of switchbacks. I was very happy our plan climbed back up a different way.

Bryce takes on quite a different look from below.

We headed up the Wall Street trail from below. The trail was closed at the top due to some unsafe conditions. Eventually, every trail through every canyon will meet the same fate. It will just happen on a geologic time scale. Obviously, the Douglas Fir below has been growing in close quarters for quite some time.

This was as far as we could go on the Wall Street trail (1 mile), so we headed back to the Peek-a-boo trail.

I would have been more worried about Kate posing near the rock below if she had told me she could feel it vibrating. Maybe I should have felt it myself.

The Peek-a-boo trail (5.5 miles) was very challenging, but we had all day.

A few times the Peek-a-boo trail passed through a fin. Each time it did the window concentrated the wind until it felt like it was blowing at 100 mph and it never stopped!

We stepped aside several times to let the horses pass. We also had to step aside to avoid the steaming piles the horses left behind.

The wind was so strong in this tunnel, we could hardly stay on our feet.

The Queen's Garden trail (1.8 miles) is a short spur trail. Can you spot Queen Victoria? We never would have without the placard telling us where she was (upper right corner).

The climb back up to Sunrise Point was daunting but worth the effort.

We were told by a Ranger that Sunrise Point and Sunset Point were named arbitrarily and are not the best place to see Bryce at sunrise or sunset. Bryce Point is better for sunrise and Inspiration Point or Paria View are better for sunset (1 ½ hours before sunset for the best lighting).

Sunday, April 27, 2014, Viewing Wildlife With Kate in Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

Sunday morning while at Ruby's Inn RV Park outside Bryce Canyon National Park, UT, it was brisk once again, but being acclimated now it didn't even slow us down. Snow on the car - who cares? We were out the door right after breakfast with a plan to explore the length of the park. 

Kate wanted to see some Utah Prairie Dogs. As luck would have it, she asked just as we were passing the meadow where they live. I quickly stopped and we watched them for a while. They certainly are cute.

Just a few hundred yards down the road we found a herd of mule deer who were not opposed to posing for a few candid shots.