Summer Vacation 2012

Clif and I have completed 1 week of our vacation out West.  Although we have had a few snafoos, we are having a great time.  We started out July 14 and headed for Dallas to visit Aunt Bev, and Cousin Jim and his wife Jane.  We had a wonderful visit.  The problem....our camera dropped on the concrete, and after much trying to get it to work, we gave up.  You can see it in the picture!




Then it was onto the Grand Canyon South Rim.  We camped at the Ten X Campground outside the park.  What a wonderful place.  Our next snafoo was all our electronic equipment died, and no way to charge it!  No cell phone, computer, camera, etc.  The camera officially died after this pose.  We had to buy a disposable camera to take the rest of our South Rim pictures. :(



After our 3 days here, we went to Flagstaff for some much needed supplies..ie: a car power inverter as well as a new camera!  When this was taken care of, onto the North Rim we went, staying here for 2 days.  It was so much more tranquil.  The hikes were so much easier too.



We were going to spend 1/2 day at Zion National Park.  This place is an absolute ZOO!  I am so glad we bought a National Park pass good for the year, because if we had paid $25 only to spend an hour I would have been livid.  The problem you ask?  No Parking ANYWHERE, not even on the pullouts.  People were stopping cars in the middle of the road just to get their photos.  A very hazardous situation indeed.  The good news...we saw Mountain Goats.



Over toward Bryce Canyon we ventured.  We stayed at the Red Canyon campground.  We were a little nervous as the sites are in the valley along a dried riverbed.  The host stated that only 6 times last year they had campers stranded in the campground due to flash floods.  He says, "if it happens, just know in 7 hours, the river will be low enough to be able to exit the campground!  I said my prayers.  Thank you God for answering them!



It was great being so close to Bryce Canyon NP because we were able to be in the park by 9:00 and enjoy 4 hours of hiking through the hoodoos.  They say, "take a walk through the Labyrinth (sp)."
They weren't kidding!







We are now headed north toward Yellowstone.  But, the snafoos continue.  Going through Salt Lake City, the car started making a squeaking noise over any bump we went over.  It sounds like something that either has to do with the suspension, or the axles.  We have overnighted here, and will be taking the car into the Chevy dealership first thing in the morning.  Good thing it's still under warranty!  Clif and I both agree that having this checked before venturing into more "mountain" driving is a good cautionary measure.  We are also grateful to have chosen to stay in a hotel rather than camp because a nasty weather system has moved in with gusting winds, rain, and lightning.  Aaahhh, the comforts of a room!  We even got much needed laundry done.  Yeah!

Don't know if I'll have another opportunity to post before getting home.  But we will continue to check in with the boys each time we reach a new destination.  It is awe inspiring to see all the Wonders God has created.  It is absolutely magnificent.  To all Glory be to God! :)