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The Cruise--Details

I didn't include more details in the prior "The Cruise" post for two reasons. 1)  I didn't think anyone would be interested; and 2)  This trip didn't include much of the normal topics:  good beer, good coffee or John-style travel. But there are details, which may be useful to some people contemplating how such a trip is put together. On the first day of the trip, we drove three hours to pick up my mother in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  At 85, she isn't comfortable driving for long distances and hadn't flown for many years. We then drove 3 1/2 more hours to Chicago, where we checked into the Wyndham, where you can get a room that includes the cost of parking for up to 12 days.   We were up early on the hotel shuttle to O'Hare, where we then boarded the a non-stop American Airlines flight to New Orleans. Here, we checked into a Hampton Inn near the port.  My mother was pretty tired, so Julia and I went out for a Cajun dinner and live music.   Rememberi...

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I picked Julia up at the Las Vegas airport on Sunday afternoon, and we drove back to Valley of the Gods to spend a couple of days enjoying the state park, along with some together time.


  On Sunday, we hiked the Mouse’s Tank and Fire Wave Trails.




I spoiled Julia on Sunday night with my leftover Thai Curry Chicken with Coconut Milk over rice.

Sunday night,  Valley of Fire enjoyed a second night of severe thunderstorms and downpours.  On our early morning walk, we stopped and talked to a ranger who told us that the higher elevations in Utah were experiencing significant snowfall.  After a breakfast of apple and banana pancakes (Julia’s favorite), we hiked the White Domes Trail.  I had hiked this trail several times in the past and really enjoyed the slot canyon, although it was a dry and dusty hike.  Not that day after the heavy rains.


We then hiked the Elephant Rock Trail.  In the afternoon, we hung out, read books, and cleaned up at the Atlatl Campground’s showers.  Then we went out for Mexican food in Overton.

Early Tuesday morning, we checked the weather forecast for Bryce Canyon and decided to risk the trip.  The predicted highs were in the 60’s, and the predicted lows were in the 40’s. Seemed like a window of opportunity.

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