Sight Seeing so far!

Not in correct order....

We visited the Grand Canyon which was a huge disappointment. Jack didn't like that the Canyon was so developed and so very, very crowded. He wanted to leave after the very first stop. We went three more stops and did manage to see the photographers house. Jack went half mile down the canyon at this point, while I waited at the top. I didn't like the Grand Canyon, but I think it was because it was so vast I couldn't connect with it. Everywhere else we went, I was able to feel apart of the scenery, to immerse myself in the nature. The Canyon was just 'there'.

Jack loved the Petrified Forest the most. I think it was because it was not over crowded and not nearly developed. Yes, there were hiking trails and a few other families/people at each stop, but over all we were able to feel the vast, openness of the area. The twenty-six mile drive was wonderful and each stop offered another opportunity to take in the scenery and the history of the region.

I almost forgot about Zion, until Jack was telling the girls about it. Then I remembered this was where he had the most fun running because of the people who commented to him. Several people thought he was older (possibly a college runner) or were impressed with his form as he ran up and down the trails. This was also the place he went swimming in the creek post run and I waded for a while. This was also the only place we saw wildlife. As we parked and walked to the visitor center, a mother deer was curled up under a tree. A little farther down the lane, there were two fawns playing (or eating?) in the grass under a grove of smaller trees. Then as we left the park, right in the center of town, an elk was walking across the road! The elk appeared to have a strained ankle and was limping, but appeared otherwise healthy.

As we left the Canyon to head to a painted desert in UT, Jack fell asleep. He missed the most breathtaking landscape I had yet seen. It may not have struck him the same, so I let him sleep. This also meant I didn't get pictures of the landscape. I thoroughly enjoyed the ninety minute drive.

We did manage to find the 'painted' desert that I had wanted to see. It was five miles down a dirt road, but it was worth it. Most of the scenery had been in shades of red up to this point. Here there was a lot of blues and purples to go along with the red. It was beautiful.

Yosemite was very green. As we drove in at dusk, it was very nice. Here, again, we ended up on a dirt road, this one a single lane, down to a campground where we spent the night. There were no facilities other than a pipe hole toilet. No lights, no campfire wood, nothing. We set up the tent, Jack went running and did a quick clean up with our drinking water. The next morning, we had granola bars and water for breakfast and headed down the the Valley. Jack thoroughly enjoyed his run around the Valley followed by a quick rinse off in the freezing creek. We then went to the Visitor Center and the Ansel Adams museum. It was starting to fill up and we were so glad we had stayed in the park to get an early start.

We weren't going to get to the Redwoods until late afternoon. The choice was made to skip the Avenue of the Giants (I wasn't sure if there was a fee...still haven't checked) and continue north. We made it to Drury and saw some impressive trees and old growth forest. We located the Fern Canyon trail, but were afraid we wouldn't have time to hike it. We turned around and drove another single lane dirt road to see something of interest! We had to ford a stream, which freaked Jack out thinking we were going to do great damage to the rental. We made it and spent a good while hiking through the Canyon.

We got to Portland and Jack looked for a park to run in. We found McLeay Park and Jack truly loved it. He ran many miles and set an elevation record and a recorded speed record for this trail. I walked down the the stone house and took several pictures, one of which I plan to turn into a painting.

That is our trip on the way to Seattle. Minus the Hoover Dam.