What a great vacation.
I was with 2 of my favorite people. We lived together in college, and they're really more like sisters. It's a lot of sarcasm and good natured ribbing, and we're all good at dishing it out. There's no filter, and no kids in sight, so the tone is very college. I never laugh so much as when I'm with them...I don't know what hurts worse, my legs from hiking or my stomach
from laughing so darn much.I really wish my pictures could capture the beauty of what I really saw, but as we all know, it never translates. After driving 5 hours South from Salt Lake, we stayed the weekend in Zion National Park. We spent the first day hiking in Zion, where I got my first lesson in the hydration pack. It's a big plastic bag full of water that you wear on your back, and there's a tube that comes out of it of which you suck on the end to get the water out. Who knew? After expressing my concern about Mountain Lions, my friends came up with a plan for safety. Theirs. It was agreed upon that in case of
emergency, they'd push me toward the cat and run. Fortunately for me, we didn't see any. (In the gift shop, we saw a t-shirt that said: "Zion: Hiked it. Bitched the whole time." They wanted me to buy it.)The altitude thing is weird. When you get outta breath, it takes you twice as long to get it back. And the dryness is bizarre. You have to keep pinching your nose. We took a 2 mile trail that went 800 ft. up. Kinda like walking stairs for an hour. (2 hours round trip.) At
the top, there was a big pool of spring water where people were wading around.The next day we drove on a road that takes you out of the park towards Bryce Canyon. This road was beyond beautiful, and a little terrifying. Big drop offs, and curvy roads. We did Bryce via car. Drove to look-out points, got out, oooohed and ahhhhed, and drove on. No time for a hike, but it must be incredible down there. Then back to SLC...where pt. 2 of the post comes in.
Favorite quote of the weekend:Looking out onto Bryce Canyon,
Me: (quietly) "Beautiful, eh?"
A: (quietly) "Yeah.......I just wish I was with people I liked."
Freakin' brilliant trip.
40 comments:
FYI, the first 4 pics are of Zion, the last 4 of Bryce Canyon.
Nice post. You're adaptn quickly.
Looks like you had some pretty awesome scenery on your trip. You're quite the adventurer.
Not to spoil your hydration discovery, but those have been around awhile; it's called a beer hat ;)
Can imagine the altitude would take some gettn used to. What kinda temps were there?
Woulda liked to a been a fly on the canyon wall listenin to you three (if your buds are anything like you, which it sounds like).
As far as big cats go, just don't show fear..they can sense fear.
Pics really are beautiful..I'm jealous.
Well, the beer hat I've seen...but WATER thru a tube? Genious!
The temps were actually really nice. Couldn't say for sure, as we never watched t.v. I think it was 85 the day we hiked.
The big cats are kinda like the Mormons then, eh? (They liked the "don't look em in the eye" thing.)
Oh, and I was buyin rocks and thought my bloggin buddy (your youngest), might appreciate one native to Utah. Hope she likes purple. I'll leave it in my suitcase so I don't forget it.
Youngest says, "I do like purple. And I only have a few purple rocks in my rock collection. Do B and T have rock collections? And thank you for the rock."
Ahhh...85. I love spring-time temps. Been high 90's for awhile here, altho droppin to high a 92 fri. Yes!
Btw, the youngest comments are just a few a the things she said (I picked and choosed) when she found out you got her a rock.
Actually, she's still talkn.
Got cut short there...had to see the Wings win the Cup. Ohhhh yeahhhh! Too bad they were away, but I'll take it! Phone's ringin off the hook, we're flashin our porch light (to sleepin neighbors).
Good stuff.
So, yeah. The scenery was somethin. Like I said before, everytime I turned around I was sayin "wow". After awhile that got predictable, so I'd go up to a look-out point and do the "so-so" sign w/ my hands, and give a "not so great". Then it turned into, "this one sorta sucks". ha. I'm pretty sure people thought we were nuts.
Reg. rocks...Oh good! No, I guess they don't have collections, but I got Tony a Trilobite fossil and he nearly died from excitement. He's all about the fossils.
Linda,
I loved the camelbak when I was in Thailand and the Middle East, it may have saved my life. OK, maybe not quite. But I'm just now starting to get used to food that is a little spicy. When I was in Thailand, though, I really couldn't take it. Anyway, not being used to spicy food, and the temp being 100 and humid, the camelbak was my friend when I ate the food that the villagers cooked for us when we were out in the middle of nowhere.
BTW,
An alternate title to this post could have been "An Agnostic goes to Zion", I'm just sayin'.
Little S says, " I'm gonna give them a rock each so they can start a rock collection."
That's funny, people were probably talkn more about yalls comments than the scenery.
Darn, forgot about da game.
Nestor, I had to google "camelbak"! I had no idea that's what they're called. Maybe pt. 2 should be "An agnostic goes to SLC". Cuz, ya wanna talk about a minority....
Maybe my joke went over your head. I don't know if Reck got it, but more likely, it wasn't that funny. The city of Jerusalem is referred to as Mt. Zion, and Zion is what the city of God is called. I don't think it really matters what the name of the city in heaven is called, but in scripture they call it Zion. (a new and improved Jerusalem) So my joke, which is getting more and more boring as I explain it, is "An Agnostic goes to Zion" (the City of God) Anyway. Never mind. The agnostic goes to SLC also works, it just doesn't have the double meaning.
R,
Aw...whatta sweetheart.
Yeah, we had some commentary.
Forgot about the game? I'll let it go. Oh!! I wanted to tell you...I got the "icing" comment just yesterday. Remember your 'if it has icing in it, it must be ok', or something of the like? JUST got it.
As far as Camelbak, I think it's gone the way of Q-Tip, Reynolds Wrap, Kleenex, etc. There are many imitations that are called the same thing. Mine actually was a Camelbak though. I liked it because it can carry 3 liters of water and it keeps it cold longer than you'd believe. The one I have also has a couple of handy pockets on it. Carmen uses it now when she runs 10 miles +.
Nestor...yep, went over my head. I knew Zion meant something, but to be honest, I didn't really know what. It's funnier to a better informed audience! (Reck, not me.) Ah well..what can I do....
Well, my "camelbak" sucked. It had this small opening at the top. You shoulda seen me tryin to get ice chips in there in hopes of keepin it cold. Filled it in the bathtub. Long story short it tasted like...um..warm liquid. And plasticy.
Linda,
Congratulations on your Wings. Now if the 'stros win the World Series our whole crew would have a championship this year.
Oh, thanks! That was really exciting. I haven't even checked in on the Tigers. When we're out of the running you can count on an Astros fan up here.
I got it, and no, it wasn't that funny.
I'm kiddin.
Filled it in the tub..ingenious! and don't worry, i didn't know what a camelbak was either.
'Stros..let's hope.
Been readn and now can't keep my eyes open (tho yall probsbly crashed anyway).
\
gna.
Actually, I'm still up...I like to get the last word. ;) gn
Well I won't be rooting for the 'stros, unless maybe the Mets tank it again. But, I'm hoping their hitting will come around. Their pitching has been solid. Not great, but solid. Their hitting has just been so bad. But, the last week has been good, so we've got that goin' for us.
I CAN say I like the 'Stros AAA team. I've been to two games, and they lost both. I have rooted for them though, honestly. I'd root for them unless they were playing New Orleans. (Mets AAA team)
The ol Round Rock Express. Gotta couple a relievers there that have played for the Stros and probably will again. Our farm system isn't as solid as it once was, tho they're buildin it up again.
Mets do have solid pitchin, thought yalls O would be better, but it's a loooong season. Atleast yall aren't as dissappointn as the Tigers have been :)
Har har. Don't you have something you need to go varnish? ;)
Done varnishin.
Actually, what started out as re-arrangin a few things turned in to a full frontal assalt on our house. Did the yard, clean out the garage...it's Dominoes pizza time..NOW!
Have you ever had their Chicken Kickers? Love those.
We went out to this restaurant that had a trivia game. There's a guy who gives questions into the microphone, and you write down your answers and submit em. Pretty fun. Our table was 2nd at the halfway mark. Not bad considering 2of our players were kids. Just outta curiosity, what do the Havics take on their pizza?
I just got the recipe for roadkill from my 6 yr old. It is as follows...
"you take a wodent, hold it by it's tail...and thwow it on the woad. THAT'S how you get woadkill."
Hm. Think he really thinks they're dead BEFORE they're on the road?
Hot and humid days are just, well...sticky. But at around dusk, when the temp drops a little, and you step outside, your skin still cool from your AC...I like that a lot.
(5 bucks to the first person to turn that into a haiku.)
Fixin to watch Charlie Wilson's War.
Well, here's hopen I don't turn into Japanese poetry.
Love the wecipe..weally. Very cute.
Yeah, step outside and it's...84..brrr! Actually, youngest and I got into a water fight while I was waterin back yard. W/ the wind we've been havin, it was alittle chilly.
Ok, the pizza question...
Kids, pepporoni w/ extra cheese..go figure.
S likes lotsa veggies, I like lotsa everything (especially sausage and blk olives and jalapenos and mushrooms and canadian bacon and bell peppers and..well, you get the picture). Oh, must sprinkle the right amount a parmesan cheese. Ok, I'm way outta my spellin league right now, 'cause I'm gettn alotta red, underlined words.
How's the movie?
Ok, the current topic of discussion at the Havic house right now is...just what exactly IS a Red Wing?
Are you guys able to access my blog? I can't go to it. It's kinda like when I couldn't go to GBB way before you guys.
Nest, I was able to access it.
I can get it to, Nestor.
Movie is good...almost over.
The red wing is a flying wheel..ya know Detroit and the auto industry. (You made me hungry detailing the pizza.)
Re: the movie. Yeah, Charlie Wilson won the Cold War..not Reagan ;)
Ok, we get the wheel thing now. Since I have the Red Wings site listed on my blog roll at TH, you'd a thunk I'da known that.
Movie over...dog peed on the bed. Very exciting evening.
Everything B says is cute due to the "r" thing. Not worried about it yet as "r" is one of the last constanants kids master. (I remember something from college.) Hopefully he won't have to go to speech for it like I did.
Actually Tom Hanks ended the cold war.
Have a good nite...
Whooooaaa doggy! Havin a Texas type day here tday. It's already too hot and humid and it's 9 am.
Weird. I tried posting something this morning and the picture'll show up, but not the text. Hmmmm.
Never mind...it's workin now.
That's a great shot in The Narrows there, Linda!
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