Grand Canyon / Williams Arizona

Grand Canyon/Williams Arizona 

 We took the Grand Canyon Train from Williams AZ up to the Canyon for my birthday. Before we got on the train itself there was a comical Western skit that prepares you for what the train ride will be like. There are cowboys and a sheriff that stay in character the entire train ride.  They also had live music and on the way back the train “got robbed” by the bandit cowboys. They actually had the cowboys ride along side the train on horse back. The train stops and they board  and “steel” everyone’s money. (Essentially it is their fun way of getting a tip) the kids had great fun “being held up” by these goofy characters.  

It was a rainy and cold day and it began to pour outside the moment it was time for us to get off the train, so we all made our way to the trolley and rode it over to the visitor center.  Once the weather cleared we walked around the rim and snapped a couple pictures before it was time to head back on the train.

That evening we went to dinner in Williams at Pine View Restaurant. Everyone enjoyed the homey atmosphere and the massive and delicious pie we had for my birthday dessert. 

The town of Williams if right off of route 66 and since it was rainy and cold the whole week we stayed in town most of the time.  We walked the rainy streets of Route 66 and went in and out of the shops that touted metal 1950 sighs and southwestern apparel. The kids were happy to swim each day in the indoor pool.

On Friday it began to snow which was concerning to me because Saturday morning I was signed up to do the Grand Canyon Half Marathon. We went back up the the Canyon to pick up my race packet and walk the Bright Angel trail.  This trail descends all the way to the bottom of the canyon. We walked on it for only about 2 miles because it was freezing outside, extremely steep and because watching the kids walk near the sheer cliff made me woozy. 

 The next morning we all got up super early and drove an hour back to the Grand Canyon for my half marathon. It was in the 30s outside and a super high elevation trail run, but the scenery and the joy of running were totally worth the effort.  I was happy to place 56th out of over 1,000 runners whoo-hoo! While I ran the kids and Wes went back into the park and were the only ones on the early morning trolley. They spotted a fox and an elk.

Mid week we drove to Flag Staff to visit Rick Farmers’ Aunt Cindy and Uncle Ken.

It was fun finally meeting them in person, and getting  to know them a little better. They took us to a great BBQ place that was in the heart of down town Flag Staff. We all thought the down town was really cute.

Salt Lake City Utah and Zion National Park

Salt Lake City Utah-

Saturday- We set up camp and took the kids  cousin Casey Farmer out to get Ice cream. 

Sunday- Church and Lunch at In-n-Out! We were all happy that we were in a state that had an In-n-out! That night we drove down town and went to Temple Square. We walked around the visitor center for a bit and then went to visit GRANDI BENNION! She lives only minutes away from the temple and we went to her home and visited with her and AL (her husband) for several hours. It was a sweet time of fellowship and precious to watch Collin tell his 90-year-old grandi riddle after riddle. I am always amazed at her kind spirit and witty personality. We were very grateful for the time we got to spend with them.

Monday- School in the AM and in the evening we went over the Farmer cousins' house for pizza and to play Mafia!! The kids were so excited to see the Farmers (it had been 4 years) and to play one of their favorite games with them.  We all had a blast connecting and meeting some knew great people as well.

All the boys accusing Wes of being Mafia,
and they were right! 

Tuesday – School/Work

Wednesday- We went to In-n-Out with the Farmers and Susan Farmer's sister Katie Weaver. 

Thursday- School/Work

Friday- We went to The Leonardo Art and Science Museum in downtown Salt Lake with Stacey Farmer and her husband Geren as well as their two cute kiddos (Guy and Marshall) and Stacey’s parent Judy and Richard . The kids all liked the art aspect of the museum, as there were many hands on activities for them to participate in. After we explored the museum we went to dinner at a pizza place and were able to visit a bit more. It was a great time getting to know them more and sharing with one another about life. 

Note- The RV Park that we stayed at was surrounded by cotton trees. It was very windy while we were there and the air swirled with cotton. The ground was layered with it and it appeared as snow. 

Zion National Park~

Emerald Trail

Emerald Trail

Zion quickly became one of our new favorite locations! Zion is unique  because you are able to  stand at the bottom of the gorge  and be fully surrounded by slick rock and hanging "gardens". 

Emerald Trail

 For  our first hike we took the tram into the park and then hiked the Emerald Pool Trail. Easy 2 hr hike that led to several water falls and a pool of water that looks green because of the foliage that grows in it. 

Pa'rus Trail 

 The kids and I went back to Zion mid week without Wes and went on a walk on the Pa'rus Trail. This trail meanders along side  of the Virgin River. It was super hot that day so we took some time to sit at the rivers edge and the kids floated branches down the river while the older girls and I enjoyed listening to the sound of the water pouring over the rocks.

           The Narrows         

The highlight of our time in Zion came at the end of the week. We had heard so much about this stunningly beautiful hike in the Virgin River and it was hard to wait until Friday for this  amazing adventure. We all got up early in the morning packed lunch and snacks for our long hike and set out on the hour drive to Zion. Once we arrived we rented all our "gear”. We wanted the kids to have an enjoyable time and to be able to spend as much time in the river as possible, so we all got our water hiking boots, walking sticks and the little kids geared up in wet suits.  The water in the Narrows is cold, often times swift moving and the river bottom is full of uneven rocks, so having the right "get-up" is essential. We hastily walked the mile long River Walk Trail to the Rivers edge, and then enthusiastically plunged into the river. We stumbled a long at first trying to figure out how to walk in this new environment . Soon we got the hang of it and as we trudged along we became more and more captivated by the beauty that surrounded us.  Completely surrounded by towering Rocks with water seeping from  them. 

We wandered up the river for a mile and as the rivers current became greater Lacey’s desire to continue on lessened. So we turned around and followed the current back down river stopping along the way for the kids to jump off rocks and splash back into the water below

Another fun experience we had while in Zion was visiting and getting to know some other Full Time Families. The women who started a group that we are a part of  called "Full Time Families" happened to be in Zion the same time we were . Wes connected with her on face book and we went over to were they were camping and had a potluck with her family and several other families that all were all  camping together.  It was fun visiting with other people who   can relate to this adventures lifestyle. It was also interesting because they were "boondocking" . This is were you do not have any hook ups and you are completely living off your own reserve of water and generator. They were also staying on BLM land , which is public land that is free for anyone to stay on. It was fun  being out  in the open desert letting the kids run free all over.

~ The rest of the week we took a couple of days and went to visit St . George Utah, I took the kids  to the the mall there and Ally was excited to go shopping. ;-) . 

It's all Fun and Games Until "Someone" gets Lost- Arches National Park Utah

Moab Utah-Arches National Park 

Delicate Arch - 

Broken Arch

      The 3rd day that we were in Moab it was over 90 degrees in the sun so we decided

Tapestry Arch

 to wait until evening when it cooled down to go on a hike. We set out for a relatively easy hike to Sand Dune Arch. Everyone was having an awesome time running around barefoot in the red sand and climbing on the easy to reach arch.  After playing on the arch we all put our shoes back on and continued the mile long loop trail to Broken Arch. Once there we fiddled around took a few pictures before caring on to the last quick turn off on the trail to Tapestry Arch. We scrambled to the top of the incline and sat right below the Arch resting for a bit and admiring the evening sky as the sun began to set and the first star came out.  

  Realizing we may had gazed at the sky a bit to long we gathered everyone up and encouraged everyone  to walk as quickly as possibly back to the trail so we could reach our car before the black night came on. Not intending to stay as late as we did and not realizing how far we still had to go, we did not think to bring a flashlight with us. My phone died as we tried to use the flash light app I had on it.

Going UP

    We reached the campground that intersected the trail and could  barely  read the signs that directed us back to the loop because the night’s darkness had snuck in so quickly.  Aware that we would have to continue the trail in the dark we  all jogged for a bit until we hit a cavern that the trail descended into. Apprehensively we proceeded down the uneven slick stones and held onto the towering rocks on one side of us, avoiding the steep drop off on the other.  Once we got out of the cavern the light was not to be found and neither was the trail. We had taken a wrong turn. Where we should have continued following along the rocks we ventured out into the open field of small bushes, cacti and desert critters that were beginning to awaken for the night. After 15 years of marriage nothing had to be said between the two of us to understand that something was  wrong. I quickly picked up Lacey who was now beginning to cry, placed her on my back and the kids all said a prayer.  After what seemed like a very long 20 minutes Wes spotted the rock that he remember our car was near.  To me all the rocks looked the same so I (blindly both figuratively and literally) followed him until he had found the trail again.  Relieved, a bit scratched up from the cacti, and tired from the long walk we made it to our car safe and sound. 

Park Avenue

Day 1- Sunday Evening Hike to Park Avenue  

Park Avenue

Easy fun hike that drops into a huge valley surrounded by massive rocks. Ally wanted to take a picture of Shelby hugging a big rock and Shelby insisted on finding a "good lookin rock" instead of an ordinary one .  This became their phrase for the week. 

   Day 2 - Delicate Arch 

Stacks of rocks like the ones to the right of us
are used as trail markers. 

This is the  most popular Arch in the National park. Although the day we went was not too crowded.  Moderately strenuous hike that we all thoroughly enjoyed. Once we reached the arch I went under it first , briefly glancing at the sheer drop off right behind it. Wes and I cautiously walked the kids under it and had someone snap a quick shot.Then we all quickly went back to safer ground.  

On the Way Up

Double Arch

Window

Day 4 - North Window, South Window and Double Arch. 
Mid morning hike since this was the day after we got lost and we were not going to risk evening hikes again. Double Arch was my favorite , it reminded me of a natural cathedral . Every word we spoke echoed off the rock walls around us. The Windows Arch was windy enough to blow you off your footing. We all braced ourselves as we looked through it down into the canyon below. 

Canyonlands

Day 5 - Canyonlands National Park 
Beautiful long drive to Canyonlands. Because it was only 34 degrees outside and lightly snowing we only got out of the car briefly to take a picture of the enormous canyons.






Day 6 -  I enjoyed an eleven mile run in the 
quietness of the Arches National Park. Perfection.  Also took the kids to play in the red sand Dunes.  We went into the town of Moab and "found Mater the Truck" 

Dunes

                            

          Day 7- It rained all day so we couldn't go hiking. Instead we went into town and had lunch at Moab Diner. After Lunch we went to the Arches visitor center and watched a video about how the Archers were formed .