2013/07/09 – Tuesday – Vacation - Day 19 - Hikes and Exploring

After getting up, we needed a few items from the store, so a shopping we went.

Once we got everything gathered up, we headed out for our first hike of the day.  Once we determined which one to do, we headed that way to Mossy Cave Trail hike.  This canyon had some water running in it.  Once at the location of the two items, we explored around the waterfall and then over to the “Cave”, which was an overhang with water trickling under through the moss.  That hike was about 1 mile round trip and we spent about 30 minutes there.

Next hike was at the far Southern tip of the park, called Bristlecone Loop Trail.  We finally got there and started our hike.  It is on the rim of the area.  The hike was about 1.1 miles round trip and we spent about 45 minutes exploring the area.

We returned to the RV for lunch and we wanted to make sure Turquoise was ok, and he was.

The last hike of the day for us was going to be moderate.  We headed back into the park and started the Navajo Loop Trail.  This trail starts at the top of the rim and head downhill. The view going down and going up are really cool with high cliff walls and very tall trees growing between very tight canyons.  The climb up was steep with a lot of switchbacks and we had to go through a small “tunnel” more like an arch along the route.  The hike was about 2.2 miles and it took us about 1.5 hours.

Now that everybody was tired, we still haven’t done all the viewing areas on long the route, so we returned to the southern end and proceeded to stop at all the viewing areas all the way back to the main entrance. 

We stopped at the visitor center so Amanda could get her JR Ranger booklet reviewed and she can get her badge this makes it her 55^th completed.

We started looking for a place for dinner and we finally decided on a place about 3 miles out of town.  The food was good, but it is not that cheap.

Before heading back to the RV, I decided to head out for a little adventure down a dirt road to a reservoir.  On the way there I had to hit the brakes hard because a doe ran across the road.  Once at the reservoir we made our way around the lake, we were able to see deer, a spring, and ducks with ducklings

Back at the RV, Turquoise is still not 100%, so we had to do a little cleaning up.

Offloading all the photos for the day will take a while.

Tonight I was told to make sure my light-stick was turned off because it is after “quite hours”.  I guess my light shines to bright.

2013/07/08 – Monday – Vacation - Day 18 - Troubled Dog and Bryce

The night was not a good night for Turquoise.  His system is not treating him well.  Twice in night he had to go out.

We got going a little after 9:00, within the morning drive before lunch we had to stop for him again twice.  His system is really not doing well.

Got gas and went into town.  I found a Post Office so we went around the block to park and mailed off some stuff while the others had their lunch.  When I returned I had my lunch.

We stopped at one of the campgrounds near Bryce Canyon National Park, but they were full, so on to the next and they had room and we are even closer to the park.

After setting things up, we went exploring.  We stopped at the visitor center and Amanda got her JR Ranger booklet and now we know what we are going to do.

We do go to two different overlooks and took pictures.

Back at the RV, Amanda cooked dinner while Mom M and I went and washed the rugs that needed cleaned.

One of the things that Amanda needed to do was a Ranger lead program so by 9:00 pm we were attending a program.

Back to the RV so we can explore the park tomorrow.

2013/07/07 – Sunday – Vacation - Day 17 - Drive Over/Under

Mom D, Mom M and I got up early so we could take Mom D to the airport.

Once back I loaded the van onto the tow-dolly and got things ready to go, but it was way to early for everybody else.  I did a few computer things and straighten up around the RV.  Now it was time and the rest of them got up and going.

Our first stop was for gas, but first I missed the exit I wanted, so we went to the next one, but that gas station was not easy to get into, I had to do a u-turn.

Once you “leave” Denver you start to climb, at one point we were down to 25 mph.  Up and over hills, through tunnels, and over the divide

Now on the West side of the continent it was time for lunch and some more go go juice for the RV.

The last hour getting to nights stop involved more climbing up and down hills, but we finally made it to Green River for the night.  We stopped for another tank of gas before heading for the RV campground.

Cheryl made dinner.  Mom M, Cheryl and I then walked the dogs around the park twice.

Now back in the RV to relax…

2013/07/06 – Saturday – Vacation - Day 16 - Pictures and Park

We left for our exploring about 9:15 with a quick return back to the RV for something that was forgotten. 

I was instructed that we had to stop at Starbucks so a few people could get their fix.  Next stop the van needed the necessary fill-up.  Then we stopped to get the necessary food for lunch.

We finally made it to the park and we started our journey up the original route over the mountains.  We stopped at several places along the route. 

We finally made it to one of the falls and it was time for lunch, so after exploring we ate lunch.

So on up the dirt road to finally we reached the pass.  Amanda was then able to turn her JR Ranger program over to a ranger to review and then give her necessary badge for completing it

We then continued on the loop back to the East and again stopped at several places to take more pictures.

When we reached town it was time for dinner, this time we went to a place along the main strip in town.

Back at the RV, Mom M and I went and did laundry.  The driers were bad, it took $2.50 and they still were not completely dry.

Tomorrow will start rally early… So good night a little early…

2013/07/05 – Friday – Vacation - Day 15 - No Space & Late Night

We left on time a little after 9 so a good start for the morning.

We drove past Denver to the RV park that we had picked out.  We arrived about 11:30, but they had nothing available for us for the two nights.  After leaving, I stopped and did some more research, the first call could not accommodate us but the next place could.  So I drove back to Denver to a not so good location and expensive to boot.

We got everything set up, unload the van and now on our way to the Rocky Mountain National Park.  What a long trip up to it from where we are camping!

First we stopped in Estes Park visitor center and found out that was not the park visitor center.  We finally found one of the park visitor centers where Amanda got her JR Ranger program book.

After touring the park a little bit, it was now time to eat some dinner.  Dinner was a good place, but a little bit on the higher side of the price.

One of the things that Amanda has to do in the JR Ranger program is doing a ranger lead program and tonight they were having an observatory talk.  It was really neat!  She also was able to complete a special JR Ranger program for the night sky (which is a different program)

We finally made it back to the RV about 11:30 tonight.  Today was a long day!