Bechler August 2011!

Last week Robert and I hiked the Bechler Canyon. This marked the 15th year since Jeremy introduced me to the area, and 10 years since Robert and I journeyed here (and I lost all of the skin off the bottom of my feet). This year we hiked about 35 miles in 72 hours. Our packs weighed in at 50 lbs. We stayed at 9B5 (Colonade Falls), 9B8 ("Stewart" Falls) and 9A3 (Dunanda Falls).

Patty said that I will be boring ya'll with this many pictures, but I disagreed. Rather than comment on each pic I am going to provide you with the Top 10 positive and negatives aspects of the trip.

1. The Beauty of Bechler is just as stunning as ever (see pics)
2. Other than some minor pains, we were injury free.
3. Weather was near perfect. Highs 70's Lows 40's. The last night we went to bed with cloudless skies, had two incredible T-storms in the middle of the night and woke with great weather again.
4. No bear attacks.
5. The incredible hot springs of Ferris and Dunanda.
6. Bring enough Deet. (Did the inventor of this get some kind of a Nobel award?)
7. Patty's snacks. We ate well.
8. "Lightload" Towels. These were great. Thanks, Jer.
9. Plenty of rest. We were in bed by 6:00-8:00 every night. The new hammock was great! Thanks, Dalpias'
10. Thousands of red dragonflies in the meadow that eat mosquitos.


Negative:

1. Mosquitos!
2. Horse Flies or whatever those mean, monstrous things are!
3. Other than the black bear and her cub, we saw no other mammals.
4. I can't think of anything else.

For those of you that are familiar with the area, you will appreciate these pics. For those of you that don't know the area, put it on your list of things to do next summer!

Ogden Marathon May 2011

Tessa and Bryan, Heather and Tom, and Me decided to try our hand at the Ogden Marathon this year. The weather was beautiful (for a change) and the scenery was equally so.

I ran the Half and the rest did the Team Relay although many ran much further than their leg.


Here I am looking chipper the night before the race.



A little less chipper after the race.



Heather and Tom coming into the home stretch from the Half starting point.



Tessa was kind enough to stop for her picture after 26 miles.



After the finish line with the coveted medal.



The whole gang ready for another race (someday).



It was really a great experience. I am very proud of everyone for toughing it out.

Zion in March

Recently, we were in St. George and I availed myself of a hike to Observation Point in Zions National Park. The weather was more spring-like, but made for some nice pics and a great experience. I was on the trail early, being probably the first. If anyone doubts the wisdom of the govt. going with the shuttle system in Zions, just go there a couple of weeks before the shuttles start. (yes, I am paying the US Govt a compliment for this insight.)

So, if anyone is missing the scenery, here you go. For those that would like to take a hike . . . let me know.

E. Caribbean Cruise

Pat and I had a great time on our recent cruise during the first week of March. We spent a 7 day cruise with stops in the Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.



We cruised on the Carnival Dream, the company's newest and biggest ship. 4200 passengers; 1500 employees.


When we stopped at Nassau, Bahamas we were parked by this "tiny" little yacht owned by some prince out of Saudi Arabia. Nice to see you gasoline purchases are going to a good cause.



Here we are at the huge Atlantis Resort in Nassau.




Of course, there are always a lot of fun things to do on the ship!



The Atlantis Resort from our stateroom.



This is the view from our stateroom balcony.



In St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), we took a catamarran excursion to Buck Island for a snorkeling adventure. Pat with her sister Sandy and her husband, Jim.



The gals are snorkeling in the Caribbean not a swimming pool as it appears.



Strolling through St. Thomas.



The harbor was congested with cruise ships and very expensive yachts.



In St. Maarten (the Dutch side. The other side of the island is owned by the French.



Sue and Gary Hughes.



Our St. Maarten excursion took us snorkeling again and unto a beautiful beach. These beaches are as nice as we have seen, including Hawaii.



The bathing beauties waving.



I had to take a picture of this yacht which is much bigger than the picture appears. When we were coming up to it on our catamarran, Patty and her sister thought it was another cruise ship. According to our captain it is the largest yacht in the world, costing $1.2 billion. Equipped with its own inboard submarine. Owned by some Russian dude (where do you suppose that money came from?) and he only uses it to shuttle himself between St. Maarten and St. Barth (a distance of about 7 miles)



We had fantastic servers in the dining room from Bali (Ni and Goosey)