It's so....grand....

That Grand Canyon...wooo...

And we're off to the last state before our final destination.... California here we come!

Did some camping and hanging out on the beach, where the water was numbing, painfully cold...sad...then started the drive up thru Santa Barbara and up route 1. All the way thru Big Sur and Monterrey.

First little detour, Elephant Seals! The beach was covered with them... when we pulled off, the little squirrel in the picture immediately jumped up into the grill of the car. Why? you might ask... Let's recap... Jack Rabbits.. they are everywhere. Freaky looking creatures..in that cute hoppy kind of way.. well, they aren't that smart.. for some reason, on the drive to Havasupai, the bunnies on that road must have been having a bad day, because one proceeded to throw itself in front of the car, rabbit suicide at its peak. There was simply nothing I could do except laugh and be sad at the same time. Liz insisted I was a horrible person for killing the bunny with the car, and I kept explaining that it just came out of nowhere and there was nothing I could do! Whatever...silly bunny... I do feel bad. ANYHOW...next day, Liz's turn to drive out of Havasupai... oh look! ahhhhh suicide bunny again! Once again it thru itself at the car, and died. Not our fault once again... I proceeded to laugh hysterically at this odd turn of events, while she felt sad for quite a while. Anyhow, Mr. Squirrel found a lot of bunny meat in the grill of the car, and refused to get out until I turned the car on to scare it. Hahahhaha.

After that stop we continued on towards Big Sur....interesting little community.

Little book stores, big trees, great pizza, creepy dancing, amazing tree houses.

Yes, the white mountains meet Zion and it is called Yosemite.

After Yosemite we headed to San Francisco and then drove up the coast, thru the redwoods, into Redding to see Mike and Tracey and then on to BEND... final destination...

That was all a month ago...yes late post. Been rocking it in Bend...maybe sooner then later we will post a Bend blog. Yes, after two weeks I knew..that I could live out of my car and roadtrip forever.

ARIZONA WINS (Las Vegas does not)...

...at containing by far the most beautiful thing seen thus far. However first a stop in Vegas to seem my very hospitable family.

As is our style, dogs...wherever we stay...Tyese LOVED (to squeeze) Bugsy.

Lastly there shall be a little album of Havasu falls. The night before we slept in our sleeping bags in the parking lot on top of a butte (the best sleep I have had all trip)..among many other hikers doing the same. Since we are competitive we managed to get out and down the canyon before anyone else (Tyese and I high five-ing now in remembered success). The hike down was ugly, ugly, ugly, well desert anyway. Then out of no where! Oasis.

The hike out was long and hot and far. This turned out to be about a 30 mile day. Then more driving to the Cali coast where we are now. Finally now that this is done.....we are going to the beach. Catch up later in San Fran if all goes well.

Our Apologies...

..for not posting more. I hope you have all hung in there and not stopped checking. Utah was impossible with cell service or Internet access or even camping sights (Below is Tyese sitting in a bathroom trying to post). Southern Utah is full of nothing in that completely charming way that we can't shake. People now irritate us...large crowds irritate us......back to posting from Utah...and its beauty...

Bryce: Finally a long hiking day. Tyese loved the easy breezy 15 miles to get our car sitting butts a moving. (Yes, for anyone that wondering my cookie habit is continuing strong.)

The chipmunks as seen above were exceedingly friendly...why I am not pictured is because I literally ran away as they (yes about 5 of them) tried to pounce on my cliff bar.

Zion: Huge and as described to me, "The place kinda engulfs you almost like a fish." I was not let down. It is big and right in your face. One of the favorites so far. When you look down or look up it gives you that dizzy feeling. Who is up for coming back? Doing canyoneering with me and the narrows??? (I guess whoever is still watching our blog...hahha...)

Our picture do not do it justice.

Waves: The waves are an interesting story. Contrary to our prior belief we thought we could just role into town and hike it like any other national park...but it isn't a national park, it is a land conservation area.

Turns out...you either reserve 4 to 5 months in advance or win a lottery. Tyese being the hero she is, assumed we would win the lottery. Morning arrives and we drive out to the sight of the drawing. Literally NO ONE was on the road leading to this place (confidently in my head I think, "HA we are the only ones, this is in a bag....). Out of NO WHERE the parking lot is packed and crawling with people in fancy shpancy hiking gear (similar to Tyese's recently purchased $9 sleeping bag). So we fill out the little form...get assigned #42 and wait for the lottery to begin. I immediately decide that we are not going to win so start browsing the brochures to see what else there is to do in town...Tyese announcing to our 72 competitors that WE ARE GOING TO WIN. I try and shush her but before I can....number....42 is drawn....so pretty, exclusive, waves here we come. Yes we are WINNERS not just at lottery's but at life.

Laugh now?.....

Tyese is my favorite.

After this hiking into the back country...our way out was more difficult then anticipated. Everything in the desert looks the same. We got lost and got a healthy respect for the desert and how confusing it can be. A few hours later we made it back to the car with the much missed ac. Now the drive to Las Vegas...woot! city here we come.