Saturday, June 7, 2008

Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef

I'll try not to be too sappy - but can I just tell you how much I LOVE Southern Utah - Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park in particular?!

When I first married Todd, he didn't understand my obsession for the Utah desert - slowly, through the years, he sees what it is that I'm drawn to and even likes it now when I drag him down there.

If you have never been to the red desert, make a plan to go sometime because pictures just don't do it justice - especially MY pictures because I am not a great photographer. This place is just down right perty, I tell ya!

I have a lot of memories in Southern Utah. My family vacationed there frequently when I was young and I loved being with my extended family - the super fun Boyacks (aka "BoJacks"), the Burnsides (game loving party animals that they are), and especially Grandma and Grandpa Stevens with their warm and cozy trailer and stove that made the very best hot chocolate! Ah, memories. I'm a lucky lucky girl.

And here begins my narrative. Ahem.

Connor and I arrived at Bryce on Wednesday - it was COLD - and being the naive and trusting individuals that we are - we didn't think it would actually SNOW in June, so we didn't bring coats. I'll never make that mistake again.

This is the path to the rim of Bryce.













We met a few friends on the path who were enjoying some meditation and tai chi. Connor started talking to them in a really high-pitched girly ("hi friendly little deers") voice and they ran off. They were pretty ticked. As was I.










I was embarrassed and whisked Connor off to the rim, scolding and sputtering at him under my breath.

And here is the view from the rim! WOW. Just wow.










We always make it a habit to visit this cemetery. My pioneer ancestors lived in Cannonville and Georgetown (now a ghost town) and some are buried here.













Seth and Lydia Johnson's graves, my great-great-grandparents.












An abandoned home and farm in Georgetown. I would love to find out the history of this home.










On Thursday, we took a jaunt up the beautiful highway 12 to Capitol Reef NP.

Near Capitol Gorge.










An old pioneer school house.






















We have plans to go next month again and cheer on my bro while he runs in the Bryce Canyon half marathon. (Yes, I had originally intended to run in this race, but not surprisingly, I have not trained at all sufficiently. So - you can expect a "laziness" rant about that in the near future. Goodie for us all).

As always - it was a fun trip!


If you look closely in the pictures - you might see slivers of my heart. DOP!! I promised I wouldn't delve into sap territory. Oops.

10 comments:

Janell said...

These pictures are gorgeous! Looks like a great trip!! Regarding formatting - when you are writing your post before publishing, there is a little icon that kind of looks like an eraser, it is the very last icon on the right (two icons from upload images). This button removes any formatting. So, when I am having problems with things looking one way when I am writing and another when once they are published, I'll go back, highlight the entire post, then hit that button. Usually it resolves whatever crazy issues are happening.

Hope that helps!!!!????!!! (Just remember this is coming from someone who just the other day realized you can change photo sizes once you've uploaded them!! In other words - take this with a grain of salt ... )

Redhoodoos said...

Thanks frumpy for your help with my formatting issues. I can't seem to make it work no matter what I do. I knew I could count on you for advice, though! Thanks!

Pancake said...

I LOVE your pictures!!! What a great trip!!

AND thanks yet again frumpy, I had NO idea you can change the pictures after you entered them!!

Anonymous said...

GREAT PICTURES!!!!!!

I WANNA GO TO UTAH ONE DAY!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I have learned to Love Bryce mainly because I have discoverd the beauty of Jodi. Bryce becomes more and more beautiful to me each time I see it. Simply put, I see the passion for Southern Utah in Jodi's face and that makes me love her even more. It has become a way for me to draw closer to her. Like the canyon, she is filled with serenity, color, majestic beauty, she survives with little cultivation, and holds so much safety within her walls. Her strength is her honor and she supports her own through all perils.

Todd

Anonymous said...

Aaaaw....that is soooo sweet what you hubby just wrote about you!!!

i can tell he adores you or maybe he just wants a good Father's Day present!?!?!

just kidding....he DOES seem genuinely sweet & loving toward you !!! :)

Redhoodoos said...

Can you just see why I adore that guy?! =)

kitchenditcher said...

My car is on auto-pilot from southern california to Provo. However, I always make sure I'm awake when traveling through your area. It is breathtaking!! Can we come live with you?? lol

Dolly said...

Redhoodoos-
Glad you made it to my area! I'm just before Bryce Canyon in Cedar City. We've been here for 17 years and still love to go up the mountain! My boys have been so lucky to camp all around the area. We always go to Navajo Lake for fourth of July. I knew there was snow up there because it snowed here Sunday :) Melted right away though!

The Broad Squad said...

What a gorgeous area!!! I wish I could see if for myself, but for now I live through your pictures!