October 30. 2009 by Merilee.

October 30, 2009

Sedona, Arizona

We have landed in beautiful Sedona just ahead of the big snow storms that hit the West this week.  It has been cold at night in the 30’s but warms up during the day nicely.  The cold weather caused us to eliminate a week at the Grand Canyon.  The weather forecast there called for low 20’s at night.  The last thing we need is to get snowed in at the Grand Canyon!

Brad has plans to jeep the legendary “difficult” rated Broken Arrow trail while we are here.  This time I hope I am calm enough to take some good pictures of the ride.  It is amazing scenery.

The deserts-capes with the red rock formations are easy to love but the Zonians are the most aggressive drivers of any state we have RVed in.   This is a picture taken looking into the town of Sedona from Schnebly Hill Road.  It is a very rough jeep road that is very popular with the jeep tours.  It has panoramic views and is jaw clenching bumpy to shake up the tourists and give them some bang for the buck.

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October 23. 2009 by Merilee.

October 23,2009

Blanding, Utah

Natural Bridges National Monument is a unique high desert environment that contains three massive natural bridges.  This image is of Kachina natural bridge that is 210 feet high, a span of210 feet and 93 feet thick.   Kuchina is the Hopi Indian name for spirit.  Armstrong Canyon joins White Canyon just downstream from the bridge; floods in each canyon abraded opposite sides of the rock fin that later became Kachina Bridge.

It was our delight to find that once again the National Monuments are unique and special places that have wisely been preserved.  The weather this morning was 41 degrees with a stiff wind in the canyons.

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October 9. 2009 by Merilee.

Moab, Utah

October 9, 2009

Thought you might like to see a pic from our jeep ride down into Long Canyon through our favorite Pucker Pass.  This was our first off road jeep ride back in May ‘07.  I swear this boulder has moved since our first viewing back then.  Yes, we have to drive under it!  Anyone wondering why I am walking behind and taking pictures?

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October 3. 2009 by Merilee.

October 3, 2009

Moab, Utah

Brad snapped this picture of me while setting up to take a panoramic picture of Canyonlands National Park from high up on the Shaffer Trail.  Unfortunately my picture taking during the scenic ride that day was a failure due to my camera.  I shipped it back to Nikon Repair Center this morning.  The pains of separation anxiety are starting to set in.

The jeep ride deep in the many canyons within canyons was just amazing from all angles. We stopped at the location where they filmed the ending sequence from the movie Thelma and Louise where they drive off the ledge into the Colorado River.  Drove by the rock monolith that Tom Cruise climbed in beginning of Mission Impossible 2.  Brad’s picture gives you feel of the rugged red rock canyon walls and the salmon colored sandy ground.  It is truly a special place!

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