Turning the Page

So we arrived in Page Arizona for the last day of the trip. We set up shop in an area called Wahweap just off the shores of Lake Powell. We only had one day so we decided to do a couple hikes and stop by the Glen Canyon Dam. It's about the same size as the Hoover Dam and is almost as impressive. The highlight was our first little hike in a local slot canyon called Antelope Canyon. It's on Navajo Nation lands and by guided tour only. It's a bit pricey but worth the cost. There is a lower and upper section, we did the lower. It's longer and less crowded with similar beauty. This canyon has been photographed and published all over the world. There are many named areas in the canyon and if you look closely at the pictures you can see why. The title image is called "lady in the wind" and the picture below is called "the wolf head."

"Pirates Hat"

The "Mason, Izzy, and Hailyn pose for a picture."

"Sunrise over the Rockies"

The "Tall Dark and Handsome Guy"

The "Smiling Shark from Finding Nemo"

After this excursion we headed over to Horseshoe Bend for a hike to a river overlook. My lense isn't wide enough to get the best shot but it's a very dramatic bend in the river and a very long drop off the cliff edge.

We ended our last night in camp with a fire and some Smores for the kids. It was a nice way to end the trip and get ready for home. Our original plan was to stay in St George for a night but with Amber going home and weather coming in we called it a wrap.

After a beautiful week of new places and adventures we headed home. How does the road home decide to welcome us you might ask? In typical Utah fashion...7 hours of miserably windy, snowy, poor visibility slow going crap. Thank you.

Isn't Life Grand

So our journey continued. We headed south out of Moab towards the Grand Canyon. It was a beautiful drive even though it was a bit solemn and a small cloud hung over our trip. We decided to make the best of it and push on. The kids were great, they missed mom but were still excited about things ahead. We drove through a place I have always wanted to see, Monument Valley. It is well known for old western films and the place where Forrest Gump decided he was done running. It was a beautiful sight.

Then after a long day behind the wheel we arrived. Truly a grand place, like nothing I had ever seen before. It just goes and goes and seems to have no end to the vastness below. Hard to imagine a river was able to carve out such a large portion of the world and leave such a beautiful scar behind. I guess to a degree it's the same thing I hope for through our journey. This struggle for Amber will be the river cutting the scar that someday looking back has become some beautiful site to behold. A place we protect and recognize for it's value and never ending mark it's left on our past that will be ever present in our future.

Such a little doll

Never ending scenery

So we arrived to the end of the line at a place called Hermits Rest. It was a neat old place full of history surrounding the original development of the area. There on a column was this Bible verse.

Enjoying some fruit push ups.

So we hiked some of the Bright Angel Trail, went to multiple overlooks and museums, watched an IMAX film on the Grand Canyon and took in everything we could for the time we were there. Our last night we decided to stay late by the canyon and catch the sunset.

Not all of our party was as excited as the rest of us. Someone thought it was cold and she was tired and ready for her camper.

So our Grand Canyon time comes to a close with Page Arizona in our crosshairs. We will experience a couple more hikes including a world famous slot canyon who's pictures have graced the pages of books and internet galleries in abundance.

It All Starts in Moab

I had originally planned to give updates along the way but due to technical difficulties my computer was unable to charge so I will now be catching up. This was to be our first big trip together in the mobile living set up. Moab to Grand Canyon to Page Arizona to St George and then home. Like all things we plan they don't always go the way we had in our heads. This trip started out with a water leak that got us on our way two hours later then expected. No worries, we fixed it up with the rip off price of RV parts then got under way. Moab was gorgeous, 80 degrees and sunny with a larger than normal spring break crowd. Who cares...it's sunny and warm. Our first hike was to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands. It was everything I had hoped for and like all sites in the national parks included a very large amount of friendly Asian tourists. Brad and Rita decided to join us for the first leg of the trip which was nice. It later proved to be a life saver.

We continued to explore Canyonlands which was a lot of fun and such a unique place. So vast and wide open country. It proved to be a nice warm up to the Grand Canyon.

Next stop was Dead Horse Point State Park just outside of Canyonlands. I guess it was made famous back in the day as the site Thelma and Louis launched there car off the cliff in the end. Who knew?

Amber Lee a little close to the edge for comfort.

My Izzy B

Utah's iconic arch is located just outside Moab in Arches National Park. This is a nice little three mile hike up slick rock best done just before sunset. We felt up to the challenge except Hailyn, who was hot and decided it was best to remove her shirt and ride dad's shoulders.

The Delicate Arch

Trail on a cliff

Little Baby Rae

No trip is complete to Moab without a little off road action. We didn't have much time so we did a quick run through Fins and Things just outside Moab. It was a great way to break in the Jeep.

Nice place to enjoy the view

Well done son, well done...

All good things must come to an end. For Amber it was the end of the line on a vacation that was to be her break through after 18 days of hell. She was so excited for this trip and for time away and relaxing. Her body didn't agree. She got incredibly sick and was unable to continue. Through many tears and pain she had to say goodbye. Brad and Rita selflessly gave up the rest of their trip to run her home a day early. I am so grateful for them and there willingness to help her and all of us out. It broke my heart to continue without her. There were many tears. My partner, best friend and mother of our children had to submit to circumstances out of her control...yet again. I know there is a lesson in this for us. Someday I hope to understand. For now, I decided to continue and give it a go with only me and the kids. It's what she wanted and what we felt was best. It was incredibly hard but to be the right decision in the end. So our trip will continue, we started with seven and only four remain.

18 Days and Counting

Well it's finally over. She finished 18 days from hell and now we wait. She has been sick, miserable, suffering from insomnia and overall just feeling awful. So here is where the hoping starts, hoping she starts to feel better and hoping this made some sort of significant difference. Time will tell. For now the plan is to take a break, eat healthy, rest and start to recover. I'm not even going to go into a Plan B for now, hopefully there will not be a need. In the meantime thank you so much for all the prayers and support. For those reaching out from far away and for those right here in the thick of it spending time with her, supporting her, making her laugh and showing her the love. I appreciate all of you and thank you so much for everything. Maybe we will be hearing from her soon. Either way, it's the start of a new day.