Mike, sorry for the delay. It's been a busy couple of weeks with the trip and showing Beth's cousin Allan, who is from the U.K., around.
We met Russ and Mary at the Rock Springs Cafe at 0700 on May 28th, in Black Canyon City for a four day trip through northern Arizona and southwest Utah. After a hearty country breakfast, we put the KJ's into the wind and headed north to Monument Valley.
The next morning we got up early, had breakfast at the hotel and then made our way to Canyon de Chelly, where we hired our Navajo guide. The trip through the two canyons was a real experience seeing the 1,000 year old cliff dewlings and all the rock art.
We were only able to get half way through the second canyon. We came across a muddy water crossing we couldn't get through.
The third morning we were up early again. It was off to Cottonwood Canyon in southwest Utah and a hike through Willis Creek Slot Canyon. Beth and I made it throught the first canyon, but being old farts, we went back to the KJ while Russ, Mary and Allan hiked a couple more miles through the rest of the slot canyon.
On the fourth day, Russ, Mary and Allan got up at 0400 to go over to Zion NP to climb a lookout to get some sunrise pictures of the park from above. When they returned, we all had another good breakfast at the B&B we were staying at (Allan sure loves pancakes and American bacon).
After breakfast we split up. Beth, Allan and I made the 60 mile one way ride on a dirt road to the the Toroweep Overlook of the Grand Canyon's northwest rim. Then we headed back going through Colorado City (a remote Morman community that practices plural marragies, which was lead by Warran Jeffs before he was arrested. From there we headed over to Coral Pink Sand Dunes SP over a pretty sandy trail before it turned into asphalt at the park entrance. Mary and Russ did their own thing and went back to Zion to do some hiking.
The next morning we said our goodbyes and left for home after yet another hearty breakfast.
Beth's cousin Allan, suited up this morning and headed off to California for his bike/camping trip up the Pacific Coast Highway.
It was a fun trip, with a lot of miles on dirt roads. Nothing ********, except for the water crossing we couldn't get across because of the mud.
Here are a few of the 728 pics I took on this trip...
Beth in Monument Valley at dusk...
You must be registered for see images attach
Russ by the canyon wall in Canyon de Chelly...
You must be registered for see images attach
The only tough spot on the entire trip. The mud here was too much for Russ' KJ. He might have made it with MTR's...
You must be registered for see images attach
Russ had no choice but to take the strap to get out of the mud...
You must be registered for see images attach
Beth, Russ, Mary and Allan at the entrance to Willis Creek Slot Canyon...
You must be registered for see images attach
Russ climbing up the canyon wall for a photo op...
You must be registered for see images attach
I'm waiting for Russ to post the pic he took from this vantage point...
You must be registered for see images attach
Russ on his way down where the canyon narrows at the entrance...
You must be registered for see images attach
Inside the slot canyon...
You must be registered for see images attach
Exiting Willis Creek Slot Canyon after the first set of narrows...
You must be registered for see images attach
One thousand year old cliff dwellings in Canyon de Chelly...
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
Coral Pink Sand Dunes SP in southwest Utah...
You must be registered for see images attach
Beth's cousin Allan, trying some trail 'survival' food - Ritz Crackers, squeeze cheese and a Vienna Sausage...
You must be registered for see images attach
Up close and personal...
You must be registered for see images attach
The trail a mile from the northwest rim of the Grand Canyon...
You must be registered for see images attach
Toroweep Overlook of the Grand Canyon (Wells Arizona #1). The canyon here is one mile wide, 3,000 ft straight down AND no guard rails. Less than 5,000 people a year visit this spot because of it being so remote...
You must be registered for see images attach
1KOOLKJ on the trail...
You must be registered for see images attach
The Colorado River at Marble Canyon, where the Grand Canyon begins...
You must be registered for see images attach
Being from the U.K., Allen couldn't get over how easy it is to purchase a handgun and carry openly or concealed here in Arizona. I took him to the shooting range to shoot a few of my handguns.
Here's Allan showing off his dark side, holding an AK-47...
You must be registered for see images attach
Allan leaving for his seven day bike/camping trip up the Pacific Coast Highway...
You must be registered for see images attach
Till the next run,
AJ and Beth
