Sunday, January 30, 2011

1-30-2011 - hiking in Kayenta Canyon

This morning John and I went to 9:00AM mass and then came home and changed and packed lunch and picked up Lynn & Dick around 11:00.  We had spoken with a gal last night and she had told us about a trail out by Kayenta that was a nice hiking trail so we headed out there.  We had a wonderful hike even though it was cloudy and overcast and a bit cooler than it has been we still had a great hike.  Once we got back to Kayenta Canyon we found a place to sit and we all enjoyed our lunch.  Dick was meandering around and ended up finding a hiking hat that someone had left behind.  We all enjoyed laughs and good conversation as we hiked the Kayenta wash back to our car.

Lynn and Dick will be coming over for supper around 5:00 tonight.  Tomorrow John and Dick are planning on doing some hiking in Zion and Lynn and I are going to go to see what we can find in Mesquite. 

Another great day!
Hiking to Kayenta Canyon

Overlook down to Kayenta Wash

Kayenta Canyon

Dick found a hiking hat in Kayenta Canyon!

Enjoying lunch with good friends!

John's lunch spot!



We hiked back along the Kayenta Wash on the way back to the car!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

1-29-2011 Hiking in Snow Canyon with Dick & Lynn

We met up with Dick & Lynn this morning around 10:00AM and headed out to Snow Canyon.  On our way we stopped and picked up subs at Subway for lunch.  We ended up hiking 8 miles starting on the White Rock trail and then down into Snow Canyon.  We  enjoyed a beautiful lunch on the top of some of the petrified rocks with a beautiful view of Snow Canyon.  After getting back to the condo by 3:00 Lynn & Dick went back to there condo to get supper ready.  I put on my swimsuit and went swimming while John enjoyed a short nap and did some more reading.  At 5:00 John and I walked over to Lynn and Dick's and enjoyed a delicious dinner with good company.  I am tired tonight - we have been doing a lot of hiking over the last two weeks and I am tuckered out tonight!  I am sure I will sleep well! 










Happy trails!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Friday, January 28th, 2011 - hiking with Lynn & Dick on the Anasazi Trail

Getting ready to hike the trails by Santa Clara (about 10 miles from our condo)

Start of the Anasazi Trail by Santa Clara

Petroglyph's along the trail!


Dick & Lynn smiling for the camera!

View from the bluffs of the Santa Clara River

All three of these hikers are not happy unless they are standing on the edge of the bluff's.  No thank you!

Another great hike - life is good!
Lynn and Dick moved into the condo 5 buildings down from ours today.  They have a very nice condo and it will be great having them in the same area as we are.  We are all getting excited for Paula and Larry to arrive next week to show them this beautiful area.

We met Lynn & Dick around 10:30 today to go hiking on the Anasazi Trail out in Santa Clara.  John and I packed a wonderful lunch and after hiking along the bluff over the Santa Clara river and finding numerous petroglyphs we found a wonderful place that overlooked the Santa Clara River and we sat and ate lunch enjoying each others company and the wonderful scenery. 

After we got back to the condo Lynn & Dick went grocery shopping and I went to the pool to swim some laps while John took a nap.  This morning we put a beef roast with vegetables in the crock pot so Lynn & Dick will be coming over for dinner.  We had talked about going to a movie this evening.  There is a movie theater that only charges $2.00 per person.  Can't beat that price.

Life is good!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Thursday, January 27th, 2011 - Lynn & Dick in St. George

Lynn and Dick came to our condo about 10:00AM this morning.  John and I had packed lunches for everyone and we headed out to hike up to the top of Bear Claw Poppy Trail for a wonderful lunch overlooking the city of St. George.  We had a very nice time and enjoyed the hike and the company.  John and Dick picked on the the two girls - they couldn't believe how we could talk and hike all at the same time. lol

When we got back to the condo about 1:30 or so Lynn & Dick went back to their hotel and planned to come for supper at our condo about 4:30 or so.  After they left I put on my swimsuit and went over to the pool area.  I spoke with the gal at the front desk and she gave me a pamphlet with a number to call for renting the condo's in this area.  I called Lynn & Dick and gave them a number and they ended up booking a condo 5 buildings down from ours in the Sports Village.  There hotel room was quite crowded and this way they have all the comforts of home in their condo plus they will be closer to us and not have to drive to visit and hike with us. 

They arrived at 4:30 and John made chicken on the grill and we had a delicious salad with baked potato's, vegetable, and pudding for dessert.  Wonderful day followed by a wonderful evening with friends!

Tomorrow Lynn & Dick will move into their condo and then our plans are to hike the Anasazi trail in Santa Clara at 11:00.

Life is good!


Dick, Lynn & John at the top of Bear Claw!  When ever you hike up here you are to add a rock to the cairn.  This was my
sixth time and John's eighth time to hike up here.

Gosh I like that guy!

1-26-2011 - biking in Snow Canyon & Dick & Lynn arrived in St. George

Today John got up and went and picked up some groceries while I did some cleaning and laundry at the condo.  Around 10:45 we met up with Dean Lourde and bicyled up to the north end of Snow Canyon (12 miles one way).  Another beautiful blue sky day - we joke how boring the weather is because every day is the same with blue skies and very little clouds and temps in the high 50's or low 60's.  Love it!  Once we arrived up at the top of the north end of Snow Canyon (which is all uphill pedaling) we decided to take the bike trail that follows along highway 18 back to the condo.  What a great trail when you are heading into town.  We biked about 7 miles and only pedaled about a 1/3 of a mile as the rest was down hill and we were cruising with beautiful views of the bluffs and red rock. 

Once we arrived back at the condo we had a snack and then John settled down for a afternoon nap and I went over to the pool and swam for an hour.  Around 5:30 Dick & Lynn arrived and we visited and had dinner and agreed to meet on Thursday morning around 10:00 to do some hiking on the Bear Claw Poppy Trail. 

Our Canadian friend, Dean, biking with us to Snow Canyon!  I snapped this picture as we were biking down the trail!

A manmade pond along Snow Canyon Parkway - there are always people fishing here!

Round About!

Views as we enter Snow Canyon Park!

Taking a break and enjoying the scenery!


Once you get up on the bike path above Snow Canyon you can see for miles!

Biking along the Virgin River!


The flood that hit St. George the third week of December wiped out parts of the bike trails. 

Signal Mountain in the background!


The end of this bike trail until they get the flood damage repaired on this part of the trial!  Don't worry there are a lot more bike trails to bicycle on.

Here you can purchase 1/3 of an acre for $99,000.00!
Another great day!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

1/25/2011 - Company in St. George

Bill & Helen arrived in St. George last Thursday afternoon.  First thing on Friday morning John, Bill, & I went out hiking on the Bear Claw Poppy Trials for a couple of hours.  Then I took Helen and showed her around St. George.  We have had a nice time and John and Bill have gotten to do a number of hikes together such as Observation Point, In Zion National Park, Snow Canyon, and the Anasazi trail in Santa Clara. Helen and I have done a lot of sightseeing in the area and visiting all the different shops and really getting a good idea of where everything is in the city.  Yesterday we took a drive up to Hurricane and then out on Highway 59 to Colorado City.  It was a very scenic drive and very enjoyable.  Tomorrow Bill & Helen are planning on heading to Colorado Springs to spend two nights with Mary Ann and Hugh before they head back to Indiana. 

Dick and Lyn Underwood will be arriving in St. George later this week and we will be busy doing a lot of hiking with them.  On February 1st Paula and Larry Mader will be in St. George and we are anxious to show all of them this special area that we are enjoying every day! 

Tomorrow John and I plan to go biking as we have not biked for over a week.  The weather is still just amazing with it being in the mid to high 50's every day with beautiful blue skies.  I have been hearing from our kids that it is so cold in Wisconsin this January - that is so hard to believe as I spend an hour each afternoon swimming in the outdoor heated pool and enjoying the hot tub that is in this condo complex.

Today we drove on old hwy 91 down to Mesquite and then back on I15 to admire the beautiful Virgin River Gorge. It is hard to believe that we have been in St. George almost 4 weeks now - time is going quickly.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

1/21/2011 - Matt turns 35 today! Hiked up Bear Claw in honor of our son's birthday

Happy 35th birthday son!  Hope you have a wonderful day and a safe trip home to your family!

This morning we got up and ate breakfast and then headed out for a 2 1/2 hour hike up Bear Claw.  Dean joined us and hiked with us for a bit but then went back as he had an appointment later this morning.  John and I proceeded up to the top and took a few pictures and then headed back down.  Each time we go up there we add a rock to the cairn to signify that we have been there.  I have my stack at the bottom so that I know exactly which ones are mine.  Actually on our last hike up there (before we head east) I plan on taking the rocks I have added to the cairn home with me.  So far I have 4 rocks added to this cairn and John has 6 rocks.  He hiked up there once on his own and then once with Dean (I ran errands while he did that).  The other 4 times he hiked up there with me.

 This afternoon Bill & Helen should be arriving and will be here until the 25th.  They had sent a email saying that they were staying at the Grand Canyon last night and should be in St. George by late this afternoon. 

We have heard from our family that it is -11 below zero in Wisconsin.  No thank you - it is in the high 50's in Utah and we like it that way!

Taking a break part way up to the top!


Magnificent view with Pine Mountain in the back ground!


Great hike with my hubby!

At the top to add a rock to the cairn and on the edge - that can't be Kathi? lol

The view in the background is why we hike up the Bear Claw Poppy Trails!
Life is good!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Santa Clara River Reserve - 1-19-2011

View overlooking the town of Santa Clara


Write up by the Farmstead


What had been the "Farmstead" years ago!

Once again, John getting up as high as he can get!

View of the Santa Clara River from on top of the bluff!

Petroglyphs were all over the boulders/rocks on the bluff

I got brave enough to go out towards the edge to get my picture taken but I told John to hurry up because I wasn't staying there long!

What a great hike!

We took off our shoes and enjoyed our lunch on the bluff above the Santa Clara River

John and I headed out about 9:30 this morning and drove approx. 10 miles to the Santa Clara River Reserve.  Yesterday we had stopped at the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and we were able to get literature for a number of additional hikes that are within a 10 mile radius of St. George.  The trail was very well kept and wound it's way past a prehistoric farmstead and a number of petroglyphs on the rocks.  As we continued on 3.5 miles we walked a long way up on the bluff that overlooked the Santa Clara River winding down the canyon.  Beautiful views.  On our way back to the car we stopped and had lunch on top of the bluff and we enjoyed homemade turkey ham sandwiches with tomato, onions, light mayo, and lettuce.  Along with pickles and cucumbers.  Great lunch and beautiful views in all directions. 

On our way back we stopped at another grocery store - we have shopped at 5 or 6 different stores in the St. George area trying to find the one we like the best and of course, has the best prices.  I think old Walmart is going to win out.  We also stopped at the library and then headed home to put the groceries away.  While John made chicken on the grill I took a 45 minutes swim and then came back and we ate dinner.   I am getting totally spoiled having a heated outdoor swimming pool in my back yard along with a hot tub.  Life is good!

This evening Dean and Billie (friends we met from Quebec, Canada) are coming over to see our bike video that Shelly put together of our trip last summer.  It will be fun to see it again as we haven't watched it for a while.

Have a great evening everyone!