Wednesday, February 16, 2011

2-13 to 2-16-2011 - Solomon's in St. George

John and I picked up Marilyn and Gary at the Las Vegas airport on Sunday morning.  We decided to go to lunch before heading out to Hoover Dam.  We went to the Southport Hotel/Casino for their Sunday buffet and then headed out of Vegas to the Hoover Dam.  The skies were a beautiful blue and very comfortable temperatures.  We parked the car and then walked out over the dam and then decided to go up to the new bridge and walk across the bridge.  (Yes, even Kathi walked across the bridge)  What an amazing work of construction to build that bridge.  If you ever get a chance to go see it I strongly recommend it. 

We headed back to St. George and drove thru the Virgin River Gorge and got the Solomon's settled in to the condo.

 On Monday morning John, Marilyn, and Gary hiked up to the Bear Claw Poppy trail while I went and did some errands.  We came back and had lunch and then just drove around the area and went out to Snow Canyon to hike back to the White Rocks Amphitheater and then walked on the Petrified Rocks.   It is Valentine's Day so John and I had bought rib eye steaks for everyone so we came back to the condo and had a wonderful dinner.  After dinner Marilyn and I went over to the pool and swam some laps and enjoyed some good exercise and good conversation.   It was a great day!

On Tuesday we decided to go out and hike the Anasazi Trail in Santa Clare.  We picked up subway sandwiches and then went out to hike.  We stopped and admired the petroglyphs and then found a great place to eat lunch overlooking the Santa Clara River.  From there we went to the Kayenta Coyote Art Gallery and looked at all the beautiful art in the stores there.  After that we went and walked along the Kayenta Wash out towards Hellhole Canyon.  Marilyn and I both came back with pockets filled with rocks that we gathered as we were hiking along the wash.

Wednesday we decided to head out early to Zion National Park as the weather is predicted to get windy and cold later this afternoon.  When we first arrived at Zion it was starting to sprinkle so we went to the visitor center and watched a 20 minute video regarding Zion National Park.  After the movie we decided to do a short hike right behind the visitor center - it was an archeology hike to  where there had been a Anasazi home up on the bluff.  We hiked further along the bluff and spotted a lot of animals tracks and scat.  As we were hiking we saw a large jack rabbit running away from us.  The wind was starting to pick up a little so we decided to get in the car and drive up thru the tunnel and do the Canyon Overlook hike.  The scenery is so beautiful and you see several amazing slot canyons and then of course at the end of the hike is the view of the canyon.   We then got in the car and headed up towards Checkerboard mesa and ended up seeing three big horn sheep sunning themselves on the side of the cliffs.  We stopped and took out our picnic lunch and sat in the sunshine watching the sheep as we ate.

John had mentioned that he would like to ride our bike down the switchback.  Of course, my first reaction was absolutely not.  However, he came to me and told me that it is something that he would really like to do so I said I would ride with him.  So on our way back down the canyon, once we got thru the tunnel, we unloaded the bike and John and I rode the bike down the switchbacks to the Zion Corridor with Gary & Marilyn following behind in our car and taking a few video's and pictures of us biking the switchbacks.

At the bottom of the switchbacks Marilyn and Gary hopped on our bike and rode it to the end of the Zion Corridor and then back to the visitor center.  Approximately 16 or 17 miles.  It is an absolutely amazing ride and we were so happy  that we were all able to ride our bike in Zion.  As Marilyn and Gary were biking the wind was really picking up and the temperature was getting a little bit cooler.   There was sand blowing all over and Marilyn commented that she felt like she was being sandblasted.  Gary complained of grit in his teeth but they both enjoyed the ride.




I have asked John several times since we arrived in St. George if we could go out to Grafton which is a ghost town outside of Rockville.  We had time today so we headed out there after leaving Zion.  We drove aways on paved roads but then it turned to a rutted dirt road.  The Mormon's settled in Grafton originally to grow cotton but then found out that they needed the land as a food source.

 Grafton was first settled in 1859 one mile below its present town site.  In January of 1862 the town was completely washed away by a flood.  The peope rebuilt the town a mile further up stream at its present site.  By 1864 about 28 families lived here.  There were many log houses, a post office, church, school and community hall.  The town was deserted in 1866 due to Indian attacks.  The people moved back in 1868.  By 1920 only 3 families still lived here.  Grafton had parts of several movies shot here.  One movie that was partly shot here was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. To find more about Grafton you can go to the following link:  http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ut/grafton.html

Today there are only 4 remaining buildings standing in Grafton along with a cemetary just outside of the town. 

When we arrived back in St. George we went out for a delicious chinese dinner and then came back to the condo - another great day!
Grafton was first settled in 1859 one mile below its present town site. In January of 1862 the town was Grafton was first settled in 1859 one mile below its present town site. In January of 1862 the town was completely washed away by a flood. The people rebuilt the town a mile further up stream at its present site. By 1864 about 28 families lived here. There were many log houses, a post office, church, school and community hall. The town was deserted in 1866 due to Indian attacks. The people moved back in 1868. By 1920 only 3 families still lived here. Grafton has had parts of several movies shot here. One movie that was partly shot here was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
completely washed away by a flood. The people rebuilt the town a mile further up stream at its present site. By 1864 about 28 families lived here. There were many log houses, a post office, church, school and community hall. The town was deserted in 1866 due to Indian attacks. The people moved back in 1868. By 1920 only 3 families still lived here. Grafton has had parts of several movies shot here. One movie that was partly shot here was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

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