Took the bike today to ride through Sedona.  Went up 89A through the Coconino National Forest and Oak Creek Canyon.  Nice ride.  Scraped the pegs a couple of times today!  Headed towards Atlanta, GA tomorrow.  Going to meet up with my brother Keith and his wife Michele.  Just random pictures attached from today.  Had a picnic in Oak Creek Canyon.  Sedona way to much of a tourist trap for us.

Can’t see us but that’s us under the bright lights of Vegas. Everyone should experience the night time energy of Vegas at least  once.  It definitely will put a charge in your batteries! It is a unique kind of town.  Can’t see it but there is a parking lot next to this sign and you have to wait in line to get your picture.

Here are our hosts with the mostest Larry and Linda.

Best buds – Larry and Alan. They went fishing in the morning on Lake Mead. Said they caught several fish thisssssssss big. Notice how there are no pictures to confirm that the fish were thisssssssss big.

Venetian Gardens where Larry and Linda treated us to dinner.

This whole town has deserts to DIE for.

Larry and Linda will be building a new home – the front door will be this big. Opens with such a gentle push.  And you can see all the way through to the view in the back which is Lake Mead.  Beautiful.

This will be the his and her shower. I bet you could fit six! Sorry Linda, had to do this!

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Just had to say it!

Had a great time with Larry and Linda in Vegas.  So glad we stopped to visit.  They really are wonderful hosts.  All ready promised to come back when the new house is done.  I am sure it will be filled with love and laughter.  Linda promises that we will be most comfortable as guests.  Larry and Alan are best buds.  Little do they know that Linda and I have made several plans that don’t include them.  Shhhh, what happens in Vegas……………

Travel day today

Even though you can’t tell this is me rolling my eyes – we were suppose to get an early start

Remember the leaky valve – nah not so – mechanic put first patch, mechanic put seconded patch, this is mechanic and Alan putting on a new tire. So much for the leaky valve and an early start.

On the way to Nevada we traveled through a small section of Arizona.  Thought we were driving down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  It was awesome.  Really can’t get a sense of it with these pictures but when going thru this section you feel SO small.

I must say we have enjoyed our time in Utah.  Went through several Utah state parks today – took the truck again – didn’t trust the weather.  As it turned out the sun shone all day.   Picnicked in the state’s Petrified Forest.  Lazy, casual, easy day.  Leaving tomorrow for Henderson, NV which is just outside of Las Vegas – Alan is meeting up with his best friend Larry.  Ah, but then…..

Good God – they have me sitting in a petrified tree – I’m not going to look.

THE TIRE SAGA CONTINUES – for those that know us this is 2 blowouts, 1 slashed, 3 replacements, 1 leaky valve stem and 1 low air – but who’s counting.  Where is our pit crew when we need them!  Back to the gas station first thing tomorrow THEN we will be on our way again.  P.S.  Alan is already in bed sulking – when I reminded him that the joy is in the journey he was not amused – go figure.

And so we started our day……….

Guess what happens when you forget to put the cap back on the auxiliary fuel tank – oops

By time the tire was fixed and we washed the truck it was too late to go get the bike so we just went tooling over to Bryce Canyon.  Actually worked out well – we stopped SO many times it was easier in the truck than on the bike to stop.  And as it also turned out there were nasty rain showers in the afternoon.  As you can tell by all the pictures I love this type of topography.  The more you look the more you see.  I love the subtlety of the colors and all the textures.  Depending on the time of day everything looks so different.  One of my favorite places so far on this trip.  Such a unique landscape.  Just random pictures I took.

This is really embarrassing (as in really lame) so I’m not going to look

Where did he go and why is Dad smirking

Making new friends and memories – Mark, Ali, Luke, Zach, Jason, Ava, Addie & Abigail

Sharing how to make apple pies.  Brought back happy memories.  My pie makers are about 30 years old.  Where does the time go?

Cooking apple pies, marshmallows too, and pleasant conversation. Played Left, Right, Center with everyone after. Nice end to a nice day.

Travel day today – arrived at campground near Bryce Canyon.  This was the view from our site.

Today was a travel day – all I can say is wish we could have a do over.  We were on US 89 most of today.  From Bear Lake all through Cache National Forest we would have loved to ride on the bike.  Unfortunately, our RV won’t fit in the state parks.  If we could have found a spot would still be in Cache.  All I can say is someone was ahead of us painting breathtaking scenes for us to enjoy all day.  Wound up in Ogden, UT to get the oil changed on the truck.  Should not need to do again until home.  We are in Salt Lake tonight headed to Bryce Canyon tomorrow.  Today was a day to enjoy and simply be.

Rode the bike a little over 200 miles today.  Rode through the Grand Tetons all the way back into the south entrance of Yellowstone which had been closed due to fire.  Passed the National Museum of Wildlife Art.  There was a beautiful bronze of a herd of buffalo outside – can’t imagine the art inside.  Also went by the National Elk Refuge.  Just an FYI – did not even see as much as a rabbit today!  But really didn’t matter – perfect weather, beautiful scenery.  Went into Jackson Hole.  Had ice cream in the main square at a place called Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream.  To die for delicious!  But a kiddie cup (as in VERY small) was $4.00.  But oh so good.  Also went into an art gallery (Alan is sitting on one of the benches in front of).  OMG.  One picture had a price tag of $62,000.  Another was of a white wolf – $16,000.  My favorite was a life size buffalo – only $8,000.  And the sculptures – exquisite detail.  No pictures were allowed – security cameras everywhere to say the least.  I don’t have a wall or a spot big enough at home to accommodate half the items in that store.

Made in America!

One of the sculptures in front of the art studio. Mark Twain looking for Big Al.

Just being a tourist and helmet hair!

This arches are made entirely of elks horns. The Boy Scouts collect them and an auction is held every May to raise money.

Big Al looking for a handout

In the Grand Tetons

Pretty big fire as you can see – I think this is part of the 33,000+ acres that burned

This is part of the fire that closed the road leading into the south end of Yellowstone

Boy Scout of America teaching Big Al the ways of the woods

Big Al waiting for his ride

Where is my ride?

It was a travel day today.  Decided to leave Yellow Stone and head towards Jackson Hole to do some riding in the Tetons.  Little  did we know that they would be opening the south entrance later in the day – we could have stayed where we were.  That was ok – went the long way around on Route 26 along the Snake River.  Beautiful drive.  Would like to do over just on the bike.  Started off with a lovely breakfast (courtesy of Laure), saw some beautiful scenery along the way, arrived at a KOA in Jackson Hole, WY.    It seems somebody booked us into Brigham City, UT instead of Jackson Hole, WY.  They could not accommodate us so had to drive another 45 minutes to an RV place called – ready – The Tavern and RV!  You registered at the tavern, went to pretty much the back parking lot and ta da – RV sites.  The showers were in the back of the tavern!  If you see an older (not old) woman sitting on the corner of 89 in Alpine, WY please stop and give her a ride.  Also, she will work for food.  P.S. He would not let me keep the dog.

New friends Lyn, Julie and Brant – great company around our first camp fire last night

Doesn’t breakfast look yummy.

Just a couple of random pictures along the Snake River – highly recommend a bike ride along Route 26

Today was a museum day – went to the Yellowstone Museum and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.  Plus it was a down day for chores as in grocery shopping, laundry, etc.  Got the bike loaded up for tomorrow,  Headed out towards Jackson Hole, WY in the morning.  The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is a non profit educational center and basically a sanctuary for several grizzly bears, wolfs, eagles and several raptors.

Alan playing tourist at the Yellowstone Museum

Where is Big Al? In the background is Snaggle Tooth, a famous grizzly from way back when, then two idiots shot him for unknown reasons. They were fined $200 each.

Alan and Laure being tourists!

There are several fires around the area, one has burned over 33,000 acres already

Don’t really like to take pictures of captive animals. These places are usually necessary because of human encroachment

Three eagles who will never fly again

There are several grizzlys in this enclosure. Almost all relocated to this place because of – you guessed it – mankind