A FUN TRIP TO SOUTHERN UTAH WITH SASHA, ANNA AND ANNA

We enjoyed a wonderful trip with 3 good Russian friends. Sasha lives in Provo while her husband attends BYU and Anna and Anna were visiting after working in Maryland for the summer.

Our first stop

Driving into Arches National Park. The girls liked the name and said that in Russian it would sound like "Arka Parka".

Anna, Anna and Sasha just beginning the hike to Delicate Arch. The speckles on the hill in the background are people and that is where we are headed.

This is my favorite picture. I went on ahead of the girls and waited to capture their expressions when they came around the corner and first saw Delicate Arch!

The 5 of us and Delicate Arch. It was super windy and people were losing their hats. John's had a strap and the rest of us took ours off.

John and I standing under Delicate Arch.

The girls posing by a window with a view of the arch.

Next we hiked to Landscape Arch.

We camped in Moab and the next morning it was super windy and took all 4 to hold the tent down and fold it up.

We drove through another National Park the next day.

There was a U-pick apple orchard, so we picked some to enjoy along the way.

Anna, Anna and John looking closely at the Indian petroglyphs.

These are what they were looking at and the girls thought they looked like aliens.

Our last view of Capitol Reef National Park.

We drove through the Boulder Mountains and had lunch on a rock.

Our next destination.

Setting up camp in Bryce Canyon.

We saw the canyon in the late afternoon and evening.

Love this place.

We took a great 3 mile hike around the Navajo Loop down in the canyon.

People ahead of us on the Navajo Loop Trail.

From the bottom of the canyon looking up.

Being silly.

Our last picture before dark. Notice the beautiful full moon.

The next day we drove to Zion National Park and hiked a little ways up the Virgin River in the Narrows.

That night we enjoyed a musical at Tuacahn, a beautiful outdoor theater surrounded by red rock cliffs.

We had an unforgettable trip with special friends. We said good-bye over the phone today to Anna and Anna who are now on their way back to Volgograd. Sob!

FALL IS IN THE AIR!

Turn the calendar to September and right away it's my birthday and Labor Day. Once again we celebrated at the cabin.



Me and my brother Bill and sister Pat

John cut a lot of wood from the trees we had cut down.

The grandchildren helped haul the wood and as you can see, some were happier than others....






Timber Lakes is looking very autumny.


A very brave squirrel thought it was easier to get the sunflower seeds straight out of the bowl instead of off the ground.

And a raccoon loved the left over bbq pork.

Today, Provo Canyon was gorgeous. Thanks to John for stopping repeatedly to let me snap pictures.

Bridal Veil Falls

Oh, and we can't forget the 2 visitors that came to our salt lick and stuck around most of the day.

A bull moose posed for this shot.

I love fall!

FUN WITH MY NEW CAMERA

Our old camera got worn out after taking thousands of pictures in Russia. So for my birthday John gave me a new camera. It has some fun zooming and macro abilities, plus other features that I need to learn to use. We took a ride up Provo Canyon and around the Alpine loop and I took some photos. Here are some to share:


This is a close-up of a small stream. There is water running over these small rocks.


Bridal Veil Falls

Close-up of blooms on a tree

Looking towards Mt. Timpanogas from The falls. We took the road that goes around the back side of Timp and ended back in Pleasant Grove.

Provo River


A spider web on a walking bridge across the Provo River.

A walking trail along the river.

Behind Timp close to Aspen Grove

Wildflowers by the side of the road

A small stream next to the road, just above Mutual Dell.

My panorama setting...just above Mutual Dell

Tibble Fork Reservoir

VISITORS AT THE CABIN:

Stellar's Jay

Raccoon

Mountain Chickadee
Chipmunk

I need lots of practice, but I will keep trying.