July 23, 2013

July 15, 2013

Moab was an absolutely beautiful area and very worth the stop.  Hot, yes, but still great.

Deer in Cedar Breaks Hike

We departed right after the 4^th of July heading to Cedar City, Ut.  Thought this would be a good central area to park the coach and do the area parks by car.  It was, but the distances were a little greater than we observed from the map.  Zion was 52 miles while Bryce canyon was 79 miles, so we made day trips for each.  Close by, 14 miles, was Cedar Breaks, another superb National Monument Park. The flowers were spectacular.  Spotted a deer on our hike.

Zion Nat'l  Park

At this point in my life, I have lost total confidence in our government and political system.  Maybe it is senility?  Anyway, I have concluded that one thing our government has done right is the “National Park System”. It is awesome.  Do not miss any of these parks if traveling southwest.

On the way to Cedar City we did stop at Lake Powell to observe this fabulous reservoir and the Glen Canyon Dam.  Very similar to the Hoover Dam near Las Vegas.  Spectacular!

Glen Canyon Dam

Zion, Bryce, and Cedar were all incredible in their own way.  Our favorite was Bryce, but that is totally a personal preference.  Zion we hit at a bad time, Sunday and part of the 4^th of July celebration week, so was very busy, no parking, and full shuttles (the only way to see the amphitheater of the park, no personal vehicles allowed).  Again, more pictures on canyons than we know what to do with.

Bryce Canyon Park

Leaving the Cedar City area we headed toward Salt Lake City, actually staying at Mountain Shadows RV park in Draper, Ut.  This proved to be a pretty easy drive into the city and an opportunity to visit friends Charlie & Clairi Clapp.  They treated us like Royalty in their home and gave us a personal tour of Salt Lake City.  Temple Square, the University, Olympic Stadium, fabulous Library,

Temple Square Salt Lake City

and more.  Ended the day with dinner and cards.  Very nice.

The following day we made contact with Karrie Galloway, a sibling of the Galloway Boys at Galloway Company.  Ted had arranged to meet with her.  Gracious she was upon receiving our call.  She insisted on picking us up at our RV park, gave us a marvelous tour of the famous Utah ski areas ie;  Alta and Snowbird.  Prior to that she had arranged a tour of a new Brewery, (EPIC Beers), started by her cousin, and  an acquaintance of mine from a prior investment

Karie & Peter EPIC Beer

relationship.  Fun to meet him and see the glow on his face from another successful venture.

Olympic Park Ski Jump

The next two days we met with Charlie & Clari, and again they treated us like royalty with plans to show us the 2002 Winter Olympic Park in Park City and a leisurely day at Silver Lake Park.  The highlight was the Olympic Park and we purchased tour tickets and an aerobatic ski jump show.  Yes, ski jumping in the summer.  They have a well designed hydrated plastic surface with jumps landing in a bubbled pool of water.  Impressive!  And exciting!  These are very talented athletes from all over the world training for the next world Olympics.  We also were taken to the top of the Bob sled track and 120 meter jump.  Toured the museum.  What a day!

Bob & Shari Bob Sled Team

Bidding our farewells to Charlie and Clari we prepared for our journey home.  They still had one more treat for us directing us to Jordanelle State Park Reservoir for our last Utah camp.  As usual it was beautiful!  Our trip home would be 1,500 miles, but we plan on taking our time, arriving somewhere around July 20^th.

Parked at Bill & Jody's

Bill & Jody

Golf Group

On our way home we stopped in Dodgeville, Wi to visit friends Bill & Jody Reese.  Turns out Bill's birthday.  So a little celebration with he and his family, Bill putting on a marvelous fish fry.  Really nice.  What a lovely place they have in the middle of paradise.  They hosted us to parking our coach there for a couple of days.  Arrived in Oshkosh on Sat 7/20, just in time for couples golf Sunday at Irish Wasters.  Nice to see everyone!