It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This...

Red Rocks, Blue Chair, White Wine--Utah Spring 2010

2010-04-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

Wow. Great country. Day 1 to St. George Utah. Day 2--drove to Kodachrome Basin and got a campsite. Incredible scenery and great campground. Clean, somewhat private (space 3) with our own little hoodoo, and FREE warm showers. Biked the Panorama Trail and Grand Palace Trail (Panorama Trail a VERY nice bike ride, don't miss it!) Just a little windy overnight, then next day hike to Shakespeare Arch and Sentinal Rock. THEN, an incredible hike (6 miles round trip, fairly easy hiking except sandy) to lower Calf Creek Falls. (I'll post video). The whole hike was like being in a grand Cathedral (Happy Easter!) Dinner in Escalante (The Outfitters), then a deer hit us (we both seemed okay, he like attacked from behind...took off rear view mirror, bashed in door, will open a little). This AM drove out for a hike through Cottonwood Narrows (gorgeous) with a stop on the way back at Grosvenor Arch (gorgeous as well). Started raining, headed towards Bryce, got a motel room at the Best Western, now it's SNOWING and BLOWING like heck. We're expecting 4 inches or so...time to settle in, watch NCAA finals, eat, drink and be merry (and warm). For photo album of trip, see my Facebook. Cheers!

Sedona 2010

2010-02-19T20:03:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a week! Went the whole time without Internet! Mountain biking, hiking, swimming every day...weather was perfect.
Best hike: to top of Cockscomb feature--absolutely no one on the trail nor on the top, incredible views. We had a tough time finding this trail--but ended up finding a better way in--it's something like right on Dry Creek, at the T, turn left, stay left--go past Fay Canyon and Doe Mountain trails. Turn left on Aerie Rd, then a quick right to an unmarked parking lot. Trail in is perfect, would be fun on a bike. Hike up the rock is well marked, somewhat steep in places. Gorgeous, fun. More info
Best bike: Red Rock Trail and Little Horse Trail--Little Horse led up to Chicken Point. Along this trail was BEST WASH--incredible slick rock wash, again, gorgeous views and the bike trail was FUN! Did have to walk in a few places (marked with skull and crossbones on our Cosmic Ray bike map). More info

We "ate in" most of the time, but had a great dinner out our last night there...Dahl and DiLuca's Cucina Rustica in Oak Creek Village.

Finished our trip with a stop at the Museum of Northern Arizona--fantastic! And a trip to Northern Arizona University's bookstore to pick up prizes for my students' C3G days. They gave me a 25% discount!

Tonight, staying at our favorite lodging in Boulder City, Boulder Dam Hotel . Great deal in an historic hotel--quiet, nice, and on our way home :)

Summer 2009

2009-07-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

So far:
Stinson Beach
Tuolemne Lodge, River, Tenaya Bowls
Girls Weekend June Lake
Coming Up...Oregon Coast (windsurfing??)--this was a great vacation
WINDSURFING VIDEO--LESS THAN 5 MINUTES... :)

The southern Oregon coast is hard to beat. Pistol River Beach was actually calm and warm the day we explored--the other times we've been there it's been brutally windy. Cape Blanco was one of our favorite campgrounds--I called it "the cold place", but it has semi-private campsites and good, clean bathrooms with FREE SHOWERS. We slept well, lulled to sleep by the sounds of whistling wind and fog dripping on our rainfly. See video above re the Floras Lake windsurfing experience--I had a great time, Les was incredible (as was H for filming the whole thing)--I am DEFINITELY doing this again. I am somewhat cautious, so knew that if I had one more day I'd let the wind take me away. However, my triceps were sore for 5 days, so I'll start working out and maybe spend a few days there next year so I can get it down. Another incredible hot dog from the Langlois Market to celebrate AND an Umpqua ice cream cone that was way worth $1.95 (waffle cone chock full of a single scoop with the mass of at least a triple).

Oceanside OR (west of Tillamook)--we stayed at the Clifftop Inn, not much to look at from the outside, but the rooms were well done, new spa in place, views absolutely incredible. Roseanna's Cafe is incredible (H had halibut and I had a seafood stuffed local petrale sole)--then fresh, local Marionberry cobbler for dessert. Brewin' in the Wind is a funky coffeehouse with free WiFi, but more importantly, an amazing blueberry cinnamon muffin (and lots of other breakfast and lunch goodies as well). Only two places to eat in town and they are both perfect. At Oceanside beach, there is a tunnel through the rock that transports you to incredible pocket beaches. At low tide, the tidepools are rich with sea stars, mussels, anemones, barnacles of many kinds, and lots of other interesting creatures. And then, just east of Oceanside before you get to Cape Meares, there is a hidden trail that leads down to another beach with the BEST tidepools I have ever seen in my life. There are waterfalls to the beach and all kinds of magical moments to savor. At Cape Meares, incredible views, birds, etc., but most unique of all was the "Octopus Tree", a Sitka Spruce with a very interesting form. Quite impressive.

Jacksonville, OR (5 miles east of Medford)--Britt Music Festival, historic town with great shops (try Pico's and Carefree Buffalo)--but not overdone...great restaurants (Gogi's has a $5 cocktail and small plates menu, great food, looks like reasonable prices throughout town). The music festival is incredible--we just missed Wilco, Indigo Girls were playing the night we were there, James Taylor coming in Sept...

Early in the trip, we stayed at Del Norte campground (redwoods, ferns, "extreme" walk in beautiful campsite. Prairie Creek State Park: Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon definitely worth exploring. Roosevelt Elk along the loop off of 101.

And then coming home is never bad, as we live in one of the most awesome places on earth. Best sunset of the trip from our hot tub in Chalfant. Fabulous trip, but great to be home.

Grand Canyon & Boulder City

2009-01-03T07:28:00.000-08:00

Grand Canyon more than lived up to its moniker. What an incredible place. We have lots of photos/video; will get those up in the next few days, if all goes well. A few hints:
IF YOU GO IN WINTER, BRING GOOD HIKING BOOTS, AND HIKING POLES AND CRAMPONS OR YAK TRAKS IF YOU WANT TO GO ON ANY TRAILS. Even just walking out to vista points was dicey, we're glad we had our hiking poles. I kept imagining myself slipping on the ice and plummeting over the canyon edge. I walked very carefully, needless to say.

GOTTA SEE: The Watchtower at desert view, very definitely worth the extra drive out there. Also a great place to see a lot of the Colorado River. Learn about Mary Colter, the incredible architect who designed many of the buildings at the Grand Canyon for Fred Harvey and the Santa Fe Railroad.

Left GC around 1:30, so couldn't get all the way home. Stopped for the night in Boulder City at the Boulder Dam Hotel, on the historic hotel register. Great, classy place--reasonable price ($75 w/queen and continental bkfst minus a AAA discount). Boulder City is a cute little town, we enjoyed our stroll around last night after many hours in the car. We're thinking we may come back here for the bike rides, petroglyphs, etc. It may become a destination!

Well, H is patiently waiting for me to finish blogging so we can head for home.

Cathedral Rocks & Pine Cone Drop New Year's Eve

2008-12-31T19:27:00.000-08:00

Here's what you all have been waiting for...the Flagstaff New Years Pine Cone drop. If you don't have quicktime (if the movie won't show), email me and I'll send it to you in a different format.

Sedona Winter 2008

2008-12-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

Where to begin? It's been a stunning week--the red rocks, hoodoos, rock art, pueblo ruins...I'll have some photos and movies to post when I get time. The weather has been absolutely perfect, thus no time to blog or work. Perfect.

Today we hiked up to Kachina woman hoodoo at Boynton Canyon. Then headed to Long Valley--hiked a good long way up the valley. It was so intriguing....hard to turn around. Found a lovely spot for lunch next to a dry creek. Near the end of the hike, decided to head off the main trail to climb up to some ancient habitation sites. That pretty much finished me off for the day. Between yesterday's mountain biking and today's hiking/climbing, I've exhausted myself physically. But I'm on vacation, I'm relaxed, and I'm getting some reading done, finished knitting a scarf...

Yesterday, besides mountain biking, we visited V - V (v bar v)--a petroglyph site on beaver creek. And, in a totally small world thing, the two volunteers had grown up in Independence and Lone Pine! Laurie and Bill--Laurie is Mark Felton's sister, Bill grew up in Lone Pine. It was their last day at V-V, going off to another volunteer opportunity. The petroglyphs were fantastic. Stay tuned for pics.

Past days also found us exploring ancient ruins such as Montezuma's castle, a cliff dwelling, Walnut Canyon cliff dwellings, and Wapatki pueblos. The main pueblo at Wapatki had a ball court, kivas, and a blowhole as a volcanic feature. It was a pretty special place.

Tomorrow, we'll do some more hiking/biking, then off to Flagstaff for a special New Year's dinner and gathering for the traditional pinecone drop from a downtown hotel. It's a spur of the moment thing, but how could we miss a pinecone drop? I'll get video...THEN, to the Grand Canyon and Bright Angel Lodge...

Bakeries of Portland

2008-11-28T21:27:00.000-08:00

Despite the 10 miles or so per day that we walk in Portland when we visit, the strange thing is we never seem to lose any weight--could it be the bakery hopping? My good friend Jonelle keeps us informed of the latest and greatest. This time, it's a small, below ground French bakery, that makes its croissants from scratch. As you approach the 10th and Flanders Nuvrei Bakery, your nose lets you know you are steps away from nirvana. I had the almond croissant, simply melted in my mouth.

On Thanksgiving day, we walked a few miles from the Pearl up to Thurman and 23rd Place as a pilgrimage to St. Honore Patisserie and Boulangerie--it's open on Thanksgiving Day, with lines coming out the door. It's all yummy--we sat outside and enjoyed the pastries and dark roast coffee and the joggers and families coming in for the same thing--an incredible gustatory experience.

And on our way from the airport, bags and all, we stopped by The Pearl Bakery to get an apple mascarpone pastry. I depend on Jonelle to let us know each new, incredible place!

Portland OR Thanksgiving 08

2008-11-26T17:24:00.000-08:00

Sitting here in my good friend Jonelle's condo in the Pearl, overlooking the red bridge, streetlights and the Willamette River...sipping Covey Run Chardonnay, gnoshing on Pearl Bakery baguette and Whole Foods cheese..

It was clear, cold, and sunny today, the day before Thanksgiving. What a treat--saw Mt. Hood in all its glory from the Japanese Gardens--multi colored leaves from the Japanese maples, etc., covering the ground, swimming in the streams and pools...just an incredibly yummy day.

AND, and, the Goodwill Store on 10th was incredible. They had a whole rack of new Chico's clothing for around $14.99 each. Holy cow. Good thing I just brought a small suitcase.

Looking forward to watching Season 2 West Wing (Jonelle has a great selection of my favorite show)--and what a treat to watch West Wing with wondrous anticipation of our new president instead of chagrin about our old. (If only we had someone like Jed Barlett turns into--wow, now we have someone even BETTER than Jed--you ain't seen nothin' yet!)

Hope springs eternal. It doesn't get much better than this (that's an H and I saying about just about everything in our lives. We truly have much to be thankful for).
Love you all.
Bets

Yosemite & Mono Lake

2008-07-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

Took a few days to enjoy our incredible backyard. Camped at Sawmill Walk In Campground near the Hall Natural Area. The INTENTION was to just immerse ourselves right there, as it is an exquisite area with meandering streams, swimmable deep blue lakes--it is what I want MY heaven to look like. However, a little bit of the other place (hell) in the form of massive legions of mosquitoes sent us packing to places up a little higher. (Luckily we just purchased a screen house so we were able to cook, eat, change, etc. while thousands of our little friends perched awaiting our fleshy smorgasbord.)

So, kayaked at Ellery, Tioga, and Tenaya Lakes. Swam in the Tuolemne River (Lyell Fork near Tuolumne Lodge), immersed in the Tuolumne in some of our favorite spots near Pothole Dome (in a few weeks, the pools will be lusciously swimmable--total heaven). H brought along our edible manna as usual--we dined on chile verde, chicken/sundried tomatoes/mushrooms/balsamic pasta, lots of fresh fruit and veggies, wines, etc.

On our last day, a thunderstorm drove us from our plans to project ourselves from sheer granite towards the clouds (Tenaya Bowls), and we retreated back to the car, heading down towards home. As we drove along Hwy 120, the water at Mono Lake demanded we stop for one more kayak. It was slouching towards sunset and the water was so smooth it was almost surreal. Numerous pairs of osprey were nesting on the tufa, one circled over me, reminding me of the 250 yards they needed to feel safe...fantastic!

THEN, we detoured once more following a road east from Navy Beach towards an intriguing tufa tower. What a discovery! Ponds, birds (avocets and black-necked stilts,ducks, swallows, and seagulls, of course) and a lovely black sand beach. NOT. It looked like black sand, but was actually a carpet of millions of brine flies. These are my favorite flies because they don't bother humans, they just get out of the way and then go back to their business. In any case, all in all a great few days in our big, beautiful backyard.

I now get to work a few days while H prepares more food for our next local adventure--swimming holes around the Wawona area. Local vacations brought to you by our exorbitant gas prices--a great excuse to stay close to home!

Beach 08

2008-06-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right, I'm doing ANOTHER beach blog. Check out the slideshow--I only took a few photos, so if you want to send more, I can expand my show (sorry, some of you are missing from this one). Next year I'll take movies of "Mother Shark" and our awesome Rock Band.

Link to Vegetarian Chili (Cooking Light)