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Category: Kanab

Visiting friends along the way

FR & SR67 Kaibab NF AZAfter visiting the Grand Canyon and friends on both sides of the big ditch I continued this summer journey north into Utah to visit more friends.

Jacob Lake Inn AZMade a stop along the way at Jacob Lake Inn and bought a dozen cookies to share with friends.

sign border UT

cookie Jacob Lake Inn AZFunny there was only 11 cookies by the time I got to Kanab and my friend’s house.

unidentified dead dragonfly Kanab UTFound dead in the driveway Sad smile 

I’ve known Amanda since 2003 when we worked as Rangers leading cave tours at Oregon Caves.  Her driveway provided an amazingly level friendock (free place to park at a friends) for the night.

sunset Kanab UTI spent two more nights in Kanab in friends Joe and Tom’s backyard.  We walked into town one evening for some great outdoor music.

Kanab UTPainted on a street in Kanab

Monday morning I was at Ramsay Towing & Service Center when they opened at 8 for an oil change.  They don’t make appointments, but I’ve been happy with work done before.  Figured a good idea to have the truck looked over before making this summer journey of at least 3000 miles as semi-planned.  Three hours later I was ready to roll.

truck tabs in fun envelopeBarely mid-June and already pushing 90° at my next friends stop in St. George.  Thankfully she received mail for me that another friend forwarded the license plate tabs that would expire in July.  Almost messed up on that one waiting until three days before leaving home to pay for the tabs.  What would I do without friends to look over me?  Thank you.

hills mts dark clouds SR320 Pioche NVWith temperatures rising, I left Utah and high-tailed it into Nevada to explore some new territory while watching the weather, fire, and free camping apps.  I had so much fun visiting with all these friends, and a few more, but was peopled out and ready for me time.  As I discovered, being alone is real easy in MOAN, Nevada. (#MiddleofAbsolutelyNowhere)

I was going to skip this part of my journey but realized I have many friends because of social media, national parks, blogging and being generally friendly.  Thanks to each of you.  And by the way I’m still up for visiting friends along this summer journey.  I’m currently near central Oregon slowly heading north to Washington.  All plans are subject to change.  My posts are way behind real time, but there’s a box on the sidebar I try to keep up-to-date with current location.

Arizona, Kanab, Places I've been, Saint George Utah, United States, Utah , 18 Comments

A quick visit to the North Rim and Kanab

canyon storm sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI made quick visits to the North Rim and Kanab so I could move on to Bryce National Park for full moon.  I definitely had mixed feelings about returning to the park after all the BS this winter.  Yet, the canyon will always hold a fascination for me.

signs & entrance station to North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaLeft Marble View early, for me, in the morning and enjoyed the slow drive through the forest.  Knowing the Ranger working the entrance station made it emotionally easier to enter the park.  Didn’t even have to show my Senior Pass.  Went to the visitor center and chatted with several people I know.  Then at the Lodge for more visiting.  And stopped by the administration building to fill water bottles and found more familiar faces.

Wotans Throne last light sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

last light canyon SF Pks sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDrove out to the end of the scenic road to Cape Royal where I planned to photograph sunset.

Wotans Throne canyon sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

trees sunset clouds sunburst Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaA storm was brewing on the South Rim and as soon as the sun set another show began.

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBoth colors and lightning kept me shooting.

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd shooting…

canyon sunset lightning Wedding site North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset lightning Wedding site North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

…and shooting.  I was SO excited!!!!  First time I’ve successfully captured lightning.  The above shot is available for print.  people cars Bison storm clouds SR67 North North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBack by the campground I was able to dump tanks and take a shower.  Nice facilities, clean, and six minutes of hot water for $1.50 in quarters.  Believe it or not the first time I’d ever been in the place.  Then engaged in a little more visiting before heading out of the park.  I’d planned to camp on the forest somewhere near Jacob Lake but when I got there it was pouring and I had second thoughts about muddy forest roads.  So I stayed on level pavement near Jacob Lake Inn for the night.

trees Vermilion Cliffs SR89A North Kaibab National Forest ArizonaIn the morning I dropped off the Kaibab Plateau headed north to Kanab for a lunch date with a friend and a driveway to park in for the night.

Sierra cat in harness on leash Kanab UtahPlus I bought Sierra a harness and leash in town.  She tolerated me put on the harness without scratching or hissing.  Then we stepped outside.  I sort of let her lead me but also stopped her from going any place I didn’t want her.  We never got more than 10 feet from the camper but that’s OK, its a start.  Considering we’ll be in a campground at our next stop she might not get out again for a little while.

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, Kanab, National Parks and Monuments, Utah , , 30 Comments

Bunting Trail blooms Kanab Utah

May 18, 2016

01s DSC_5524hdrlerw Bill & Sasha Bunting Trail Kanab UT g-HDR-2 (530x800)

Over my last three day weekend visiting Bill we took Sasha for a walk on the local Bunting Trail which was filled with blooms.  Spring comes earlier at this lower elevation than the North Rim along with some different flowers blooming.

02ss DSC_5488hdrlerw Primrose Bunting Trail Kanab UT g-HDR-2 (800x530) (640x424)

The Primrose dotted the orange landscape with white, and pink as the blooms fade.

03ss DSC_5536hdrlerw Unidentified yellow flowers & Tamarisk Bunting Trail Kanab UT g-HDR-2 (800x530) (640x424)

The Bunting Trail follows close to a dry wash, unless there’s been rain and then the trail is too sloppy to walk.  Yet all the moisture helps bring out the flowers.  And also the Tamarisk which is an invasive species found all over the Southwest.

04ss DSC_5608hdrlevrw Skyrocket Bunting Trail Kanab UT g-HDR-2 (530x800) (424x640)

The bright red Skyrocket really stands out against the rather gray-greens of the desert vegetation.  I’ll see this blooming during the summer on the North Rim.  Notice the tiny mushrooms at the base of the Skyrocket.

05 lerwss Stemless Daisy & Spike Broomrape Bunting trail Kanab UT collage (640x328)

Some of the flowers are really tiny like the Stemless Daisy and Spike Broomrape which were no more than three inches tall.

06ss DSC_5611hdrlerw Flowering Broadleaf Yucca Bunting Trail Kanab UT g-HDR-2 (530x800) (424x640)

Other blooms like the Broadleaf Yucca reach for the sky.  If you ever find yourself thirsty along a desert trail the yucca flower petals are full of moisture and good to munch on.

07 lerwcs Flowering Prickly Pear & Beavertail cactus Bunting trail Kanab UT collage (800x281)

Although you must be careful of spines, the flowers on the Prickly Pear and Beavertail cactus are also edible as is the delicious sweet fruit they produce late in the summer.  You might be able to see a tiny bee in the yellow flower gathering pollen.

08-DSC_5620chdrlerw-Wallflower-maybe-Bunting-Trail-Kanab-UT-g-HDR-2_thumb.jpg

I’m still learning the names of many of these low elevation desert flowers and think this is some kind of Wallflower.  Feel free to chime in if I’m wrong.

09-DSC_5661hdrlerw-Bunting-Trail-Kanab-UT-g-HDR-2.jpg

One of these days we’ll actually hike up into the cliffs where there are petroglyphs.  Of course Bill has been there before but at my lollygag speed it could take all day.

Due to a weak, or non-existant, signal I’m loading smaller images and wondering if the page loads faster.

Kanab, Utah , , 14 Comments

Lijit

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