To Arkansas and Back - Part 2, or ..... Hello New Trailer

I almost forgot I left this story hanging.

Thankfully we have airline miles to burn, so Husband made a quick trip to Arkansas to check out the Camplite trailer.  His assessment was dubious.  As I've said previously, these trailers are entirely made of aluminum, including a very bare aluminum floor.  We had seen other Camplite models, aluminum floor and all, but this was a chilly November day in Arkansas and the trailer looked stark and cold.   I, however, was undeterred and assured him by phone, that with some good bedding, some pillows, rugs, and me..... it would cozy right up.  So after his inspection, he made an offer and they agreed.  DEAL.  We're talking 1/3 off the cost of a new one, for a trailer that was barely a year old and showed no use at all.  The plastic cover was still on the shower drain.

However, it had the Wrong Kind of Brakes, apparently installed by the factory to suit the tastes of the first brief owner.  I am useless trying to explain these things since I hardly understand them myself.  I mean.... the brakes got us home, but Husband was a bit worried because it had..... the Wrong Kind of Brakes.  That's the best you'll get from me.

We headed out in our Jeep Grand Cherokee, bringing our little dog, Riley, with us.

Update about our dog:  We no longer have him.  We came to the painful conclusion that owning a dog was not right for us.  We loved him and still miss him, but he was too much work and too confining.  He has a new happy home where he is adjusting to life with a cat.  I fully believe, at this stage of life, I am done with dogs because if I can't have Riley, no other dog will do.  He was the best.  Sigh.

Anyway, we beelined down through Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado......what was next.... Kansas?.... and then Oklahoma.... I think......  It's a blur.  We finally hit Arkansas three days later.   La Quinta hotels helped out on the way down by being dog friendly, that is until the dog commits the heinous crime of peeing and/or pooping in the room at which point they tack on a hefty charge.  So we kept a close eye on Riley and he did fine.

Upon arrival in Little Rock, we wasted no time finalizing the paperwork, unpacking all the STUFF into the trailer, and heading home.  No more La Quinta.  We were now camping.

Since winter was bearing down in the north, we planned to take the southern, longer route home through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, with a little side trip up into Utah's gorgeous canyon lands, then Nevada, California, and home.

It was my first time in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, because I don't count when we may have changed planes or laid over at an airport, during some past flight.

Here's what I learned:

~The world, east of the Rockies, is FLAT.   And Texas is the flattest of all.  If a gopher had dug up a bit of dirt to make a hill, you would probably be able to see it miles away.

~Whatever it was that grew on the ground around gas stations and rest stops where I had to walk the dog in those southern states..... is best described as dry, prickly, trash-strewn something.  Because grass, it wasn't.  I pitied animals who can't wear shoes like we can and have to walk on it.  Riley's poor little paws had to be de-burred a few times.

~Oil drills are not attractive, but I applaud their existence and cheer them on.

~There are RV parks everywhere.  Some are beautiful, some are nice, and some suffice at best.

~I gave it a second chance and found I still don't like Las Vegas.  We camped on the infamous Strip at a handy RV park, wedged between the casinos, that even had a dog park.  Riley loved it.

But we made the mistake of walking through the adjacent mammoth casino in an effort to get to the street in front so that we could walk along the Strip..... and literally got lost in it.  Those places are NOT detour-friendly.  If you recall that old 1970s movie, The Poseiden Adventure, where the huge luxury ocean liner capsizes and the survivors have to find their way out through the bowels of the upside-down ship..... then you get the idea.  Returning from our walk, we figured we'd try again and attempted to cut back through the casino..... and got lost again.  We finally retraced our steps back to the Strip entrance and walked all the way around the outside, to get back to our trailer.  Heaven help the people inside if there ever was a fire.... or maybe it was just us who probably looked like we have "Comes From Small Town" stamped on our foreheads..... and.....

~I love this trailer.  We could not have been more comfortable camping in it.

We spent two nights in a mostly vacant campground in our beloved southern Utah, where desert scenery was invented.  Husband, being an avid semi-intermediate-but-getting-better-all-the-time photographer happily hauled his tripod around taking in all the cliffs, rock formations, and other eye-popping beauty.

Most of the time I patiently wait through his obsession to chase down the perfect light for a shot, but once in a while I balk at driving miles out of the way for a picture, only to arrive too late because the light had faded.  We had one of those moments trying to capture Mt. Shasta at sunset.  However, as it turned out, the light was just fine and his pictures were spectacular.

We also drove through Death Valley, which has it's own unique type of beauty.   It was worth visiting once..... but I don't feel the need to see it again.

T'was good to return to Oregon after ten days on the road.   Real grass.  Real trees.  Actual hills.  Mountains.  Green.  We had one minor issue with some trailer brake-related thingy, on a remote section of I-5 in southern Oregon, requiring an extra night at what turned out to be the nicest RV park of the trip, called Seven Feathers....in a community called Canyonville where there was, of all things, another casino that apparently draws many of the RV park occupants.  It was lovely and we'd go there again.

Some kind of fluid to refill something that had run dry, related to the Wrong Kind of Brakes, solved the issue and we drove home the next morning.

Riley was a champion traveler and my only complaint was that he had no sense of urgency when we needed him to do his business so that we could get back on the road.

You'll be happy to know that the Wrong Kind of Brakes have since been replaced by.... you guessed it, the Right Kind of Brakes, thanks to Husband's never-ending skills.

If you neglected to review Part One, you may be wondering why we had to go all the way to Arkansas to get this trailer.  I have joined an online forum of fellow owners of Camplite trailers and learned that this type of trailer is RARE out west.  I've been contacted by some interested Californians who may stop by on a future trip to Oregon, to take a look at ours.

It was a bit of a risk taking on all those miles with an unfamiliar trailer.  There was no time to work out any bugs and due to the brake issue and the newness of it all, Husband drove every mile home.  Thankfully it all came off with hardly a hiccup and I have learned (add this to my list above) that as soon as I return from any outing in our trailer, I am raring to head out again.  I can't get enough.... maybe because I didn't have to drive on the return trip .... but hey, I held the dog ..... most of the time.

The trailer, how it happened, if you care....

We bought a travel trailer.

Pros:  Everything!

Cons:  The shopping is over.

The latter really is sad, because it had kept us happily occupied since last spring.  It started like this:

Husband, who tends to allow his schedule to overfill because of obligations which sometimes seem to include taking care of the entire human population (slight exaggeration but you get the idea) along with an ever-expanding cache of hobbies........sometimes finds himself overwhelmed and looking for an escape.  (Fortunately, as far as how I fit in, he says he wants to escape with me, rather than from me.  Good thing.)  Hence, he started thinking about getting an RV some time ago, focusing on those new smaller types built on Sprinter chassis that get impressive fuel economy, compared to the larger, more traditional fuel-guzzlers.

I, on the other hand, didn't jump onto this band wagon at first.  I was happy with our tent.

But then, on one fateful afternoon, I happened to be near an RV-selling establishment called Camping World, with time to kill.  Thinking they might cater to all things camping, I ventured in.  It turns out they don't think much of tent camping.  They want to sell rigs.  Big expensive ones.  So I peaked inside one of their showroom models.

These things are incredible!  I'm talking guest baths and fireplaces.  Big screen TVs and kingsize beds.   No kidding.  You should stop by a dealer for a look.  Or maybe not.

Backtracking a little, this particular afternoon was during a stressful period, not uncommon in our home, when Husband's obligations were bearing down on him and I was helpless to remedy it.  So when I stepped into one of those gorgeous, luxurious motorhomes......suddenly I too, saw ESCAPE.  I mean, lights flashed in my head and a heavenly door seemed to open.

"I want an RV," said I to Husband later that day.

"You do?" said he, as he turned to his computer screen to commence the search.

Purchasing something big ..... like a house or a car, usually involves an evolution as you sort out what you want, what you need, and how you will pay for it.  

We started with the Sprinter models with the ever standing question of -- HOW will we use it?

1.  Will we take long ... meaning several weeks or months at a time ... trips?  Or short weekenders?

2.  Would we, could we, actually adopt the life of "snow-birds" who head south each winter?  After all, we are both now in our sixties and retirement will come..... eventually.

We never quite pinned down our answers but Reality says snow-birding isn't likely.  Some obligations will never simply go away.  Shorter trips are much more doable.

We looked at fifth wheels, which are big trailers that require a pickup truck to pull them.....

.... bringing us to pick-ups.  Wow.  What drove their price so high?   And I didn't really want to drive a truck full time since we wouldn't be letting such an expensive vehicle just sit and wait for occasion trailer trips.

We progressed into monster diesel pushers --- those big motorhomes that I literally could live in that require no tow vehicle, but do call for towing a car behind it....a problem in and of itself.  So we considered buying a scooter-type motorcycle to bring along for short excursions.  But seriously, did we really want to ride to church during those trips that had us layed over on Sundays, on a scooter?  Possibly in the rain?  Hmmmm.

We visited lot after lot, showroom after showroom, and several fun RV exhibits at the local convention center.  It was fun.  Did I mention we like shopping?

We planned and we dreamed.  Who wants a Caribbean cruise when you can wander through another RV show?

We thought we had settled on a model made by Winnebago.  It was a reasonably not-too-big motorhome which would have to have been previously owned because these things cost not-a-small fortune.  Think of buying a starter home.  The price starts there and goes up.  And it had to really be USED.  Like around seven years old or more.  And we found the exact one in Utah via RVtrader online.

So on an unrelated family-caused Utah trip, we went to look at it.  It was still in the starter-home cost range and yet was so...... used.  And with more depreciation to come.

We drove away.  It just didn't feel right.   Too much money for something so old.

Later on that same trip, we stopped by yet another RV dealer and began to look at small travel trailers.  Husband had not wanted to go this route originally because they are not as easy to tow.  But they began to make a lot of sense.  As I said .... evolution.

This new plan took us on another progressive round of visiting dealers, shows, and watching online.  We learned early on that all RV models have bad reviews.  Some are the makings of nightmares with flaws and failings and poor customer service by the manufacturers.  I must have read, "Will never buy another (fill in the make of any RV) again!" a hundred times.  Except for one.

And that one became our top choice.

A company in Indiana called Livin Lite makes a nifty little trailer, of their Camplite series, made entirely of aluminum.  No wood nor steel to be found.  Therefore, there will never be rust nor rot.  Ever.  Think airplane construction.  Plus they are light and towable with a mid-sized SUV and I love to drive SUVs.  And there were good reviews all around.

Downside?  Of course!  They are expensive.  But not as bad as Airstreams, the patriarch of the industry that are purported to outlive their owners.  And the model we wanted had just arrived on the scene this year.  Not likely we'd find any used ones.

But then, one popped up on RVtrader.  Used.  Best price we've seen.  By far.

Downside?  Of course!  It was in Little Rock, Arkansas.

We went to one more RV show to finalize our choice.  We could have bought a fancier one on the spot for a similar price.....but they all had some wood lurking deeply inside their walls, threatening to rot at any moment.  And they were heavier.  Not so sure our newly purchased Jeep Grand Cherokee could safely pull them.  Our choice was made and Husband booked a flight to Little Rock to check it out.

To be continued .... if you care.  (I wouldn't blame you if you didn't.)

Backpacking ..... leaving the glamour behind

Don't worry how you'll look out on the trail, because nobody cares.  Nature steals the show anyway.  

That said ..... this ...... 

                                                                                                                                              (Great picture, Lindsay!)

..... reminds me of this.

I just needed some cymbals between my knees.



(Read the whole story here.)

  

Move over REI, here comes Cabela's

Years ago I remember my brother commenting to my kids, while driving along a section of I-5, just south of Portland......Said he, in words something like this:

"There are two important and noteworthy landmarks here along this freeway.... the LDS (Mormon) temple and .... (reverent pause)...  REI."

This was years before I developed an appreciation for this epic store of stores.  I didn't yet know I needed its products, although they piqued my interest.  I'd wander through its aisles, perusing the various camping and backpacking treasures and think about how fun it'd be..... until I pondered nights in a small tent, on the ground, in the dark, with bugs, and quickly dismissed the whole idea completely.

Then Husband was given a church-assignment to hang out with teenage boys on backpacking trips, and this sent us, and our credit card, to every sporting goods store within miles.  I went along on the shopping trips and watched the bill grow while our bank account shrank.   Down-filled sleeping bags, tents, air mattresses, backpacks ...... added to miniature stoves, cooking tools, and various other light-weight, yet costly items.  And with his anticipation that I might eventually join in on this new hobby, he bought some things in duplicate.

Fast forward to now.  I am indeed shamelessly hooked on this outdoor lifestyle and no one is more surprised at this than I.  There is no logical explanation for it.  I love to trot on over to our local REI to see if perhaps there is SOMETHING new on their shelves that I missed last time, that I really, really need.  And for a REAL treat, I arrive early, stand in line awaiting the doors to open, and elbow my way around their occasional "garage" sales when they sell returned items for ..... well, let's just say, a LOT less than new.   Some people prefer wearing Ralph Lauren and going to concerts and over-priced restaurants.  I prefer Gore-tex and testing out camp chairs and trekking poles.

But a few years ago, while on a trip to Utah, we were introduced to a monstrous wonder called Cabela's. In this heady version of retail sporting goods, you will find recreations of the great outdoors, with life-size taxidermied animals, and huge aquariums full of live fish.  It sells that tacky cabin-style home-decor and bedding, casual clothes and shoes, woodsy-type toys, and anything to keep the family entertained while Dad is off looking at the boat supplies, guns, and fishing gear.  There is an exorbitant amount of floor space wasted on camouflage clothes and hunting supplies that must be patiently endured, but the camping section can keep me happy for an hour.  Plus there's fudge.....

Since there was no Cabela's near us, we'd occasionally do a day trip, driving several hours north to visit the one in Lacy, Washington.  Just for fun.  Because we like fun.


True story:  Husband's brother lives an hour or so north of the Lacy store.  During one of our Cabela's day trips, he happened to call Husband's cell.

"Hey", he taunted/teased, "I'm at Cabela's.  Need anything?"  (In his I'm-here-and-you're-not tone.)

To which Husband responded, "I'M at Cabela's!"

"No you're not!"

"Yes, I am!"

"You're kidding!!  Where ARE you??"

"By the guns....we've been here nearly an hour!"

"Us too!!"

After which we had a fun reunion next to the caramel corn stand.  Cabela's is just THAT kind of place.



Then came the BIG news:  Cabela's is coming!!  Here!!  This red-neck-catering, gun-promoting bastion of outdoorsiness is coming to liberal Portland.

We drove by the site frequently to monitor the progress of its construction, and marked the opening day on our calendar ..... which happened while Husband was still traipsing around Mt. Hood.... so we went the next day.

Here again, I wander the aisles in vain searching for SOMETHING I NEED.   But sad to say, there isn't.  I don't need anything.  I have it all ..... liner socks, water bottles, inflatable pillow, pack cover, collapsible sink ..... I even have stuff Cabela's doesn't sell.

All in all, I must say, in conclusion ..... REI probably still holds its spot of importance, ranking just below the temple.  It doesn't sell fudge, but it cuts to the chase by keeping out all the camo.  As far as I'm concerned, it's focused on the good stuff, without all the hoopla.  No guns, no fishing, no boating silliness in REI.  No taxidermied animals, nor bear-themed lamps.  Just the important stuff.  Husband may not agree, but this is not his blog.

And if you REALLY want the best deal for camping/hiking knickknacks, other than buying used, it's at Walmart.  Yep. ..... But don't tell anyone I said that, because I'm NOT one of those people.  I'm not.

Really.

I'm not.

More on this camping thing .....

First some personal history ..... As a kid I loved camping.  Who didn't, when someone else did all the work?  Then as a parent of young kids I BECAME the one doing the work.  We tried it a few times, and seldom with any cooperation from the weather.  One time we even traveled to the eastern side of our state where the sun is supposed to actually shine, and after the first night, we woke up to sleet, which sent us hightailing for home.  We didn't even take the canoe off the car, which we laboriously hauled along, (not my idea), until we got home again.

Fast forward to the summer of 2013 and the kids are grown.  Husband and I attended a family reunion in Wyoming that required a tent.  We packed along our little 4-man job, our air mattress, and bedding.  The weather was perfect and I slept on one of the most comfortable beds known to man.  Note:  It may SAY the tent sleeps four.... but picture sardines in a can.  It's best to cut the purported number in half, and you'll have a more accurate and reasonable fit.

Here's a tip:  Forget sleeping in bags.  Bring sheets and blankets like you use at home.  Use an inflatable mattress, insert a THICK quilt or opened sleeping bag between it and your bottom fitted sheet, and if you are fortunate to have no air leaks, you are in for one comfy night.

Since we were already in Wyoming, we HAD to visit Yellowstone in which hotel rates require remortgaging the house.  Therefore, back to camping.  Our three days there were glorious with perfect weather ..... a good thing because our one night after the reunion and before Yellowstone (that we spent in Teton National Park) was not.  That night it rained and hailed with the fury of a vengeful god.  We woke up to a small river running under our sad little battered tent.  Needless to say, I was ready to start the remortgaging process and get a room.  But as I said, the remaining days were perfect, and I fell in love with camping.  And as with any relationship, there would be changes.

First of all, we needed a bigger and more substantial tent....particularly one with a sturdy rain fly, and that we could stand up in.  No more trying to change clothes on our knees.  We wandered around the campground and critiqued the different tents, determining what we wanted.   We spent quite a bit of time shopping after we came home and my first choice, since I was still haunted by the hail storm, was an indestructible Springbar canvas tent that they say you can pass down to your grandchildren.  But the poles were too long for our car, and the thing weighs a ton.  So we opted for a Big Agnes Big House 6.    

(Last summer with our kids.  A brief patch of rain sent us inside.)

Second, a bed off the ground, like a double cot on which to put our mattress.   At my age, some things, like NOT sleeping on the ground, become priorities... plus the added storage under the bed is a nice perk.

(One of our camping neighbors.  Some creatures are happy in the minimalist mode.  Not me.)

Last winter, I happened upon Thousand Trail campgrounds online.  These campgrounds, of which there are many throughout the country, are semi resorts, with beautifully kept grounds, clean bathrooms, swimming pools, spas, lodges, pickle ball courts, miniature golf, a store, etc., etc.  Each one is different.  And all are yours for unlimited use for $200/year.  So I signed up for one year.  Now, after staying at four, and a total of nine nights so far, I am sold and am anxious to visit more of their campgrounds.  For TT members, they almost always have openings, even last minute and there are no cancellation penalties.  Pretty cool.  Last weekend horrifically high temps were forecasted so I jumped online, snagged a campsite at the beach and we escaped for a couple of days.  Try doing THAT without a months-in-advance hotel reservation, in July.

So this summer, we have been packing in as much camping as the Husband can stand.  He's about hit his limit but I may never hit mine.  Why?

Because for one thing, it's cheap.  I like cheap.  It's a vacation that doesn't hemorrhage money, nor depend on someone's spare room.  It's an escape and I need them regularly.  It's time focused on the relationship, which I also need regularly.  And it doesn't involve airports.  I've got the packing process streamlined and the camp setup is routine and quick.  We can bring our bikes .... or not.  We can cook .... or not.  We can hike .... or not.  Time slows down and the rest of humanity, with which I must always share my spouse, fades a little .... never completely, but a little.  And every little bit helps.

Yes, that's us glowing in the dark... yes, Husband is the photographer... and yes, those are actual stars.  

Moab, we love thee.

I'm going to take you on a little travelogue into a world that defies all scenic imagination.

Utah's Canyonlands.  Unbelievable even when you're standing there in the middle of it with your mouth gaping open.  And included in our latest trip, were a few happy hours with the three most awesome siblings and siblings-in-law who conveniently live along the route as we travel to this favorite vacation land.  Score, score, and score!

Moab, I am proud to say, lies deeply in my roots.  My very own grandparents, Emerald and Geneva Stout, lived there in the 40s, 50s, and early 60s, before it was discovered by air conditioning and tourism.  My vague, early memories recall an average small, sleepy town with one main street, complete with a corner drug store and probably a grocery store, gas station and a five-and-dime.   They owned a small farm within a few blocks of the town on a dusty road near a creek.  I remember very little, sad to say.  But I do remember the giant black walnut tree that stood near the house and although the farm was replaced over half a century ago with a school, the remains of the tree still stand.

Today it sits in a dog park.

The dusty road is now paved, but the creek is there.  What I wouldn't give to go back in time and revisit my grandpa's farm, confront his turkeys that terrorized me at age three, and eat the fresh peaches with the sticky juice dribbling down my neck.  

Then

Now

Today Moab is a tourist's love affair.  Outdoor sports like mountain biking, four-wheeling, rock climbing, etc. have awakened the town and it is decked out with all the cute shops, galleries, and restaurants that I, as a female, cannot help but adore.  If only all towns could follow suit.  And then, there is the scenery......  Oh.My.Gosh.  Within a short drive in every direction we have the wonders of Canyonland, Arches National Park, Monument Valley, and incredible vistas as far as the eye can see.  Picture in your mind the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote chasing through those canyons, cliffs, and plateaus, and you kind of get a hint of it.  To THIS Pacific Northwest native, southeast Utah might as well be on the moon.  Talk about contrast from home.  But enough talk ..... let's look at some pictures, thanks to my photographer husband.






Our wheels, whose purpose is road trips such as this, against a sampling of the famous red cliffs.

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Below is Corona Arch, gracing the end of a 1.5 mile hike (each way).  Worth every step.

This arch has recently acquired a dubious history because of this now-gone-viral video:

Hence, there have been some horrible accidents there because of copycat foolishness.  In fact one such accident happened on the day before our visit, requiring a team of rescuers and a life-flight helicopter.  I will spare you the photo of the blood on the rock floor below the arch.  As far as we've been able to find out online, at least initially, he survived.  But the 22 year old who tried it last year, didn't.

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Into Arches National Park we go and our first stop is Balanced Rock.  The picture does not do it justice.  The thing is HUGE.

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Below is Double Arch, one of my favorites.  The little green speck is me.  What you don't see is the deep gulf behind me, between the two arches.  

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Then there's Sandstone Arch, and the best part about it was the short hike to get to it through narrow slot-canyon-like rock walls.

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It's incredible that Landscape Arch is still with us.  A large chunk fell from it in the early 90s.  We did this hike later in the day and the wind was fierce.  But we made the effort because it may not be there next time.

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Mesa Arch is about an hour out of Moab in Canyonlands National Park.  We discovered this one-of-a-kind wonder a couple of years ago.  It's a short quarter mile hike from the parking lot and as you begin to see the low arch, you think ..... cool, there it is.  But as you get up to it, you realize in a chilling, jaw-dropping sort of way, that just below and behind it, the entire world disappears into a vast abyss.   Previously unbeknown to us, this arch has a world-wide following.  Photographers come to capture it at dawn because the rising sun lights up the underneath of the arch.  So of course, Husband had to give it a go.

We got up at 4:15 a.m. and drove out there in the dark.  On our previous trip, we were there late in the day when it was getting dark.  It was then when I had my first and what I determined would be my ONLY encounter with a rattlesnake and so THIS time, as Husband trotted off on the short walk to the arch, I remained in the car waiting for daylight.  As I waited, more and more cars pulled up and finally when a humongous tour bus full of camera-toting Asians arrived..... I figured all snakes must have fled the premises.  So I walked out to join Husband at what had become Grand Central.  People were everywhere with their cameras and tripods, all poised for the sun to creep over the horizon.  It was tricky to get some shots with 60+ people crowding the scene.  But in spite of the mob and the haziness, Husband managed some good ones.  On the walk back to the car, another photographer told us it's like this every morning, spring to fall.  Who knew?

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Lots of petroglyphs.   They are supposed to tell stories of successful hunts, but I kind of wonder if ancient cave-kids simply got bored and found something to pass the time ...... probably earning a "time-out" for drawing on the walls.

In addition to a few motel/hotels en route and a homey church service on Sunday morning in Torrey, Utah, we camped four nights just outside of Moab at an immaculate although somewhat noisy campground.  I highly recommend Moab Valley RV Resort (we were in a tent), just be prepared for the highway noise and fellow campers who don't realize how sound carries.

We forgot to take a picture so I stole this one off their website.

   

In May, the summer heat has not yet arrived, making camping a terrific option compared to the high-priced hotels in town.  Each morning we'd head out to experience the sights with hikes, drives, and more gawking at the beauty, then return to our camp swimming pool and hot tub where we met and shared our day with people from various parts of the world.  Then we'd hit the showers and a clean set of clothes and head into town for dinner.  Life does not get better than that.

                       Icamping.

This will go down as one of the good ones, as far as vacations go.  And we WILL return in a year or two, for our next Moab-fix.

If you've had the means, but haven't been there, please excuse me as I pause and stare at you for a moment.  I would be feeling a mixture of dismay in that I CAN'T BELIEVE anyone would waste time in places like Hawaii and neglect THIS .....and envy that you have your initial never-to-forget, eye-popping introduction ahead of you.  (Kind of like the envy I feel for anyone who has not yet seen either of the latest two movie versions of Pride and Prejudice.  There's just nothing like the first time.)  But in this case, the second, third, fourth, etc. etc. times are lacking for nothing because there's always something new and incredible to see in this land-like-no-other.  And we haven't even talked about the BIG canyons (to which we didn't go this time).... like Bryce, Zion, and that little number called GRAND.  Another trip, another blog post .......