The Last of Zion

Today is the day I finish blogging about our family vacation, although I could just stretch it out until we go on the next vacation.  However, since I'm already a bit tired of it, I figure somebody (everybody?) else must be a bit weary of reading about it.  So, just a few more pictures and quickly jotted paragraphs, and I'll be on to other things.  Alas, school is rapidly approaching for the boys, so fall must be closer than we think.  Augghh!! 

Probably my favorite hike we went on was The Narrows.  This was the first water hike I had done, and it was totally fun.  We got to the hike by ambling along a paved path for about a mile.  Then we turned down towards the river and actually got right in the water and started hiking up the canyon.  This first part of the hike was quite pretty, but it was even more beautiful once we got down in the water and were surrounded by gorgeous cliffs and rock formations.

It's kind of a logjam when you first get into the river because everyone, serious hikers on down to casual vacationers, wants to see what this hike is all about.  We went on a Saturday, so it was particularly busy, but once we made it up the river a little, it got a trifle less crowded.  I would love to go on a day when there weren't quite so many people there, but I also wanted to go when everyone could be there.  So, Saturday it was.






The water gets pretty high in some places, but I never had to go completely under.  The boys, however, took every chance they could to immerse, dunk, shower, and otherwise saturate themselves.  They are much more adventurous than I am.  I did get wet to a little above my stomach, but since it was so hot, it actually felt really good. 

We made the unfortunate discovery that such a hike has the potential to give you motion sickness.  We were all motoring along, completely enjoying the trip, and then we stopped for lunch. Rachel said she wasn't feeling well, and I figured her ridiculously busy summer schedule was finally catching up to her.  Mike offered to go back to the trailhead with her while the rest of us headed upstream a little farther.  About ten minutes after they turned back, it suddenly hit me while she wasn't feeling well:  motion sickness.  The same thing happened to me while snorkeling, both in Cancun and in Maui.  Fortunately, Mike said he completely enjoyed the chance to talk to Rachel one-on-one while they waited for us to come back down.  She was feeling MUCH recovered by the time we got back, and she finally believed me when I told her she'd had motion sickness. 

On this hike I also got to see what an avid outdoorsman my son-in-law is.  (Many thanks to him for being willing to take his camera on the hike and get all these shots.  My history of clumsiness prevented me from taking mine.)  Andrew was so good to help us all along, but there were times when I could see that if he were by himself, he would be miles ahead of where we were.  I guess all those summers of working for the forest service have paid off.  It was also fun to see Karen getting out of her comfort zone and becoming more of an outdoorswoman.  They are such a cute married couple.

You can see in our pictures also that we are using hiking poles/ walking sticks.  I think the boys were a little skeptical that they would actually need them along the way, but they are definitely helpful, especially for old folks like me and Mike.  All in all, it was an awesome day of togetherness and enjoying the amazing outdoors.

It was hard to see Rachel and Karen and Andrew leave on Sunday, but once they were gone, we did have the perfect foursome for golf.  Of course, southern Utah in late June can be a little toasty, but we discovered that this is a good thing.  There are some amazing golf courses that have been constructed mainly with the wealthy snowbirds in mind.  Once the heat arrives and those rich snowbirds go back to their summer homes, business drops precipitously.  So do the greens fees.  Mike, Adam, and I took advantage of the summer rates and were able to golf in Hurricane, Utah at an amazingly beautiful, unique (at least to us) course. 

The course was impeccably kept, and I kept wondering how this was possible in the blazing summer heat.  They must have an impressive water bill.  Anyway, we went a couple of times in the early morning, and since we rented carts--this was vacation, after all--we were able to enjoy eighteen holes both times without contracting heat stroke.  The scenery was downright distracting.

My favorite shot of the day was when Matt took an old, scuffed up golf ball and drove it deliberately into the canyon.  It was his best shot of the day because he just reared back and smashed it, without thought of whether it would still be in the fairway.  It made me want to do it, but I refrained.  Maybe next time. . .

Another unique part of our experience was the jackrabbits that were prolific all over the course.  When I first saw one bounding out of the rough, it kind of startled me, and I wondered what kind of critter was going to be joining us.  However, after a while, we got used to the little fellows and thought they were kind of cute.  We definitely don't see these on our golfing excursions in Boise.

I've discovered that I don't play golf any better on a championship course than I do on a municipal course, but I sure had fun.  A bad day on the golf course always beats a good day at work.

It was a wonderful vacation.  I've discovered that while it is fun to go to some exotic places--I do plan to go back to Maui some day--the best part of family vacations is the family. Being away from all the distractions of our daily lives kind of holds the kids and us hostage, in a good way.  Can't wait for the next trip. . . when?  Not soon enough.

P.S.  Happy Birthday, Dad!!  So glad you're my dad!