Condors over the Grand Canyon

We took a couple of hikes along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and each time we came to halt just inside the park entrance as everyone stopped to look at this guy.

 

He was quite happily munching away and totally ignoring all the camera toting tourists.

 

The Grand Canyon is so beautiful we never tire of seeing it.

Bright Angel Trail as it winds its way down to Indian Gardens.

Such beautiful views.

On this hike, we were lucky enough to see some of the condors.

 

While they’re amazing creatures, I think they’re actually pretty ugly, but, you know on this particular day, I’m sure they were posing for the tourists.    Number 80 sat on this rock for absolutely ages.

He finally decided he’d stayed around long enough

and off he went, soaring majestically over the canyon.

One last spectacular view, Indian Gardens and Plateau Point.

Have fun, we are!

Little Colorado River Gorge & Cameron Trading Post

On a trip to Cameron Trading Post, we passed the Little Colorado River Gorge, and as it’s a while since we’ve been we decided to walk out to the rim.

 

It was very hot, (I am still catching up as this was way back in June this year) but it’s not a long walk, maybe a ¼ mile, if that.

 

From the parking area, the trail is easy and wide, but if you’re not happy around sheer drops, it’s probably best to stay well away from the edge.

 

I have a book (it’s at home in my bookcase and I momentarily forget its name) written by two people who hiked the Little Colorado River Gorge.

 

While we both enjoyed reading the book,

as we looked down into the depths of the gorge, we decided it was way more hiking than we wanted to attempt.

Cameron Trading Post was established in 1916 and the original building sits next to the one in use today.

They have a great restaurant and last time we ate there we enjoyed some delicious Navajo frybread.   Unfortunately neither of us were hungry enough to think about tackling even the mini frybread, maybe next time.    

The old bridge across the Little Colorado river, this is where the guys in the book started their hike.

Have fun, we are!

Sand everywhere!

We have a friend who lives on an RV ranch out in the desert near Deming, New Mexico.   Last time we visited he took us out in his ATV.   There was only one problem his ATV is for two people, him and his dog, but the ATV has a tray carrier at the back.

   

The original plan was that DB would sit in back and I’d share the seat with the dog.   Didn’t work, DB is too tall and wouldn’t fit.   Okay, that left me, so with a cushion to sit on and a step to climb in off we went.

    

Our first stop were some petroglyphs and grinding holes,

 

right near the entrance to the ranch, all you can see from the road are some rocks.   Among the petroglyphs are footprints and what looks like a river, or maybe it’s a snake?

A little further out in the desert we followed part of the old Butterfield Trail, the remains of Fort Cummings aren’t far away from the ranch.  

One trail out to the foot of the mountains we gave up on as we were fighting our way through the brush that had grown over the trail. 

We also stopped at a wooden marker erected by residents of the ranch that marks the gravesite of Private Charles Williams.   Eight miles west of Fort Cummings, Private Williams along with Private John M Kelley of the California Column, First Cavalry, Company C were attacked by Apache on 25 August 1866.

 

An Apache lance killed Private Williams instantly, even though he was wounded Private Kelley managed to escape. 

After that we wended our way back through the desert to the ranch.   When we arrived I looked like I’d been in a dust devil, dust absolutely was everywhere.   My sunglasses and eyelashes were coated with dust and my once black t-shirt had turned a dusty sort of grey.  

As he was inside the ATV DB fared much better than me and was only slightly dusty.   Dust aside, we had a blast, but if we ever do it again I want two cushions!!!

Have fun, we are!

Mount Alyeska & Girdwood, Alaska

Our last night in Alaska was spent at Mount Alyeska Resort, the largest hotel we’ve stayed in for a while, but very nice.

 

Our room rate included a trip up the mountain on the tram the next day.

At the top of the mountain we’d hoped to be able to hike a short trail, but as there was still snow on the top it was closed.  

It was a beautiful sunny day and the views were absolutely gorgeous.   What the guy on the tram told us they called 'brochure days', I  can quite see why.

Back at the bottom of the mountain, we headed off to Girdwood and a short walk around town

 

before enjoying a late lunch at Chair 5 restaurant.

As it was a holiday weekend The Seward Highway was busy with heavy traffic, so that put paid to the hopes we’d have of stopping at some of the viewpoints for one last look at the fabulous views.

Alaska was absolutely fabulous, despite our very mixed weather, we can’t wait to come back.

Have fun, we are!

Gold in the creeks!

On our way to Seward along the Seward Highway we’d passed East Fork and Canyon Creek parking area, but as it was pouring with rain we didn’t stop.   A lovely sunny day on our way back gave us time to have a look around.

 

In 1890 when gold was discovered near Hope, some miners who’d gone back to the States exaggerated the amount of gold they’d found and triggered a stampede.

 

 

Over 3,000 people arrived seeking their fortune, claim jumping was usually settled in meetings and only one miner was ever shot over a disputed claim.

 

But Canyon Creek produced more gold than anywhere else on the Turnagain Arm and the claims that triggered the stampeded actually ended up being the richest, how weird is that?!

Miners faced a tough slog from Surprise along Sixmile, Canyon, Gulch and East Fork Creeks, definitely not for wimps!

Today it’s a beautiful spot, quiet and peaceful, well it was when we were there, a hiking/biking trail follows the creek along the Seward Highway in and out of the forest for miles.

It’s hard to imagine the difficulties the prospectors faced hauling their packs and equipment through muddy swamps and dense forests as they followed the creeks into the mountains, all chasing their dreams and hoping to make their fortune by finding gold.

 

Sad to say, even though we looked, we didn't find a single golden nugget lying around anywhere. 

Have fun, we are!

Homer, Alaska

 

Arriving in Homer, even on a grey, cloudy day the view over Kachemak Bay is absolutely stunning.

 

Once in town we drove along the East End drive, more gorgeous views and for a little while the sun even came out.

We stayed at Ocean Shores and our room, while very nice, didn’t quite have the view (our view of the bay was over another building) we thought we’d have when we made the booking.   I mentioned this in passing, while chatting with a chap who turned out to be the owner, he said he’d look into it and the next day we moved to an even nicer room that had a fabulous, totally unobstructed view across the bay.   Now that’s what I call service!

This the view from our new room, isn’t it fabulous?

Despite the cloudy day, later that evening there was a most gorgeous sunset.

I forget who recommended it, but we were told that we really shouldn’t miss the Oceans and Islands Visitor Centre, they were right.   The centre is fascinating, with very helpful and informative staff and lots of information about the area. 

A trail from the centre leads down onto wetlands with a boardwalk and birding area, we stood for quite a while watching a sandhill crane poking about in the grass.

We’ve seen sandhill cranes in Arizona, but never quite as up close and personal as this. 

Our reason for walking this way was to find a coffee shop (another recommendation) called The Two Sisters Bakery.   The cakes were truly scrumptious!

From the Skyline Drive we had a great view of Homer Spit.

and across Kachemak Bay.

Down on Homer Spit we enjoyed a walk around the harbor,

 

the Time Bandit – from Deadliest Catch - was in dock.

Instead of seagulls watching as you sit overlooking the ocean, in Homer there are eagles, which, I have to say, is somewhat unnerving!

We often watched sea otters, which were rather cute, as they drifted along nibbling on their catch.

Although the sun only peeped out a couple of times, before just as quickly disappearing, we had a great time in Homer and definitely hope to return one day.

Have fun, we are!