Sunday 9/30

Left Torrey, Utah early and drove through Capital Reef National Park. Donald and I agree, that other than Zion, we LOVED this drive! The rock formations were awesome!!!! The whole drive was over 100 miles long. 
First, we took a scenic drive, about 17 miles, stopped at the Gifford Home, shared a peach scone, and travelled to Grand Wash, which we walked.
We drove back to route 24, and viewed some petroglyphs carved by the Fremont Indians. 
We saw a small, one room schoolhouse, and a tiny cabin inhabited by the Behuin family, all 10 of them!!!
We travelled the rest of route 24, toward interstate 70, and ended up in Moab, Utah.
Took a short ride (17 miles) along scenic Potash Road. Highlight was seeing dinosaur footprints in fossil form, of course. So cool!!! 
To dinner and bed.

Saturday 9/29

Left around 9 am for a scenic drive along route 12. Drove through Cannonville to Kodachrome State Park. Wow!!! This place was awesome!!!! Stone Pipes were so unusual and interesting.
Next, we continued along to the Hole in the Rock Scenic Backway to view the Devil's Garden. Lots of Hoodoos!!!!
Then, we drove to the Long Canyon Slot, literally two massive soaring rocks close together that form a narrow canyon. So cool!!!! Highlight of the day!!!!
Drove up, and then down Boulder Mountain to Torrey, Utah and the Best Western where we are staying.
Went to dinner at a 27 Zagat rated restaurant in Torrey called Cafe Diablo. Super dinner!!!! To bed.

Friday 9/28

Left for Bryce National Park by 8 am. Drove 3 hours, and went to Mountain Time, so with the change, arrived at Bryce around noon. Drove through the Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest along the way. Simply beautiful.
Went first to the visitors center where we planned the day. Left the car and rode the Park bus to Bryce Point, Imperial Point, Sunset and Sunrise Points, then back to the center. Hiked some of the way. Donald hiked the Queens Garden Trail to the bottom of the canyon. Then BACK UP!!!!!!
After this, we drove to Royal Point, Placia Point, and finally Fairyland Point. All awesome.
Then to our Best Western, Ruby's Hotel. To dinner and bed.

Thursday 9/27

Great day!!!!! After leaving Kanab, we drove to the north rim of the grand canyon. As you can imagine, totally awesome!!!!
Drove to the Lodge which is right on the rim. Walked around the lodge, and took 2 drives, to Point Royal and to Imperial Point. Great rock colors!!!!  Saw a condor fly right over us multiple times. Huge bird with a 9 foot wing spread. Flew just 50 feet overhead. Highlight of the day!!!!
Beautiful aspens starting to change colors. Finally, heard a lecture on geology and the formation of the canyon. All in all, a super day!!!
Left for Jacob Lake where we are staying the night. To dinner and bed.

Wednesday 9/26

After a quick trip to the visitor's center, we drove back to the lodge where we left the car and boarded the park bus, the only way to the most northern part of Zion. We left the bus and began a short mile hike to the Narrows, another more serious hike up the canyon. Donald left to do the Narrows by himself, first by wading in the waters of the Virgin River. After he crossed the river twice, he gave up and returned to where I was waiting. The canyon was beautiful!!!!!!
After a drive to the west end of the park, we left for the eastern most exit, driving through a few tunnels and then onto Kanab for the night.
To dinner and to bed.

Tuesday 9/25

Left Mojave, California headed for a stopover in Las Vegas. Indeed, we had lunch in Vegas at a super Greek (very high end) reastaurant called Milos. Tasty and filing. We both had the Bronzini, (which  they don't call bronzini!) plus a walnut cake for dessert! Wow!!!!!
Well, I don't remember Zion National Park to be as beautiful as it is. Absolutely awesome!!! Sheer cliffs rise up to crystal clear blue skies. Not to be believed!!!! With each park, Donald and I say that this is our favorite, until we see the next one. As a child, I remember my favorite was always Zion. No wonder: the colors and majesty of rock formation leaves one speechless!!!! Staying at the lodge.To dinner and bed.

Monday 9/24

Another great day. Left Carmel for the famous 17 Mile Drive. Was sooo cool!!! Along the way, saw Pebble Beach Golf Course and Lodge.
Then, after a stop for coffee to go, we left for our drive towards the Grand Canyon by way of Las Vegas.
Route 1 was winding up and down mountains while the surf crashed against the rocks below. Breathtaking!!!!
Stopped at The Bakery in Big Sur, (suggested by my good friend Hanne Maxwell) again to pick up some treasures for later. This replaced lunch!!!!
Then, went to The Hearst Castle, where we determined that we had seen both tours, so after a movie on W.R. Hearst, we left for the north rim of the Grand Canyon. We are staying in Mojave, California for the night. Dinner and to bed.

Sunday 9/23

Such a great day!!! Left the hotel and drove to another vineyard, Clos du Val for another wine tasting. Had soooo much fun!!!!
Then, left for lunch, and stopped at Buchon Bakery, another Thomas Keller institution. Bought a few treasures for later in the day. Killed some time at Napa Style, then lunch at Bottega. All was super!!!!
Then drove to Monteray, ate those Buchon Bakery treasures, and finally Carmel. Had dinner at the #1 restaurant in Carmel, Dametra Cafe. Mediterranean food. Delicious!!!! Back to hotel, which, by the way, is charming! To bed.

Saturday. 9/22

What a day!!!!!! First, we rode to Senoma County and started with a tour and wine tasting at Geyser Peak Vineyards. Became club members so that we will receive 3 bottles of select wine 4 times a year. We also bought some white wine which we are keeping in our igloo.
Went back to Healdburg for a great lunch at Willi's Seafood. Another great cheese plate!!!!!!!
Next, we went to Chateau Montelena Vineyards near Napa. Again, enjoyed a wine tasting, and strolled through the gardens.
Drove the rest of the way into Napa, and ate at one of Thomas Keller's restaurants, Ad Hoc. Donald and I agree: one of the best meals we have ever!!! A third great cheese plate!!!! No weight watchers today!!!!!
Back to hotel, and to bed.

Friday. 9/21

Left the beautiful state of Oregon. When we arrived in California, stopped at an information area and planned the drive to Napa. First, we drove to the Klamath River Overlook and watched the Indian people fish the river for salmon using enormous nets.
Next, we drove through the Redwood National Park along route 101and saw the giant redwoods.We went along the Newton B. Drury scenic drive. Beautiful and humbling! Then, drove further south along then Avenue of the Giants. Again, beautiful and humbling. Drove to Geyserville for the night. To dinner in Healdburg at Cyrus, a 28 zagat rated French restaurant, owned by chef Douglas Keane. The cheeses were amazing and the town was filled with chi-chi restaurants and people with expensive jeans and blazers. No ties. Back to hotel and bed. 

Thursday 9/20

After a leisurely morning, Donald went to play golf at the Pacific Dunes course at Bandon Dunes Resort. Since there is a no cart rule, I skipped the golf and went instead for a manicure. When I picked him up, we left and headed south along the Oregon coast. Simply awesome!!!!!
Stopped in Bookings, Oregon for the night. Tomorrow, we are off to the giant redwoods of northern California. Nite, nite.

Wednesday. 9/19

Left Crater Lake this am. Headed for Roseburg along route 138. Very scenic, as it twisted and turned it's way. Going to have dinner with my first cousin, Terry Rice Stone. She is the daughter of my uncle John, my father Jim's younger brother. After Donald and I both got haircuts, we went to another train Depot Restaurant! Very pleasant visit. Caught up on the family!
After saying goodbye to Terry, (and meeting her yellow lab and her cat) and receiving 2 homemade jams from her, we drove onto Bandon where we are staying for tonight. Donald has his golf at Bandon Dunes in the am. To bed.