A New Year, A New Town…

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The internet is such a blessing and a curse. I can’t bear to think back on how hard it was to make travel arrangements back in the “olden days” before the likes of Trip Advisor, Frommers, and a few dozen blogger opinions on every destination under the UN.  As an ex-travel agent, I have no desire to return to the days of the OAG and waiting on hold for the airlines while hand-writing tickets.

However, the speed at which popular travel destinations can now become “too popular” can certainly kill a good “discovery buzz” in a hurry. Continue reading →

BORED-er Crossing

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Off and on for the past several years, some faction of my family has made a trek to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to celebrate the holiday season.  This year, my brother Don and I planned to start the new year right by spending the month of January across the border in our “home away from home.”   Eager to outrun the dropping mercury, Continue reading →

Season’s End

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Cedar Hill State Park Campground Host

Its tough to know when the end of the RVing season arrives here in Texas. We had 27 degree lows last week, blanketed in between two 70 degree weekends. I guess I can’t complain since the cycle is not reversed by freezing temps falling during my days off!

With forcasted lows in the 20’s, it is time to start thinking about “winterizing” my still-yet-to-be-named motorhome. Continue reading →

High Five on The Wave!

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As I mentioned previously, I have been trying for well over a year to get a permit to hike The Wave in the Coyote Butte section of Utah.  Having been so excited about the prospect of crossing this off my “bucket list,” I was surprised by the feeling of trepidation that was eating away at my stomach the night before as I sat in the local Mexican restaurant swigging a margarita, trying to plot way-points in the wilderness into an automobile GPS.   Continue reading →

Where the Antelope Play…

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Page, Arizona is a little one-horse town established back in 1955 to support the building of the Glen Canyon Dam.  There is nothing much here but a lot of budget motels and fast food restaurants, with one lone Walmart for shopping.  But the abundance of beauty on all sides is what caused me to choose Page over Kanab, UT, the equidistant town from the Wave hike.

“Sandfall” in Upper Antelope Canyon

One of the main attractions was my desire to explore the Antelope Slot Canyon. Continue reading →

One Dam Opinion Versus Another…

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“The idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders.” — Edward Abbey

Winding along the curve of Hwy 89 descending down on approach to the Glen Canyon Recreation Area, that first glimpse of the dam is breathtaking. Majestic and powerful in its wide span of man made beauty and symmetry as the calm, peaceful lake bulges up against the massive strength of the concrete, now holding back the wild, natural river from carving its way through the canyon. Continue reading →

Scenic Southern Utah

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After getting my Snow Canyon “fix” (along with a big plate of turkey for Thanksgiving dinner,) I departed St. George, UT bound for Page, AZ to get closer to the location for the Wave hike, and to explore a few of the attractions near Lake Powell. I didn’t want to cut through Zion National Park, because I knew it would only frustrate me to drive right through one of my favorite parks without time to stop and explore. Having been here over Thanksgiving six years ago, I wanted to explore some different areas of Southern Utah this time. Continue reading →

Permit Me, Please…

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I have been trying to get a permit to hike the Wave at Coyote Buttes in Utah for a year and a half now.  The hiking is by permit only, and there are only 20 permits issued per day; ten reserved by advanced lottery, and the remaining ten for pre-dawn walk-ups.  I had some freakish accidental “beginners luck”  the first time I tried a year ago last summer.  I got my first choice on my first attempt.   I was gleefully checking flight schedules when I got the “woops!!  Not so fast!” email from Paria Canyon Continue reading →