Greetings fron the North Rim

Today is deb's birthday. Another nice day at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Sitting here with a nice breeze coming from the canyon. There are several small forest fires to our east in the next side canyon over, but the wind is blowing the smoke away from us, Been visited by a couple of chipmunks who wanted a look inside our cabin. Went on a small hike but at 8200 ft elevation Deb is having a hard time. So I went on alone. The ranger led talks were interesting, but last night;s was over the head of a lot of people there. It was about Paleo ecology of the Kaibad plateau. Today it was straight geology. Tomorrow we head for Bryce NP for 2 days and then back to Las Vegas. Been gone too long, then I have to get ready to go to San Antonio the week after.
well time to get off this and enjoy nature.
Ciao

Another day

Well I have been trying to take it easy on my foot and not do any strenous hikes. I might go up to emerald springs just across the river. It is an easy hike, just waiting for it to get shady over there. The temp suppose to be about 100, but the humdity is like 17% with a nice breeze blowing. Today we went on a Ranger guided tour of the area which was nice. Just saw on channel 6 news that the temp was 93 with high humidity at home. Checked my weather station and it says the same thing. I hope Midnight is enjoying the air conditioning. I left it at 76 for him. My friend Henry Beck died last night (he was 95) and had been sick for a while. My brother called me this morning as we were eating breakfast. Last year he called to tell me my Aunt died at 103 while we were having breakfast at Yellowstone. Not a good sign. Anyhow tomorrow we leave here to go to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for two days. Have to go out the famous tunnel that was cut thru a mile of rock. Zion is celebrating 100 years as a monument/park so they have a lot of activities here. I doubt if I will have an internet connection at the North Rim or at Bryce. This was a pleasant suprise that I had it here in Zion. (I used my broadband connection for the first day until I found and realized that the green blinking light behind the desk was not for the phone). Big hint was the antenna sticking out it. So much for being in the middle of no where. I hope my broadband makes it, but the closest cell tower is on the other side of the grand canyon (10 miles away). Well we will see. I will take some pictures and post them if I get the time. Been really busy every day. Had to buy jackets because the temp at night at both Bryce and the North rim is in the 40's. Hope it doesn't snow again. That's it for now
Ciao

So that's how it works

Our rental car a toyota Hybrid Prius seemed to have a problem. We couldn't figure out how to lock it. I would hit the lock key on the remote and we would hear the locks engage, but when I go to check the doors they would unlock. After 6 days of trying to figure it out, I read an interesting thing in the owners manual. The car has what toyota calls a smart key. Actually to start the car you insert the square key that looks like a a key fob without the key into a slot and then put your foot on the brake and push a start button. You hear nothing except you see the instrument panel lights up and the word ready appears. It is a learning curve. Back to the locks. It seems that whenever the key is within 10 feet of the car in certain directions, placing your hand on the door handle or the trunk automatically unlocks the doors. Also you actually don;t need to put the key in the ignition, just have it with you. Ain't technology grand. Tomorrow we leave out time share for Zion NP,
Ciao

Taking a vacation from the vacation

Decided to take a vacation from our vacation time share in Vegas and went to Kingman AZ to have lunch at the Kingman Airport. Kingman airport is a small airport, well it was actually a military base during the 2nd world war where they trained pilots for the military. Most of that is gone replaced by a large industry area. A large business there is the storage of commercial airplanes (big jets) waiting to be brought back or sold for parts. But in the small terminal (they have a small regional carrier there now) is the Airport Cafe which is a ma and pa operation of about ten tables (some with reserved signs on them for the regulars) where they serve excellent food that is really home cooked. I had French Dip and deb had a cheeseburger, both were great. It is where pilots fly thier expensive airplanes to have a hundred dollar hamburger. Anyhow we left there and spent sometime taking pictures of the airplanes and their tail numbers so I can look up their history later. Then off to Laughlin, Nv to stay at the Riverside Hotel. Got my usual room on the 26th floor overlooking the Colorado River and of course the airport. Had a good prime rib dinner, did a little gambling, Deb came out ahead. And then today we came back to Vegas via California. Las Vegas is getting ready for Fall as they are expecting highs tomorrow of only 95 and lows around 75. Where is my jacket. They are also making US95 a four lane highway which is like making a local street into a superhighway. I guess they got the money.
Ciao

The scene of the crime

Well today we drove out to Red Rocks State Park to re-visit the scene of the crime or in other words where we got married. Right now they are re-building the whole visitor center. I wanted to see the area that the turtles live, but the area was fenced off. The ranger said that they were moved during the construction. Right now we are watching a thunderstorm that is about 50 miles away. Just to the North of Mt Charleston. We are up on the 8th floor so we have a good view of the strip and the mountains. Went to the movies yesterday and paid our $3 dollar admission and saw Harry Potter movie and then the movie Julia and Julie which wasn't bad, can see some awards there and then we saw the latest Ice Age in 3d which was very good. All for $3. The weather has been very good, today 105, but breaking news on TV, Fall is coming this weekend. The temp is going down to the mid 90's this weekend. Well down to Laughlin tomorrow and Kingman AZ for lunch at the airport.
ciao

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

Well here we are in Las Vegas. Great weather, 103 with 8% humidty. The trip here wasn't bad. At the airport in Philly, Deb ran into Lois Jean (she was coming back from a cruise and going back to Western PA. Had a big Tstrom before we left which caused us to be 15th in line for takeoff. Nice flight, had Salmon in Pasta for dinner, excellent dinner for an airline. Got into LAS early and got our bags with no problem. The bus ride to the car rental took 30 minutes (the ride is only 5 min) anyhow got to the Hertz counter and it took over 1 hour to get the car. Then we went to get the car and it wasn't there, so the agent gave us a discount and another car. We have a Toyota Prius Hybred which is really different (It is kinda like turning on a tv, no engine sound). It is fun to seek up on people because they don't here you and all of a sudden a car is there. Got to out time share aand in our room by 2 AM PDT(5 AM EDT) So about all we did was go to bed. I hope midnight is OK, he was very upset with us leaving and then a thunderstorm hit that night. Well off to eat.
Ciao