Wednesday
Today was our “get away” day on our trip north to Yellowstone (which may, from now on, be occasionally known as Jellystone from old Yogi Bear cartoons in my distant past…) My wonderful boss/friend/financial advisor, Phil, kicked me out of the office about 2 p.m. so that Robert and I could get started up to Phoenix. Got home, R was ready to go, packed up the car and did the last “house closing” items (water temperature on hot water heater; stop clocks, etc.) and we were on our way about 3 p.m. Easy drive up to Phoenix, because we could take advantage of their car pool lanes, and arrived at our hotel – Best Western Innsuites Phoenix about 5:30 p.m. We got upgraded to their Presidential Suite (!) which is really quite lovely! Two very large rooms plus HUGE bathroom with even HUGER tub! Along with two large flat-screen TV’s…could get used to this! We had a glass of wine at their evening reception, and then headed out looking for food. Just to be clear, we have absolutely NO idea where we are – other than Phoenix and Arizona! Our knowledge of the area is limited to: 1) Sky Harbor Airport; 2) Opera House and Chase Field baseball park (because we’ve been to both, and they’re close together); 3) Phoenix Botanic Garden; 4) Best Westerns in Scottsdale and Tempe … and that’s it! We’re now somewhere on the northwest side of town; seems like a nice area, although WAY too much grass for our tastes. Got directions to a local Italian restaurant – Streets of New York, and had an excellent meal. I had penne with meat sauce; R had ravioli with meat sauce. WAY too much food, but very, very good! Back to the hotel to collapse. We both have had several long days, what with celebrating my birthday on Sunday, and then going out to a wonderful dinner at Hilary’s with Bob & Kate last night…dare we think about sleeping in? Although for us, that will probably be 6:15 … more later!
1 September – Thursday
Up about 5:15 … as predicted – and to breakfast at the hotel when they opened at 6:30 a.m. Very good! Eggs and salsa, link sausage and hash browns; no pictures! Out of Phoenix by 7:15 and absolutely NO traffic problems as we headed out of town! (I chose wisely…) Lovely drive up to Flagstaff, then off the freeway and on to roads heading north.
Made great time to the turn off 89A before Page, through the Vermillion Cliffs and up into the mountains to Jacob Lake. We’ve always liked their gift shop (where R first found Sam Manymules, his favorite Navaho potter). Had lunch served by a truly DIM waitress at the lunch counter; actually tried to pull R’s plate away while he was still working on his French Fries! I had a cheeseburger, R had a BLT. Food fine, service not-so! From there to Fredonia and Kanab and into Utah! (Where we forgot that time changed…duh…talk about the waitress…) Through Zion National Park; as beautiful as always!
Got to the hotel – Best Western Zion Park Inn. Have a room on the second floor with a gorgeous view of the mountains out back. Quiet place, comfortable enough, but not nearly as “special” as the Phoenix BW! Oh well! Dropped things and headed back to the park shuttle to go down the canyon. It was still in the high 90’s, and after walking down a flight a steps, I wasn’t sure at all how my knee would hold out to any hiking, but it did just fine! We did a very easy 2+ miles; not much elevation gain/loss, but no problems at all with the knee – YEA!! Followed the Virgin River on its course to the end of the trail, then back to the shuttle bus. Lovely walk, beautiful scenery, great day! Back to hotel and then dinner. Went to the hotel’s restaurant, Switchback, and it was FABULOUS! Beautiful new building; huge windows opening on great views; lovely waitress! For starters, R had a salad with raspberry vinaigrette; I had a wedge with blue cheese, tomatoes, bacon, and egg – it was GREAT! R then had the rainbow trout – served on edge, which was unusual, and wrapped around some veggies. REALLY wished we would have had the camera! Tonight, for sure! I had a HUGE sirloin steak (of which I only ate half) with a BIG baked potato – YUM! All washed down with some great Sauvignon Blanc…the way to go! Back to the hotel and sound asleep by 9 (Utah time)!
More later!
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