Dave On Tour

[daveake]

In case anyone has been wondering (or pleased) that I've been quiet the past few days, this (http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/daveake/1/tpod.html) is why :-)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b159/bat-trick/37827_609.jpg

[Steve6]

You should take me on some of those trips. I'm great fun.

[Evil One]

And then leave him there! :twisted:

[daveake]

You should take me on some of those trips. I'm great fun.

Sure, but only if you promise to copy this guy, and I can do the pushing ...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b159/bat-trick/edge.jpg

:yikes:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b159/bat-trick/edge2.jpg

[Steve6]

If you push me you'll have to jump down and try to rescue me.

[AndrewG]

At least on the way there chances are high both of you won't want to listen to HCTB. ;-)

Shit, that does look scary.

[Monstro]

Shit, that does look scary.

Exactly what I thought, think I'd be stood next to Dave lol

[Wario]

Man that guy has balls

[AndrewG]

Maybe it's a woman with a beard, ever thought about that, huh?

[AndyK]

If those canyons don't give you vertigo (or that "don't push the button feeling of I wonder what'll happen if I jump off" then nothing will!

[Wario]

reminds me of a video posted last month with a first hand look on how to repair an antenna.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r149/Deadringerforlove/WarioSmiley.gif

[daveake]

More info on the mad guy on the ledge ... when I saw him he was actually posing for another guy to take pictures! He tried a few different angles asking the camera guy if it looked OK. After he got off the ledge it became clear why ... he'd actually handed his camera so he can have his own pictures of him dicing with death!

I asked if he'd also handed over details of his next of kin so they'd be able to see his last moments of life!

Dave

[daveake]

If you push me you'll have to jump down and try to rescue me.

Of course. Yes. I'd do that.

:lmao:

[Wario]

More info on the mad guy on the ledge ... when I saw him he was actually posing for another guy to take pictures! He tried a few different angles asking the camera guy if it looked OK. After he got off the ledge it became clear why ... he'd actually handed his camera so he can have his own pictures of him dicing with death!

I asked if he'd also handed over details of his next of kin so they'd be able to see his last moments of life!

Dave

so the guy on the ledge was dying? i didnt really follow that

[daveake]

Guy on ledge lent someone his camera, saying "please take photos of me while I sit on that ledge over there"

When he was sat on the ledge he was asking how it looked ... whether he needed to sit at a different angle or dangle his legs a bit more.

I was wondering if he'd also arranged for the photos to be sent to his next of kin in the event that he slipped.

Crystal clear now?

[Wario]

Guy on ledge lent someone his camera, saying "please take photos of me while I sit on that ledge over there"

When he was sat on the ledge he was asking how it looked ... whether he needed to sit at a different angle or dangle his legs a bit more.

I was wondering if he'd also arranged for the photos to be sent to his next of kin in the event that he slipped.

Crystal clear now?

Yep lol. im sorry you had to explain the joke :lol:

[Julie in the rv mirror]

I'm soooooo jealous! :mrgreen: I've been there, but I've been dying to go back. You're right- there are too many people at the Grand Canyon. We were there in the Summer, and it seemed I just couldn't get away from them- maybe I didn't walk far enough. ;) Did you see the new glass skywalk, or whatever it's called? Although, I think that's at the South Rim maybe? I'm not afraid of heights, but I think that might freak me out! :shock:

Did you happen to stop at Meteor Crater when you were near Flagstaff? (Sorry, I haven't read your whole blog) It's pretty cool. :cool: When you're out there, it's pretty easy to see why they call it "The Painted Desert"- it's so beautiful!

My favorite thing out West, though, was Monument Valley, most of which is in Utah. And there's not many people there at all. ;) It's on the Navajo Indian Reservation, which means it's private land, so unless you hire an Indian guide you can only stay on one road. We did, and had basically a private tour. I want to back and go camping, which they also do, as well as night time tours when the moon is full. :D :cool:

A couple of my pics:


http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg235/chitownjaney/DSCN0258.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg235/chitownjaney/DSCN0298.jpg

[daveake]

Nice photos :-)

The skywalk thing is way west of where we were. Quite close to Vegas I think.

We're staying in Monument Valley in about a week's time, on a full moon as it happens :-). Also have Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly and Mesa Verde to do :-). Today was Bryce and yesterday Zion. It's all go!

Dave

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Definitely hire a guide at Monument Valley. When you get to the Visitor Center at the Tribal Park, as it's called, you can make arrangements there. They are basically independent outfits, for the most part. You can also get tours from Gouldings Lodge, but they go with a whole bus full of people. The private guys will most likely only have a few, although the vehicle might not be as fancy as the ones Goulding's has. ;) As in our case, we lucked out, and he had no other clients except us, and no clients booked after us, so he gave us more time than we even paid for. In fact, I was so reluctant to leave, we missed our dinner reservation at the main Lodge at the North Rim of the Canyon that evening. It was worth it, IMO. :D I just cannot describe how peaceful it was there- all you could hear was the wind. Oh, and you will have red dust in your clothes and hair for ages! ;)

I just know you are going to love the rest of your trip! :D

I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I just wanted to share a few more pics (I hope you don't mind ;)).

I could talk all day about this stuff! :D


Here's a cool one at the South Rim as a storm blew in:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5091591107_5b494b84f1.jpg

Another one of The Ear of the Wind, as it's called; the boy is my son- he was about 12 at the time (gives you an idea of the scale):

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5092191248_44c5eb3323.jpg

I think Arches National Park and Canyon de Chelly have similar scenery to Monument Valley- I've never been to either of those. I have been to Zion, though- it's gorgeous! This is at Zion:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5092192068_d3618a39fc.jpg

I don't know if you have been or are planning to go farther North, but I absolutely LOVED Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. :D We did a raft trip on the Snake River that was amazing- I highly recommend it!

Here's the Tetons- the Snake River is in the foreground:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5092163662_5711e0dabd.jpg

These flowers are called Silver Lupines; they're not only beautiful, they smell amazing! :-)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5091564819_0b4fdee925.jpg

[daveake]

Thanks for the hint about the tours! We are staying at Goulding's RV but we'll check out the other tours instead. Not sure what time we're arriving but a moonlit tour would be great. I've seen some photos taken there with long exposure times under a full moon, and the colours are slightly unreal and spooky. I brought my tripod so I'm hoping to do the same :-).

I think I have almost the same photo from Zion :-).

I didn't even know about that Ear of the Wind! We have done Arches national park before and it does have a lot of that sort of thing. We're hoping to spend pretty much a full day walking there.

I'd upload some more photos but the camp internet is down and I'm stealing someone else's wifi using a long range antenna, so I'm feeling a bit guilty!

Dave