National Parks galore
Trip Start
May 27, 2007
1
4
27
Trip End
Dec 23, 2007
Joshua Tree to Bryce Canyon,
United States
Saturday, June 30, 2007
We started in Joshua Tree NP where I managed to make very good friends with 2 cactus plants. The first had multiple spikes with tiny hooks on the end of each and I managed to bury at least 20 spikes into the underside of my elbow. Luckily we were right next to a ranger station so I went for help removing it. This involved them ripping it out of my arm in a very painful way! The second stab was from a spike that was lying on the floor no longer attached to the plant. I'm not sure how i managed to get it stuck in my foot but I did and this was to mark the start of a very bad 24 hours!
Joshua Tree National Park itself is a very beautiful place but very very hot! We did a bit of rock climbing and then a short hike (less than a mile) but none of us had enough water and what we did have was heating up at an alarming rate. I thought I was going to die from dehydration and when we got back to the van any water we had left there was also so hot it was disgusting to drink but necessary!
We spent the night near Lake Havasu where while cooking dinner I managed to burn my arm on our lamp and now have 2 perfectly straight parallel scars on my right bicep!
The last of the bad luck for the 24 hrs was that Gooner ran away! He came with me to the river and even posed for a photo before returning to camp. He stayed with my luggage but when I was helping to pack up camp he ran away. Nobody remembers seeing him go and he's not returned as yet. He was talking about how he wanted to go back to LA to get some plastic surgery as he wasn't happy with how he looked so maybe that's where he went but until he returns we just don't know!
Before we left Lake Havasu I found myself walking across London Bridge! Apparently London Bridge was dismantled in 1968 and recontructed in Lake Havasu by some American when the bridge started sinking in London?! Never heard of this before but it was good to see the British Flag flying instead of the American Flag!
Our route took us along part of the historic route 66 and we stopped in Seligman which is basically a town which has devoted itself to the route 66 history and everywhere you look is memorabilia and displays. We spoke to a gentleman who told us that Pixar's Cars is based around this section of route 66 and we found a display of cars that were like those in the film and even had eye's in their windshields!
Our next stop was the Grand Canyon. Zack (tour guide) made us put paperbags on our heads and walked us to the edge of the canyon before letting us remove the paperbags. I have to say it was an excellent was to view the canyon for the first time and while we may have looked ridiculous it was definately worthwhile. Oh and the bag we were wearing had a portrait of the person drawn b y another member of the group . All very well except some of them were upsidedown and Min Jung was the only person with any discernable talent!
The following day was spent at the Grand Canyon as well. Mo, Guy, Camille and myself took a helicopter tour and I think it was definately worthwhile even though a little expensive. It really brings into persective the vastness of the canyon which you can't experience from the rim. We also did a hike down into the canyon which was fine on the way down but the way back up was torturous: hot and steep with no extra water available. I was so hot I thought I would collapse,there's no way to explain how uncomfortable it was. By the fact that I'm writing this now you can tell I survived to tell the tale!
Our next stop was Monument Valley. We took a jeep tour with a local Navajo Indian guide called Tony! He was an excellent guide and even sang to us and played a native instrument that sounded like a flute.
The next few days were spent in Moab where we explored Arches National park and even did a sunset hike to Delicate arch which was meant to change colour when the sun set.... I must have blinked and missed it! We also rented Rhino's (open top 4x4 vehicles - will add picture when I can) and went on a guided tour of some of the 'backcountry'. Unfortunately for me, I was sharing a vehicle with Mo who was driving a little recklessly (in hindsight) and managed to tip our Rhino on it 's side. Luckily for me (and his guilt) he tipped it towards him managing to skin him forearm and lower leg really badly. I survived with minor whiplash and bruises from my seatbelt. Mo was actually very lucky as well as our guide told us that a high percentage of people who tip stick out a leg in an attempt to prevent the vehicle from falling and break a bone or two!
The last NP we visited before arriving in Las Vegas was Bryce canyon, an exceptionally beautiful canyon with unbelievable rock formations. We didn't have much time here as most of the group wanted to go to a local rodeo. I decided I would join them (and face my fear of horses in the hope that maybe Gooner had gone there too). Worst decision ever! It was definately a local rodeo and had children riding on the bulls which could not be decribed as fiece in any way! Also without Gooner by my side I found myself once more petrified of horses and wanting to leave asap. The rest of the group were also not impressed and so we left! W'hooo!!!
Again will hopefully get some more pictures uploaded soon (have added links to other blogs for some of the pictures so far...)
Comments
London Bridge
I remember the sale of London Bridge. Apparently the stupid guy thought he was buying TOWER Bridge!!!
Re: London Bridge
That's so American!!!