New York: Brooklyn Bridge

CNN was covering a story about New Yorkers waking up today to a white flag flying from Brooklyn Bridge.
Outcry about lack of security.

By the time we got to the bridge today all was back to normal though.

1 WTC changing the skyline, looking dramatic from Brooklyn Bridge.

New York: roof garden at The Pod Hotel

Day started with reading birthday messages, coffee and pastries and the rooftop garden at The Pod, a respite from the busyness of the streets below.

Could not be more different from the weeks and months we have spent in nature but New York has an energy that could be addictive.

man-made hoodoos indeed.

Foodie Interlude: Dean & Deluca, Soho

No better way to celebrate on this steamy summer day, a visit to my favorite foodie store in NYC - Dean & Deluca. Bought sushi, caesar salad, baguette and stood at the window counter - watching the frenetic to and fro along Broadway. Would have loved to fill a basket with treats but flying tomorrow.

New York: 9/11 Memorial

I was moved to tears, the 9/11 memorial reflecting pools are magnificent.

1 WTC - changing the skyline

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from 9/11 Memorial website:

"The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker created the Memorial design.

The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history."

New York: High Line

Craig recommended a walk along High Line.  Its a trendy urban renewal project that has taken a former elevated railroad spur and turned it into a mile long aerial greenway along the lower west side of Manhattan.  A fresh perspective for me on NYC.

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Switching from Mountain Time to Pacific Time we gained an hour and decided to say farewell to state parks by driving through the Valley of Fire in Nevada.

Such an appropriate name for the park, it was over 100 degrees, arid, with a ribbon of red rock that looks scorched by fire which dominates the landscape.

Intermingled with the deep red rock are strata of paler colors. All twisted and formed into strange layers and forms.

Another amazing road in an amazing landscape.

Shapes and forms of Valley of Fire

How is this for colorful strata!

White Dome in the Valley of Fire.

Interstate Driving: Monster Trucks

Mostly we avoided the Interstates, preferring the scenic byways.

Today is a highway day as we drive across 4 states to LAX and fly to New York this evening.

Interstate equals 16 litre engine, monster truck watching; they are awesome, fierce, arty, colorful, shiny, spotless, loaded, fast, expensive...

Zion National Park: final hiking day

Amazing trail to Lower and Upper Emerald Pools, cut into the overhanging rock.

I noticed how different I was feeling setting out to walk some of the many Zion trails, fragile rather than vital, it can only be about managing the end of this epic four month trip and thinking about re-entry.

Even though the walks were not tough nor was the altitude or elevation changes more than I can deal with, but my chest was tight.

Shew, heart both heavy and light if that is possible.

Canyon view from our trail

Beauty of a tree. New birds seen at Weeping Rock - Canyon Wren and Townsend's Solitaire.

Narrow valley floor with the steep cliffs make for great walks.

The Virgin River, looking innocent at this time of year.

Ice-creams on the lawn at the end of the day….

Zion National Park: hommage to the power of water

Our final park, number 13, Zion National Park here in Utah.

It is a large park, however the main action happens down the canyon, carved by the Virgin River, where the steep cliffs and the fast flowing river form a narrow, very scenic, canyon.

Power of water and time is yet again a wonder.

The park runs a free Canyon Shuttle to all the spots along the canyon drive and one hops on and off during the day.

Its  Sunday 20th, its July and the crowds are almost overwhelming and it took a lot to quietly cope with all the frenetic activity.

Strategy: look up and cliff watch….

Foodie Interlude: Springdale blogging

Motel sleeping can be tough - noisy air cons, road noise.

But the early morning light gets me going, as does finding the best spot in town for breakfast, coffee, and some quiet time to blog.

Time to plan and get on the road, Zion calls.

Such a great stop here in Springdale at the southern gate to Zion National Park.

Bryce Canyon National Park: Wildlife

Utah Prairie Dog

I reached a birding milestone in the park - 1500 on my life list and the bird was a Pygmy Nuthatch!

We watched the antics of the threatened Utah Prairie Dog and the minute Uinta Chipmunks, also called the hidden forest chipmunk, what a great visit, another trip highlight.

We now move on to Zion National Park.

Littlest of the chipmunks we have seen - Uinta Chipmunk.

Bryce Canyon National Park: holes and arches

The detail in the landscape is quite beautiful and demands you pay attention and notice.

Arches, bridges, grottoes, holes...

Man-made but as impressive, arch on the trail.

Bryce Canyon National Park: amazing Limber Pines

Clinging on for life has a new meaning when looking at the Limber Pines of Bryce Canyon.

They are a photographic delight.

Fred's exquisite photo with his zoom of a tree at the top of a hoodoo - incredible.

As always, in love with trees.

Huge in their quest for light in the dark of canyon walls.