Utah Photos - Last Day from Zion to Cedar City

we leave Springdale early in the morning and catch the sunrise on the cliffs

we are sad to leave Zion behind us

the Eagle Crags

mountains rise seemingly for no reason from the desert floor

somebody used this sign for target practice...let's not hang about, ok?!?

the landscape is full of interesting shapes and forms and colors

closeup of crazy formations

first sighting of our "cold drink and shade" stop, the town of La Verkin not far below in the valley. once we reach it, we are at the end of our 20 mile downhill and onto the 40 mile uphill to Cedar City.

the road goes before us forever as we leave the Hurricane Cliffs behind. it's only 9 am, so why is it already so blisteringly hot?

beautiful flowers and reflections of shadow in the blazing sun! it's SO hot...are we there yet???

beautiful yucca specimen at Kolob Canyons visitor center. (visitor's centers can almost always be counted on to have air conditioning/heating, restrooms and water...this one was no exception and gave us a few moment of welcome relief)

well, the sign says it all...

our road winds before us and vanishes in a cacophony of dusty desert colors. it's unbelievable to bike through this!

closeup of road curve

made it to Cedar City...end of the road for now!!!

Flames

The night before departure, I decided it would be a good idea to test out my new campstove at least once...and of course s'mores were the item of choice for my brothers who volunteered to taste test!

Oregon Photos

view of "City of Bay Ocean", the coast's largest lost city

although the grey drizzle was persistent and unremitting, it gave the landscape a muted beauty of color

Cape Meares view-sea arches are home to the Common Murre bird

Fresnel-lensed lighthouse at Cape Meares...atop a REALLY steep hill! this lighthouse is the shortest on the coast

Cape Kiwanda-home to some fabulous ocean views

I couldn't believe there was a surfer in the water! It was cold!

all along the coast I passed these "entering" and "leaving tsunami hazard zone" signs...made me nervous!

Oregon coast

ocean view. I was fortunate enough to sight a few whale spouts along this famous whale watching area. the turnouts were filled with people sitting in their cars with binoculars, eyes out to sea.

view of Otter Rock, Devil's Punchbowl and Yaquina Point from high above on Cape Foulweather

close-up of volcanic activity remnants

Laisha visiting her cousins in Otter Rock...thanks for letting me get to know you and for saving me from the snow!

snow two days in a row and hail in Otter Rock...is this really mid-April? what was I thinking!?!

My cousin Dan's pottery shop is now home to a winery by the Devil's Punchbowl. A quick tour and tasting was quite enjoyable!

Muscovy ducks...the weirdest looking things - like a cross between a chicken and a duck. they make a pretty strange sound too!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse (second one...because they built the first one too far inland and the boats couldn't see the lights...whoops!)

Fishing Boats in Yaquina Bay Harbor, Newport...a beautiful blend of a working harbor and tourism. Check out the aquarium while you're there...the puffins are not to be missed!

amazing coastline and a beautiful weed (Scotch Broom)!

not to sound like a tourism agent, but did I mention the Oregon coast is fabulously beautiful?

back to seattle again...

This last month since I decided to divide up my trip into two expeditions and came to Iowa has been busy. I've been kayaking at Big Creek, hiked through the tallgrass prairie at the Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge, stalked butterflies at Reiman Gardens, powerwashed and painted a deck, helped with preparations for the celebration of my grandmother's 80th birthday, biked the Ankeny, Des Moines and Indianola roads and trails, read books by the pile and enjoyed spending time with all my truly amazing family out here in Iowa. I've enjoyed the bounty of fresh raspberries and good ol' Iowa sweet corn (some from Florida too!).

After so many days on the road, it's been refreshing to step back and enjoy the familiar, but I am looking forward to what comes next. This last week I've been feeling quite desperate to be able to make music again. A couple of hours at the violin shop helped, and I've been playing the piano whenever I've been able. I can't wait now, to start practicing in earnest and to be able to speak my heart through my violin once again. I have regained my passion and my love for the music...one of the purposes of this year, and this journey into unknown places. I am joyful!