Oh Boy, am I out of shape-Monday May 20, 2013

We seem to be having a little trouble with the house batteries going dead too soon.  The first morning we woke up to find the batteries too low we checked and double checked everything and found we had left the light on the entrance steps turned on.  We foolishly thought we had solved the problem until this morning when we got up to find the same thing, a very, very low battery.  I guess its back to the drawing board.  Well after yet another thorough check of every plug in and light switch we did find Jim’s bedside light may have a little problem.  The switch is in the on position but the light is not on.  I kind of doubt that is the culprit, but we shall see.

 

We are just back from a very memorable day.  They don’t allow private vehicles on the road that leads to the end of the canyon, you have to go by shuttle bus.  The shuttle makes six stops along the way and you can get off at each stop for as long as you want and just hop on the next passing shuttle when you are ready to go.  We got off at the third stop and did a bit of hiking. 

 

We hiked up to the Emerald pool which is just under a mile, most of it up hill.  There are several areas that have steps carved into the rock, so the walk is a pretty good work out for someone as out of shape as I am. 

 

 I am sure my legs will be reminding just how out of shape I am in the morning.  Along the way you walk under a rock overhang that has water spraying from it.

 

The cold spray felt good and I didn’t want to leave it behind and go on.  From the Emerald pool we continued on up to the second pool about another half mile.  Again, mostly up hill. We discussed going another mile up to the upper pool, but keeping in mind that I wanted to do some additional hiking trails further up the canyon I opted out.  Rather than go back on the trail we had come on we decided to hike on a trail leading to the next shuttle stop further up the canyon.  This trail was much easier, as it was mostly downhill.  On the way down we saw a ton of cactus in bloom.

 

 

 

We got back on the shuttle at the fourth stop and continued on up the canyon to the last stop.  This time we hiked up a fairly easy trail that followed along the Virgin River.  We went about a mile up this trail until we came to an area that would have meant wading the river not once but several times back and forth.  I tested the water and found it to be a bit cold for my liking so we headed back to catch the shuttle.

 

 

On the trip back down in the shuttle we got to stop and check out some rock climbers. Lock closely just over half way up and you can see them.

 

It seemed no matter what window you looked out from the shuttle bus you could get a view of the cliffs, including the vent window on the shuttle roof.

 

 

 

What a Great Day!!