Hoodoos

Day number four,

national park number three.

Hiked an 8.2 mile hike today called the Fairyland Loop. I think it's the land of Dr. Seuss, especially with the name "hoodoo" to describe these structures; limestone rock formations shaped by rain and the freezing and thawing of water.

In addition to tall hoodoos and picturesque views, rock structures called the China Wall and Tower Bridge were the highlights.

I arrived here yesterday and started a hike in the afternoon. Even though temps are reaching mid to high 50's, there is still a dusting of snow and frozen waterfalls.

This 6.4 mile hike was steep with winding hikes between tall canyon walls, under arches and peekaboo views. 

 
Enjoying the drive and long hikes. Lots of time for this.

National Park #2

Day Three: North Rim, Grand Canyon.

Wow! I think "grand" may be an understatement of this canyon.  Immense, expansive, breathtaking, are words that come to mind. This is the unsuspecting drive to the North Rim.

It isn't until you step around the back of the lodge that you get this eye-full. 

It's amazing that trees take root here at all.

 

Had time for a couple hikes. One took me out to a ledge where I soaked up the sun and sketched.  The day started at 21 degrees and reached only into the mid 40's. The North Rim is 1,000 feet higher in elevation compared to the South Rim and about 10 degrees cooler.  

The other hike lead me down along the canyon walls and under a ridge line. 

Gradually reacquainting myself with land-life conveniences...this cabin had its own bathroom! 

On to Bryce Canyon....

Zion National Park

Day Two.

After crewing with s/v Pearl for 2 months, I thought it best to gradually acclimate to the conveniences that living on land has to offer. Therefore, this is my first stop. They call this a cowboy cabin. No phone, cell or internet service and shared bathrooms and showers are a walk up a gravel road.

The first hike of the day, the Canyon Overlook Trail, exemplifies Zions reputation of dramatic views.

Note the gloves--It's cool here; lows around 25 and highs in the mid to high 50's. Fortunately, I had layers from our offshore leg when coming down the coast on s/v Pearl.

Zion has a great shuttle bus system to reduce the number of cars in the park. The second hike, the Riverwalk Trail, was the last stop at the tip of the canyon. Prepared hikers can continue by wading in the water and traverse many miles in until the canyon walls are as narrow as 20 feet.

 Given the temps and my limited time, I chose to take a seat here and watercolor instead.

The views are endless and the rock faces dynamic. The color changes as the day progresses. Here are a couple shots from other short hikes.

Zion or Bust

Day one: San Diego to Zion National Park.

After 60 days of not driving a car and tackling LA traffic, my hands are ten and two. Here I am after belting out "I'm still alive", Pearl Jam.

The drive is a healthy 8 1/2 hours, so these are views from the inside of my windshield.  Yes, this is all I saw of Vegas.

Loving this heat. Windows are down!

Changing Course

S/v Pearl sailed one final long leg on the CA coast before she heads into Mexico. From Newport Beach to San Diego, we traveled 60 nautical miles, which at 5-6 knots, takes 10-12 hours. 

I strolled along Little Italy and toured the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier ordered during WWII, but not launched until 1945. 

This is for you, Sally!

Bob and Salty took advantage of the perfect breezes for dinghy sailing in the harbor, note s/v Pearl in the background. 

The next morning, we said good-bye to the boats in the Baja ha-ha, a flotilla of 170 boats cruising to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with a couple planned stops along the way. 

The Buelts will be following close behind in another week once they finish last minute provisions, the installation of a water maker and other to-do’s on the list. 

As for me, after 1500+ nautical miles aboard Pearl, I’m tacking and heading inland. Borrowing words from “Carry on, Mr. Bowditch”, after losing my anchor to windward, I’ve used the past 2 months to claw off a lee shore.  I’m accepting a job offer in Denver and embarking on a road trip from San Diego through Las Vegas, into Arizona and Utah. Watch for pictures from Zion National Park, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Arches, and Vail.  What an adventure it's been. What an adventure it will be. 

Newport Beach

S/v Pearl is still in

and recently anchored near the

off

From Santa Catalina Island we sailed 26 nautical miles across San Pedro Channel to Newport Beach. We caught a mooring ball just off ritzy Balboa Island. This is the home of the frozen banana and the "duffy", an electronic boat it seems everyone has off their private dock.

 .

Residents love to decorate for Halloween.  The streets are quaint and so southern California!

On our sail down to San Diego, we had the pleasure of dolphins off our bow for many miles. This never gets old!