The drive through Zion National Park was pretty spectacular. The recent snow seemed to highlight the beauty of the rock formations and colours. Every turn was awesome and we kept clicking the camera to try to capture it but really nothing can work as well as your eyes. It is hard to find all the adjectives to give this area justice. We had a fantastic evening - chilled out in the hot tub - just as the sun set over the mountains. We set off to do the narrows hike in the morning and got as far as the river before [View Full Entry]

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Ooopps - if only we had stopped for fuel this morning. Then, just as all hope was fading, looming out through the snowstorm - the most beautiful fuel station in the world -Thank the lord!! (well we are in Mormon country) Not so long later we entered Zion national park and we were once again wowed by the magnificent scenery. [View Full Entry]

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We had been told that Lake Powell was well worth a visit and, as Steve, Jo, Tom and Ollie have the name, we ought to visit their Lake. We have booked in for 3 days. We sorted our life out - laundry/car wash/shopping etc. The best part was definitely buying my (Kate speaking) new cowboy boots and wearing them for an evening at the local steak house - they are so woonnderffffullll. Enough of that……… Yesterday we headed up Antelope Creek without a paddle… …but we did have a lovely picnic and a bottle of Sparkly!! It was a beautiful sunny [View Full Entry]

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On horseback it really felt like the best way to see Monument Valley. We drove to a ranch close to the Navajo tribal park and arranged for a private trail ride with a guide. Andy was on Toby and Kate was riding Frosty - we set off with our guide Shane for a 3 hour amazing ride into Horse Canyon through all the spectacular rock formations. Shane is married to a Navajo Indian so he had lots of stories and information. This morning we went back to the park and drove the public loop. The weather changed to glorious sunshine and [View Full Entry]

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Yesterday we drove from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon. We were both quite dumbstruck when we first looked over the rim into the Canyon. The amazing thing is that it just keeps changing at each view point and with every change in light. It really does make you feel very vulnerable and small. We stayed at a lodge hotel and set ourselves up to watch both the sunset and the sunrise. Sunrise was extra special with a glass or two of bucks fizz! We have taken around 200 photos so I think we should have a good one in there somewhere. [View Full Entry]

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We waved goodbye to Vegas and drove to Flagstaff, stopping off at the Hoover Dam. It truly is great driving along in the sunshine with the hood down. In the afternoon we were in 70+ degrees and then arrived in Flagstaff smattered in snow - how weird. Flagstaff is a great little town, with lots of character and a really good night life. We only last until around 11.00 p.m. but the atmosphere was great. [View Full Entry]

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We are settled into our room at the Stratosphere on the 20th floor overlooking the strip - what a fantastic sight at night. We have 5 days here and a list of things to do. Already we have seen 2 shows - The Rat Pack at the Greek Isles and last night Mamma Mia at the Mandalay Bay. Rat Pack was really good and Mamma Mia was fantastic. Yesterday we played $40 on roulette and watched it go in 15 minutes. Toured through all the hotels each end of the strip - spectacular and exhausting. Steve and Jo’s wedding chapel on [View Full Entry]

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Raw thighs, raw butt…..BUT finally everything clicked and we were both riding like the wind. It was just fantastic. We loped (cantered) up and down trails round twisting bends at what days ago would have seemed like a crazy pace. Riding twice a day for 6 days on different horses gave us the opportunity to improve and gather confidence. We relaxed more each day and moving more and more with the horse, instead of bouncing against the poor beast. Duke and Navajo got tired and were replaced by Dusty and Cochise, we even swaped horses on the last day so we [View Full Entry]

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What a fantastic place - miles out in the desert. The ranch is only 7 years old, family-run and everything is very high quality. We have been allocated our gee-gees and Andy has bonded extremely well with Duke - who is now his new best friend. I am hoping to aspire to this level of relationship with Navajo. We did a 1½ hour walk this morning and this afternoon we are hot to trot. Ted our ‘wrangler’ worked with lots of movie stars including John Wayne, and he taught Goldie Hawn to ride. I think he has his work cut out [View Full Entry]

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Yesterday the weather just switched to summer - we drove East up highway 10 towards the desert. What fun it is driving this Mustang with the roof down - although it doesn’t do very much for my hair!! We arrived in Pioneer Town around 2.00 p.m booked into Gene Autry’s old room- what fun !! This town was originally a Cowboy movie set and has been kept alive for tourism. Took loads of photo’s and then went for a beer in the Saloon. Off for dinner tonight at Pappy and Harriet’s with a live band. Just a few hours to polish [View Full Entry]

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