Canyon Country

LOL --in the snow and wind, dancing on the corner. We'll have to add a chapter to the song...

A couple of days out from a very comfortable stay with Sam & JoAnn, Carlene and I are finally in canyon country!

Just West of Winslow is Meteor Crater:

Yep, that's one big ass hole in the ground, needs some spicing up...

There, much better...

Then a short drive to the Grand Canyon, in the snow, cold and did I mention the wind chill?

The Sun was just beginning to peek through the clouds as the Winter storm we were following North dissapated. The conditions made for some spectacular lighting.

Carlene caught some of the light, and me in this picture:

Even in the Winter, the Canyon gets a lot of visitors. We met people from Brazil (screeching teenage girls included of course), China, and, of all places --Vancouver. Yep, someone from our own back yard. Go figure.

One couple offered to take our picture and did a spectacular job:

And as a reminder that the place is still alive, a rock slide happened while I was standing at the rail:

Yesterday morning we headed out early, like really early, like, before the sunrise early. Just North of the AZ/UT border, the Sun caught up with us:

Which, of course, also made for some nice lighting opportunities...

That fog you see in the background is flowing down the cliffs into the canyon below. Very cool.

Did I mention it was freezing ass cold? There was a coating of ice on everything!

I mean everything:

There were so many good opportunities, I had to download all of the pictures from the camera so I could take some more!

Nice rock formations against a clear blue sky:

A lone Raven guarding the entrance to the trail:

And what self-respecting photographer can resist the patterns water makes as it finds its way to the sea...

Bryce Canyon should be on everyone's bucket list. Here's why:

Roscoe was having a great time too:

The snow was fresh and it made for some interesting snow drifts:

We're hanging out at a public library just North of Salt Lake City, UT taking care of the usual stuff, email, banking and blogging. We'll make it to Idaho tonight, if it doesn't snow!

Hello Every One, No we have not vanished,just have not had much access to Internet. We are in Holbrook, Arizona. Staying here tonight as there is a storm coming in and no one on the weather can predict how intense it will be, by the looks of the BLACK sky and wind and rain/snow our guess is fun is on it's way! We are fine tired and achy but nothing that a hot shower won't take care of. We are in the Painted Desert, tomorrow will do a bit of sight seeing on The Hopi Reservation, the oldest Reservation in North America. Also hoping to stop at Meteor Crater,then up to Grand Canyon. That is as long as weather is cooperating. We have been making excellent time and not hurrying. We are anxious to be home, and should be there by Monday as I have blood work and doctor's to deal with. Just the normal annual head to toe and medicine check.
Lance turned 54 Monday, splurged and went to outback for dinner, got to have our steak. We had a wonderful time in Virginia with Thairyan and Alicia and the twin girls little over 2 now. I just love to play with those two, they are little people not babies anymore, and I get to be as goofy and free as I like,you should have seen us with my tambourine! Thairyan and Alicia are just great young people a bit overwhelmed at times but who wouldn't be.
Our visit with Sammie and Jo Ann filled with fun, food and laughter and crafts for me and Jo Ann and Sammie and Lance doing what they do best create. Love watching and listening to the both of them. Great friends and will be looking forward to them coming out to Washington for a visit. Yes I know no photo's yet, believe me plenty have been taken but most likely will not be posted till we come home. At some point I will be doing a post on Billboard Signs especially the ones in the South, they certainly made me gasp, if you can imagine that? LOL! Rest Area's are another post! Our beautiful Country overall is poor with abandoned homes business's, places just left and people gone,very sad and we wonder if our government ever see these parts of our country? If they do why do they not care? So many question's with no answer's, we say our prayer's as we stop at these places giving thanks that we are OK and even with our health and money Challenges we are indeed fortunate. We thank all who have open there home's and love to us and we will forever cherish each and every one of you. Thank you for restoring our faith in family ,friends compassion and unconditional love and respect. Well time for that hot shower and tuna fish sandwich and oatmeal for supper. Hugs and Peace Within. Carlene Lance and Roscoe The Wonder Dog :)

Here we are on a very rainy windy day in Chesapeake, Virginia. We are planning on leaving it looks maybe possibly on Tuesday the 19Th. The van is coming along good but as you know nothing comes easy.

We have been enjoying our time with the little girls Bella and Alexis. It is amazing how twins can be twins yet have such different personalities. It just amazes me! They love to dance and they shake my tambourine and dance around, fun to be with them. I have been teaching them quiet time, so we sit on the floor and breath in through our nose out through our mouth and Say "Ohm". They laugh but after a few minutes they are really into it love them. It has been fun to get to know Thairyan who is just like his Dad, and Alicia who is a great Mom. We are really proud of them both.

Yesterday Lance and I went out looking for a couple of Parts for the van and ended up at Virginia Beach. We stopped at The Edgar Cayce gift shop. Wow could spend many hours there, so much to read and smell. Very interesting person. Hated leaving but it was a long ride back and we still hadn't found the blasted parts we need.

Hope there is not any flooding back there at home. We saw there were 'flood Watches" for most rivers. What a trip this has been, looking forward to coming home and rest for a bit,glad it will be turning Spring as we find a small home high in the mountains.
Well think that is it for now, I know picture's,Lance has certainly taken many but has been pretty focused on getting the van set.

Hi Gramps,sure hope your new pace maker is making you feel better and stronger. Will see you soon. Norm hope your pneumonia is gone and you are getting better.
Jim my brother and wife Claudia I believe have a anniversary coming up. What # is it? 40 years? OMG. Congratulations. :)

So will see you all very soon. Much love and Peace Within,The Gypsies

Hello Every One,
Hope all is well and a Happy Healthy and Prosperous 2010. We are heading home getting away from the Northeast snow storms and cold. We need to get back to see doctor's and get my medicine's updated. We are tired and anxious to get back, we have had a wonderful time for the most part, as a friend said to me " remember just pot holes in the road", the rest is good. Roscoe is hanging in there, wants to be settled in the hills somewhere. We will be out of New England by Friday. No more lobster's for a while, they are so good! Well that is it for now, take care everyone. Gramps is in our prayers today as he is having a new pace maker put in, remember your goal Gramps.
Much love to all, The Gypsies