Archive for June 5th, 2008

Grab a snack and have a pee, this is a long one.

Day 1 – Las Vegas

We picked up our rental car (a cute red convertible) and checked into a cushy Jr. Suite at the MGM Signature hotel.

That evening we enjoy wonderful pre-dinner entertainment reading the exorbitantly priced menus at the restaurants in MGM Grand. My favorite was the tasting menu at $385 per person. Per Person! For Food! Vegas is a ridiculous place in so many ways.

After dinner we saw KA (an amazing gravity defying Cirque de Soleil show), then I lost $20 on the slot machines but managed to take a long time doing it, so I believe I got my money’s worth.

Day 2 – The Grand Canyon

My first vacation run! It was sadly hilarious as I waved bye to Nick, told him I’d be back after 7miles so expect me in an hour, only to find that I hadn’t accounted for altitude – 7000 ft. makes a difference. It was disconcerting expecting to bound like a gazelle only to wheeze out the slowest miles I’ve done in forever. My ego and lungs got the best of me and I cut it to a short but painfully slow 4.5. Check out the satellite photo of my run from SportTracks. Wild, huh?

The next day was the famous Mule ride down the canyon. They take you in groups of 6 and yes, it’s scary because you are right on the edge, but the mules are so sweet and surefooted that you just give in to them knowing what to do. Here are Nick and I at Plateau Point, where you eat lunch before heading back up the canyon.

Day 4 – Mexican Hat, UT

We stayed at the Mexican Hat Lodge on our way to Moab, UT. I’d picked this lodge out from the internet. It had good reviews on Trip Advisor but I hadn’t seen photos.

Here is the lodge.

Here is the lock to our room (note the door is sliding glass).

That evening before dinner we drive out to Valley of the Gods, a miniature Monument Valley that is so beautiful and secluded that you think you’re the only person on earth. So what a surprise when Nick says, “Look!” and out of nowhere comes a small group of runners with their support car in tow. In my excitement, I jumped up in the convertible and yelled like a madwoman, “Go Ultra Runners, Go!!!” and got some surprised and delighted expressions and waves in return.

Valley of the Gods was so intensely gorgeous with all it’s stark monuments, we drove out again when it got dark and sat with the convertible top down, watching for falling stars.

Days 5 & 6 – Moab, UT

This fabulous little sporty town is a bicyclist mecca and a big rafting haven due to the Colorado river being right there. It was 91 degrees the afternoon we arrived, so I scrapped the idea of an outdoor run and got 7 in on the treadmill. The elevation was only 4000 ft. so it wasn’t at all as hard as Grand Canyon.

The next day we went on a full-day rafting trip down the Colorado. There are two rafting guides when we get to the loading site. One is smart and experienced, the other is a young cute guy who is dumber than a box of nails. He reads out our guidelines and instructions from a card, stopping occasionally to say, “Whoa, that’s on there? that’s cool” inspiring little confidence but giving Nick and I much to laugh about.

We start down the river, 2 large rafts of people, then Nick and I in an inflatable kayak. Nick is an experienced kayak guy, so I feel safe with him, but it’s a little scary since it’s only my second time rafting. No problem though, we manage the rapids well and the guides compliment us during a rest stop, saying we look like we’ve got it together and they’re not worried about us at all.

Then the young stupid guide says, “Hey, you wanna get wet? Just follow me”. That sounded exciting, so Nick and I line up to follow as he takes his passengers across without incident, then it’s our turn.

About 2 seconds into the rapids, a 4-foot standing wave lifts the front of the kayak (where I am) and I see the tip of it rise higher and higher till it’s vertical. It flips backwards, throwing me into the rapids, dumping Nick out a millisecond later. There were long moments of absolute panic as I swallowed gulps of water, the raft out of reach so nothing to hold on to, and Nick on the other side of the raft calling my name and swallowing the river too, unable to see me, thinking I hadn’t resurfaced. It gives me chills thinking about it.

I finally float from the rapids and give the OK signal to the larger rafts. Nick is relieved to see I’m alright and eventually one of the larger rafts gets close enough for me to hold on, but the current is so fast I can’t get pulled onboard for a while, so when I’m finally pulled in from the 50 degree water, I begin to shake and shake and shake so hard it’s unreal. Shock mixed with cold.

Undeterred, we finished the rest of the raft trip without incident, albeit on the stupid guy’s raft.

Day 7 – Jackson, MT

We got an adorable cabin in this great little town outside the Grand Teton National Park. We drove 10 hours to get here and what an eye-popping drive it was, from the red desert monuments to snow-capped mountains. Actually it’s been a huge eye-popping experience wherever we go. The American West is spectacular, that’s all I can say.

Day 8 & 9 – Tetons and Yellowstone, MT

Spent yesterday morning and afternoon driving north, exploring the Tetons, hiking a few hours around a lake, then continuing on to Yellowstone, looking like idiots driving with the top down in 45 degree temp, but it was too gorgeous to want to put the top up.

Just for a “what a freaky world this is” reality check, this was our environment on the morning of day 7:

One day later at Yellowstone:

We’ve seen marmots, bald eagle, elk, mountain goats and so many bison, I’ve lovingly dubbed them “The Cockroaches of Yellowstone”. Here’s the sweetest coyote sitting on the side of the road checking out all the people checking him out.

That’s it for now. Tomorrow we leave West Yellowstone for (I think) Zion National Park. We’ve left the last days open and Zion looks like a cool destination. Stay tuned for the final installment.