Red Rock

Our first look at the cool rocks at Bryce.  On Fairyland loop.

So, since Jake and I are both graduated and we have some free time until we report to Missouri we are making the most of it.  We had previously visited Canyonlands, Arches, Zions, and Capitol Reef National Parks, so there was only one left in Utah that we needed to hit before we move.   So we did it last week.  Jake and I went down on Wednesday morning and started our adventure by hiking Fairyland loop Trail.  Though this one is out of the main park entrance, it was one of my favorites.  It should not be missed if you like hiking through cool rock formations.  It is an 8 mile hike, and took us about 3-3 1/2 hours.

A bunny!

We just kept taking pictures we thought it was so beautiful.

On Thursday morning Jake and I decided to go for a horse/mule ride into Bryce Canyon.  It was awesome and our guide was amazing.

This was our horse/mule trip guide.   He knew lots about the rocks/wildlife/plats/history of the area.

Hake got Gates the mule and I got Pongo the horse.  His mule thought he could pass my horse up the hills, but it wasn't happening.  Pongo kicked Gates and even bucked once...good thing I was holding on.

That afternooon we went on a hike to the Hat Shop.  Named because there were spires with white rocks balanced on top.   It was beautiful, but one of the more strenuous hikes we went on even though it was only 4 miles and the brochure said it was moderate (the other hikes we went on were classified as strenuous).  But it was totally worth it.

The hat shop.  It was really windy there.

 Then we had some adventures in the little "town" near by.

In town I got put in jail ....

and all Jake could do was ride his little one eared pony.

Friday morning were were joined by some of our good friends.  We did a combination hike of Navajo loop trail, Peek-a-boo loop, and Queen Anne's Garden trail.

Navajo Loop trail.

This was the view down the trail.

A cool formation on Peek a Boo Loop trail.

Our friends are such a cute couple!

In front of the China wall formation.

A spoiled chipmunk.

Blue Jay....also spoiled.

Jason broke the rules and fed the chipmunk, but this guy was seriously good at begging.

Weird rock garden.

Queen Anne herself.

 Later that afternoon we drove to most of the view points.

View from Rainbow Point.

A Creepy Crow with no fear.

Holding on to our hats in the wind.

We were looking at the natural bridge formation.

Another cute couple at Sunset point at sunset.

A castle lit up in the sunset.

 The next day we drove down to Paria (the real ghost town was called Pareah) for some ghost town adventures and shooting.

Pareah Ghost Town Cemetery.  The signs said Brigham Young had warned the people not to settle there, but the people didn't listen.  The place used to be an oasis until a flood destroyed the town and altered the landscape there.

We drove further down some BLM roads and shot guns.  This is Jake's first time shooting his new rifle.  That is a dry river bed he is standing on, not a road.

Here I am.  Yeah, I know the form is horrible.

Shooting Antony's pistol.

Jake shooting the pistol.

Jakes favorite picture you can see the shell falling and the gun is still smoking.

Tough guys.

Views around the Pareah ghost town and movie set remains.  (They filmed some Frank Sinatra western here)

 On Friday morning we packed up our camp and went for a scenic drive and a couple of hikes.  Our first hike was at the Mossy Cave trail.

A beautiful water fall on the Mossy Cave Trail.

Crossing the river on a log.

We thought this looked like a bear with something on it's back.

Then we continued along scenic Highway 12 (lots of cool views).

This is for Jackie.  If you can't read it it says "What would John Wayne do?"

Here is the view of the whole truck.  We ran into it at a gas station in Escalante.

We hiked Lower Calf Creek Falls.  It was one of the highlights of the trip for me.

There were some petroglyphs and granaries from the Fremont Indians along the way.

Calf Creek Falls.  Pretty huh?

Here we are.

And now we are home, cleaned up and ready for more adventures.  We'll let you know if we take any other fun ones.