Mike in Bull Valley Gorge

Bull Valley Gorge, Pt. 1

LocationsUtah Trip

I really don’t know why thy call it that. It’s a valley. And it’s most definitely a gorge. Never seen a bull in it and judging by what it takes to get down through it, I’m not sure a bull could make it. Nevertheless, I’m sure there is some folklore I’m not aware of from ages past from which it derives its name. What it’s known for today, however, is something far more intriguing and less nuanced. There’s a truck stuck in the gorge. Suspended somewhere in excess of 50’ above the floor of the gorge is an old truck wedged between the rocks. Keep reading

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Delaware River

Pocono Mountains

Locations

Our recent trip to New York didn’t end at Niagara Falls. In fact, it was just the beginning. After spending the day at Niagara Falls, we drove down to the Pocono Mountains and spent a week at the Carriage House. We didn’t do a lot of hiking while we were there, but the hiking we did do was really cool. Keep reading

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Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Bucket ListLocations

Amazingly, I get to mark one more thing off my bucket list this summer. As I told you before, I have always wanted to see Niagara Falls, and we got to spend the entire day there last Friday. It is as spectacular as I imagined, and remember, I’ve got a very vivid imagination. Now we are used to going to places that are off the beaten path and crowds aren’t something we encounter. So, I have to admit it caused a little claustrophobia being around that many people. Keep reading

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Waterfall on the Three Falls Trail

Three Falls and a Hanging Rock

Locations

In spite of the heat and humidity this past Saturday, we were so inspired by our own blog post, that we went up to the Salamonie Reservoir in search of waterfalls. The Salamonie is one of our go-to places when we get this random urge to go hiking. It’s nice because it’s less than 30 minutes away from our house. It had rained quite a bit throughout the week so we knew our chances of finding a waterfall would be increased. Keep reading

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Natural Bridge in Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon

LocationsUtah Trip

A week or so ago, I was talking to the clerk at the bookstore in Moab, UT. We were talking about sights in the area and how few of them are seen. The majority of tourists come through and see the same viewpoints that everyone else sees. Take the same pictures. Visit the same landmarks. He told me an axiom that he had heard and I’ve thought about it a lot this trip. He said that 98 percent of people see 2 percent of the land. It’s always been a goal of mine to be one of the 2 percent; to see some of the things that the other 98 percent will never see. Keep reading

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Ding Dang Dome

Ding Dang

LocationsUtah Trip

Ever heard of Ding Dang Canyons or Ding Dang Dome? Neither had we until Friday morning. I’d heard my Uncle Harold refer to someone as a ding dang dummy, but that was about the extent of it. We were talking to the camping neighbors on Friday morning and one of the guys asked if we’d ever hiked Ding Dang Canyons. “Oh, you got to hike them,” he said. “They are two of the best slot canyons in the area,” Steve told us. Steve was one of eight guys that came in and set up camp next to us at 12:30 in the morning on Friday. Keep reading

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Arch in Utah

Why Utah?

LocationsUtah Trip

What makes Utah better than any other place in the world, like say, the Rocky Mountains or Florida Beaches? Why do you want to go hike in a hot barren, seemingly lifeless desert for three weeks? And enjoy it?!?! Keep reading

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Highway

Quick Trip

LocationsTrail Mix

Last week Michael and I got the opportunity to make a quick trip to Pensacola to see the boys. And when I say quick, I mean we drove down Monday, spent Tuesday with the boys and my family, and drove back Wednesday. It was exhausting and wonderful at the same time. We basically crammed a full visit into one day and tried to see a little bit of everyone and do a little bit of everything. Keep reading

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Angel's Landing

Angel’s Landing–The Perfect Hike

Locations

What are the earmarks of the perfect hike. Well, I imagine that would vary from person to person about as much as what constitutes the perfect pizza. But, the point is if the pizza has the key ingredients that make it enjoyable for us individually then we all like pizza. If a hike includes the essentials that make it enjoyable for each of us then we all will enjoy hiking. Unless, of course, you feel that asphalt and a golf cart are essentials. In which case you have actually moved into something that can no longer be called hiking. So for those who call having to park more than six parking spaces from the front door of Walmart a hike, let me give you some of my essentials of a good hike. Keep reading

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Waves rolling onto beach

Seaweed and Sandfleas

Locations

Over Labor Day weekend, we helped Justin and Camden move into their dorm rooms down in Florida. With the reality of them being gone until Christmas heavy on my heart, believe it or not, Michael had to talk me into going to the beach. Did you hear what I just said? I am a beach person. One of my favorite places in the world is the white sandy beaches of Fort Pickens, and he had to talk me into going!! Gavin said, “I want to come, but I’ll just be a ‘third wheel’!” (If you’ve never seen our favorite comedian Tim Hawkins’ song about the “Third Wheel”, go here. This is a must see—so funny). It will take a little while for Gavin to adjust to his new role of only child, but I assured him that we were the three musketeers instead—all for one and one for all! Keep reading

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