2022 Oct 21~ Virginia Honor Flight, National D Day Memorial

 

What a privilege to help serve breakfast early this morning at the National D Day Memorial, in Bedford, Va. 

Fifteen Veterans and guardians are headed to Washington DC, with the Virginia Honor Flight, to be honored for their sacrifices to our country. 

The National D Day Memorial provides a thought-provoking area for these Veterans to meet.

Many of my DAR sisters participated in this event!

Boy, would I have loved to have been on this bus and heard all of the conversations! 

GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS!

2022 September 11, 12, 13 ZION NATIONAL PARK

 Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah

"Zion National Park is a southwest Utah nature preserve distinguished by Zion Canyon's steep red cliffs. The Scenic Drive cuts through its main section, leading to forest trails along the Virgin River." 

The beauty of this place was almost beyond description. We were fortunate to find accommodations IN THE NATIONAL PARK for 3 nights. The views from our hotel were magical. Depending on the time of day, the sunbeams casts a kaleidoscope of multi colors on the sandstone cliffs. 

Several nights, we gazed at the stars, while sitting in the parking lot. It was magnificent!

........and of course, the views from the pool were MORE THAN OK!😂

All park visitors are required to purchase a recreational use pass. I think the current price is $35.00 We purchased our life-time park pass years ago when visiting another national park($10.00😁).Life-time park passes are currently $80.00, but well worth the expense if you are going to visit many national parks. The line of cars going into the park was short and swift. Most everyone, including me, had our windows rolled down to snap photos of the breath-taking views. There were designated areas for pulling over and stopping!...... and stopping we did!

The 1.1 mile Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel used to be the longest tunnel of its type in the US, when it was completed in 1930. 

The Watchman is the spectacular formation at the south entrance of ZNP.... 1/2-mile wide and heights from 1,000 to 1,500 feet 😮.

Did I say jaw-dropping gorgeous? 

One of the most recognizable and iconic landmarks in ZNP is the Checkerboard Mesa, the white sandstone formation.

Because we stayed for 3 days in Zion National Park, we were able to come and go at our leisure. One day was cloudy, thus the difference in iPhone photos! 

Thus far, photos shown were taken on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. At Canyon Junction(#3), parking is available to hop on the shuttle.  The Scenic Drive through the Zion Canyon is approximately 8 miles long one-way..... and only available to shuttle buses(which runs continuously throughout the day every 15 -20 minutes). Hop on, hop off at designated stops for as long as you want. Hiking paths are available at each stop. Do them all, some, or none! 

After we completed the Narrows Hike, we stopped back by Zion Lodge, ate lunch, then hiked the Emerald Pools Trails (2 miles roundtrip). 

Below is the Zion Information Guide. It includes the hikes available.

Photos, honestly, do not capture the beauty of Zion National Park...... but they are a reminder to me of it's uniqueness....... one of the nation's most popular national parks. 

September 11, 2022 NARROWS HIKE ~Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah

 What an adrenaline rush!

Soaked shoes, sandy socks, wading up to our knees, walking UPSTREAM in the Virgin River😂... and afterwards looking at each other saying...."Did we really just do that 😲?" Who knew that we would/could be so daring and adventurous! 

Yes, this was one of those once-in-a-lifetime, spur of the moment decisions, with no regrets! #thethrillofalifetime #iwouldoitagain #bucketlist

"The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. This gorge, is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park." You can see The Narrows by hiking along the paved, Riverside Walk for one mile from the Temple of Sinawava.

If you wish to see more......... you walk in the Virgin River........... and that is what we did!

Wading upstream was a sensation that I will never forget. The sites were gorgeous and breath-taking.

"The Narrows is a unique 2-mile round trip hike that takes hikers through a beautiful canyon. Hikers are sometimes shoulder-deep, ankle-deep, and or knee-deep in the Virgin River while walking the distance. Flash floods are a major concern when hiking." 

The gorge has walls a thousand feet tall. In some places, the river is just twenty to thirty feet wide. The waterfalls were numerous. Often the Narrows is closed due to flooding after a rain. 

We did not make this an all day hike, but made it far enough to say:

WE HIKED THE NARROWS!