Summer 2009 Trip
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August 3, 2009
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Moab, UT car lights self-mended by morn, odd. On to Arches National Park, rivals all others in exquisite rock formations.
Long arches still standing, with rubble below showing sections collapsed.
Like a keyhole, a giant gateway through the rock shows vistas beyond.
Great gateway through rock smoothly rounded by relentless erosion. Kate poses sturdily.
Two arches greet hikers. These objects are farther away than they appear to be.
Erosion not only leaves awesome formations but will someday make that column lose its head.
- Hiking trails abound. On rough trail Kate's boot sole detaches. Ouch, hot sand burns even through sock. 10 min. later other sole gives out.
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Try tying soles back on with shoestring. Meet Japanese hiker with same plight, great laughs. Hot sand eats boots, fries feet.
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Van bravely hauls us up and down from 4000-7700 ft. elevation all day long. By evening warn lights return, self-heal by morn. How does it do that?
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3 days of motel Internet promises broken. Connectivitynot. If you're reading this, it's a long-delayed upload.
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Cedar City, UT without advance reservations, try 7 motels before getting room. Name? Super 7. Crystal Innno room but great logo.
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Stairs Utah folk must be rugged. Cedar City motel has 17 steps up to lug luggage, no lift. Restaurant servers haul food up 20 steps.
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Zion National Park lots full, keep driving except for occasional fab photo op pullouts. No hikes today. Gotta get to Vegas by tonight.
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Mile-long tunnel through mountain, no lights, occasional openings for light and air. What a feat of engineering and construction. Salute!
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Las Vegas, NV Dense crowds, jarring sounds and lights. Gauntlet of booths just to cross a street. Hmm, would a Kadon booth work here?
Las Vegas is conspicuous excess, price no object. See the canals of Venice, complete with gondolier. See Kate in her coat of many pockets.
- Long walk to Treasure Island in 108F, dine in Vietnam cafe midst acres of gaming machines. Girls in short skirts and high heels strut everywhere. Kate recalls own leggish dancing years.
Temperature of 108Fperfect for a long stroll on Las Vegas' main drag.
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Cirque du Soleil always exceeds wildest expectations. Run 5 shows in Vegas. We see Mystère, not nude version. Spell-binding, flawless.
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Long walk back to motel, through rows of shills pushing cards for "Girls Direct." Get icecream cones instead, been wanting some all week.
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Ben & Jerry’s stand just closed. We plead, “We came all the way from Baltimore for this!” Oh, OK then. 2 doublescoops with tip, $25. Vegas!
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Nevada episode Saw casinos and slots almost everywhere, never played even one. Our only gamble: will the van get us home?
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Depart Vegas on I-15 to Anaheim, CA. Long walk from motel to “Downtown Disney” at sunset. Good thing Kate brought 6 pairs of shoes.
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Disney shops, eateries, live music everywhere. Buy CDs from Latin band, Alturas, and virtuoso violinist, Drew Tretick. Nice long walk back.
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Dine in New Orleans-style restaurant. Waiter Gino (Giovanni) embodies role well. Their creamy onion soup, Kate vows, is world’s best.
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Next day, “do” Disneyland, skip long lines at popular rides, walk through 7 lands, ride perimeter train and Mississippi River boat. Be kids.
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Innovention exhibit wander through futuristic house, see amazing gadgets. All glued/nailed down, even fake cake, books, knickknacks. Marvelous floor tiles espied:
Gorgeous coastline vistas at Big Sur.
- Up the coast, Rt. 1 to Big Sur, visit Hearst Castle gift shop, see castle far off. Some want to be kings. I like my house better, thanks.
The Hearst castle's gift shopcheck out that full-length curved skylight.
- Arrive 5pm Pebble Beach, CA. Dinner out with friends at "California cuisine" restaurant, sleep over. Their home is in a golf coursein it!
Deer placidly feed in friends' front yard, also known as the 14th hole.
- Watch sun set over Monterey Bay as gigantic full moon rises over mountains to the East and sea lions cavort slowly on rocks below.
Kate and friends in sunset glow, moon rising in background.
- Next day, sleep late, catch up 980 emails, visit Monterey Aquarium in former cannery. Funded by David Packard to protect rare ecosystems. [Hewlett-Packardthat one.]
Underwater wonderland at Monterey Aquarium.
- Never saw such huge jellyfish so close up. Their diaphanous domes glow in Hollywood-planned lighting, show 4-leaf clover ridges.
- Marvel at sea otters’ playful, languorous watercraft: spin on both axes, groom tails lying on back in water like balls of fur. Little imps!
- Our host and friend Joe, a competition-class chef, barbecues today. Kate suspends vegetarianism for this feast. Best BBQ ever, she avers. Tomorrow, San Francisco.
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