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Saturday, September 28, 2019

Traveling the West, Part Four: Utah and Back to Oregon

Welcome to Utah!  It's a beautiful state with so much to see.  We've been to its National Parks and Monuments a few times and that's what I imagined we'd be doing this trip.  Not so.  We skirted the edges, staying one night just outside of Zion, and a few more nights outside of Bryce.  Have mercy, if you get a chance, do visit those parks.




By the time we got to Utah we were ready for cool water and green shade.  Pictured below is a quick roadside stop on the edge of Lake Powell.  It's not a good view and we couldn't get to the water without going into a park.  You can Google Lake Powell.  It's phenomenal.  We did one busy tourist destination this trip (Grand Canyon), and that was enough for Wally and LuLu.  After all, they are why we travel in a motorhome.




Just because you see water doesn't mean you can get to it.  It flows through a farmer's field or the occasional crowded park or it's at the bottom of a canyon.  It's not for passers by.  An accessible skiff of water is an oasis.




Ahhhh... it feels so good to get wet.




Oh, happy day, we found a small park with cool water and green shade!




And a place where the dogs could actually swim.




After a three day rest stop we had to think about heading toward home (insert sad face), but we made the most of it and drove Utah's scenic Hwy 14.
















After all that glorious scenery we crossed the Nevada desert again.  Here's LuLu.  She was the prettiest sight on that leg of the trip.




We re-entered Oregon by way of Doherty Slide, which is considered one of the scariest stretches of highway in the US.  Really?  We didn't learn that fact until afterward.  We were awestruck when we reached this point, but you really must be there to grasp the stunning vastness of the landscape.  There's a hang glider launch up here.




We camped one night in southern Oregon.  Every time Rich did the auto-leveling of the motorhome Wally went to his safe place in the front seat.




Oregon's Hwy 140 has become one of my favorite routes.





Hopped onto the interstate for a quick route back to the coast.




All wrapped up with quite a few photos left out.  I've been so busy working on the photo book and blog posts I haven't taken any new photos since we've been home.  However, I will stop in for a visit here next Saturday.  Take care and see you then!


22 comments:

  1. what gorgeous country. thanks for taking me there

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  2. Absolutely wonderful pictures. You have captured some gorgeous country in your pics. Again I feel I'm right there with you. Sorry to see this vacation come to a end. You certainly will have great memories of this trip! We are on the road now, just thought I would check to see if you had posted. Glad I checked. Have a great weekend Leslie!

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  3. Absolutely gorgeous scenery and I am so glad you shared it with us so we could all get a little mini vacation !

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  4. ohhhhhh, sigh. Such breathtaking beauty and texture - no one does it like Mother Nature! My favorite photo is of you at the oasis with the checkered table cloth - a look of pure Serenity full of Wonder and Love is on your face - who could possibly nap on travels such as these with all the lovely scenery to behold at every bend and over every precipice. Thank you so much for sharing with us. I can see why we can no longer just decide to pull over and camp like we once did in days gone by. I wonder what my grandparents (who were "pioneers" in Vegas) would think about how everything looks now, and the grave changes that have happened since Hoover Dam? Thanks again, Leslie, for sharing! xx

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  5. Wow! Stunning photos. Looks like you all had an amazing time.

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  6. Beautiful photos Leslie, I love the one with you sitting at the table. If only we all had a view like that :)
    The dogs look like they had a wonderful vacation.

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  7. Leslie,
    Thanks for including us on your vacation. It surely is God's country. I love seeing your pictures of you and your kids. It always brings a smile.

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  8. Wonderful photos and I do so love seeing your dogs. Thank you!

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  9. You take such wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  10. hi leslie, i don't comment on here much since i get your posts in my emails...love them, btw! we haven't done much traveling in the southeastern portion of the state but the pics of doherty slide and 140 make me want to take a drive! beautiful! glad to see you both and your pups are doing well!
    here in albany, our weather today has been...fog, clouds, rain, clouds, more overcast, rain, clouds, SUN, clouds...and it's not even noon! lol! sweats and flannels are out and being used. oops! sun! better get the little one out for her quick walk!
    thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures...

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  11. Oh Leslie, what a memorable trip!!! All the pictures of your travels are stunning, I'm so happy you kind of took us along by showing all of these amazing places you and your family visited.
    Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with us.
    I know that, even if you enjoyed this trip to the fullest, you guys probably are yearning to come back to all the comforts of home.
    Sending hugs.
    Maria.

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  12. Unfortunately we didn't make it thru Utah on our cross country trip several years ago but hopefully one day! Your photos are always so fabulous and your guide us all down the road with you with such ease! LOVE the red gingham table cloth (only you would have one in the motorhome! lol) Fabulous post my friend ... thanks for the trip!

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  13. love all those rock formations. What views. Have a great day

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  14. My hubby loves utah, he wants to go back out next year, there are still a couple parks he wants to see, looks like you found a great area for wally and lulu to cool off and some great shade for youtoo get out of the hot sun. It's amazing how the terrain can change isn't it. There is a highway in Colorado where the road is so close to the edge it freaked me out, with twist nd turns, I don't need to experiment with that again. Looks like a fantastic trip

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  15. Thank you so much for sharing. It is a part of the country I will never get to visit but you have taken me there and I definitely enjoy traveling with Wally and LuLu!

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  16. WOW such amazing scenery and brilliant photos sure I saw a couple of Indians among those rocks
    Carol x

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  17. Thanks again for sharing such great photos!! Sounds like you had a great adventure. I think it was so funny that Wally went to his safe place while Rich was leveling!

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  18. Looks like heaven on earth! Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures and wonderful memories!

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  19. Beautiful! Thank you for posting these... if I ever get there, I'll know where to go! :D

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  20. So beautiful. I can't tell you how much I enjoy your photos!!! What an amazing country we live in...

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  21. Well, I am late to the party but we have been gone too and leave again in a few weeks for my birthday which is rather close to yours hah!! The scenery is stunning and you have captured the beauty of traveling...I along with the rest love the picture of your gingham checked tablecloth as it's just 'my thing' too, maybe that is the Libra in us LOL! I also especially love the picture of Wally sitting in the front seat, that is so my Mack too, we aren't sure what happened bu the used to travel excellent and now he is a panting nervous wreck for the 5 1/2 hours of riding...anyhow I have enjoyed your summer travels, maybe you will get out onetime this Fall...that would be fun...take care!!

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  22. I would think it would be everyones favorite route. Those views are beautiful and all that green. Oh so lush and inviting. Looks like the puppies enjoyed the travels once again. They both make me just smile every time I see them. Thank you for continuing to share them with me girlie. Hugs!

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