Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach

We woke up to clear skies and sunshine in Bryce Canyon Utah. We packed up for the day and treated ourselves to good breakfast at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. Built in the 1920's as a stop on the Southern Pacific Railways, the Lodge is a cozy and inviting place.

The drive through the Park was stunningly beautiful as we meandered through pine forests at 7000+ ft elevation with hoodoos, cliff, caves and natural bridges off to each side. It was barely 50 degrees and there was a fierce wind, so our stops were brief. After a few overlooks, Lily decided she wasn't getting out of car until it was over 60. She is calling herself a desert rat! I did carry her out to see the natural bridge.

We headed from Bryce to Zion. This made for a short car ride-about 1.5 hrs- compared to the previous day. I am realizing I have really packed a lot in and perhaps we'd have more fun if we had extra days to spend everywhere. Zion offered more of the amazing scenery we've been soaking up since the Grand canyon. Every turn in the road offered a new vista, often in a bright color. I read the history on the National Parks site of the different straitions of color and the timing so many thousands of years ago when this land was formed. We've seen blue, and pink, orange and white, cream and red!

After checking into the Zion Lodge and unpacking into our cabin with no TV (Bub tells Lily the cool gas fireplace is the TV), we head off on the shuttle bus to the top of the Canyon where the mile long riverwalk takes us to the Narrows!

This is an 18 mile shallow river with 1000 ft cliffs on either side. The water was 65 degrees but that didn't deter my desert rat from happily wading upstream with us and joyfully playing in the mud! Along the path in we saw a tiny bird chirping happily on a branch 10 feet away and lots of friendly squirrels. Hawks flew overhead. On the way out, there was a baby squirrel about six inches long next to the path and it nibbled on leaves Lily offered, until Grandbub tickled her and scared it!

After a nice hot bath and a little time in front of our flaming TV, we went to town to meet Realtors, Greg and Annette Basso at Oscars Cafe! I got to have what Annette referred to as the best hamburger in the World and that it was! If you ever get to Springdale and Zion, you must come here. Annette and I have connected over the years in some of my programs, but had never gotten to meet. We had an interesting discussion about the real estate market in St. George, Utah. She tells me a first time homebuyer, buying new construction can qualify for $24,000 in tax credits right now! And she also told me how their inventory has reduced sugnificantly and about multiple offers. Sounds like the economy is okay here! Greg and I talked about using you IRA for real estate investment and how few agents tell their clients about this. I was impressed and now it is perfectly clear why they are so successful!

Upon returning to our cabin, we passed three wild turkey in the road and two small deer greeted us. What a wonderful day!

We've gone from Tucson's 100 degree weather to chilly winds in the Grand Canyon! We left Williams early and drove up to El Tovar Lodge. Built in the early 1900's as a Fred Harvey hotel along the railway route across the southwest, the hotel is a luxurious accomodation right next to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Lily was careful not to get to close to the edge. GrandBub had threatened to push her over if she didn't quit kicking him from the backseat and I think she believed him!

The gift shop at el Tovar is so fabulous it could be a museum, with rugs and jewlery that were abundant and beautiful

From the Grand Canyon, we drove east and then north across route 89A, soaking in the vastness and beauty of northern AZ. From really desolate, to breathtakingly awesome, the drive meandered across Indian Reservation and National and State Lands. The Vermillion Cliffs looked like they must have Indians watching from the lofty tops. Lily tells me there are no longer "wild" Indians, but, surely, there must be many spirits out here.

As we go into Utah, Bub remarks on the lack of bars....we've hit Mormon country! It was a long drive today as we pass ranches on the way to Bryce Canyon, where we have a cabin reserved.

Well, this was a startling discovery...I thought I had reserved our stay at the Bryce Canyon Lodge in the National Park and discover when we are checking directions, we are staying at the Bryce Canyon Resort, which is on the main highway and is a motel-like combination of rooms, cabins and RV hook-ups.

Bub is very disappointed (thwarted expectations can cause all sorts of frustration) but Lily is just happy to be out of the car and able to go swim in the nice, indoor, heated pool.

The trip is teaching me some lessons!

Today's include:

• DoubleCheck all reservations BEFORE you leave on the trip (and probably this is also an example of don't book things when you are tired!)
• Everyone doesn't enjoy the scenery and driving as much as I do
• With a 7 year old, simple pleasures are all it takes...stop more often, swim, read

We are off to Zion and to meet up with a friend I've never met in person!