Vermillion Cliffs and the Grand Canyon

Rockin' the red rocks near camp in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona. Maybe just warming up for Bonaroo?


Amaya explores the martian landscape. This year marked her fourth trip to the colorado plateau's red rock country. What used to be "two-tah" or Utah, is now referred to as "five-tah."




The hedghog's fuschia bloom.


The Collared Lizard soaks up some afternoon heat.




Amaya still fits in her chariot--so Dad just tried to pull the weight.


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On May 15, we drove up into the opening day of the North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park. A storm had recently dumped 8" of fresh snow on top of the rim, and although it quickly melted off, we finally had our break from the dry heat of Arizona.


Vista Grande; here is one of the Grand from Imperial Point.



Biking the rim of the Grand in Kaibab National Forest.
We settled into a great (free & unpopulated) camping spot outside of the park. Just outside of camp, we discovered some pretty sweet single track connecting numerous points and vistas.




Early morning rays light it all up. Shadows creeping across the canyons lend some perspective as to the vast scale of waters' work being accomplished via the tributaries and Colorado River. Even after a number of visits, the Grand's scale remains inconceivable.



A Prickly pear cactus gets up for morning.





Aspens' spring leaves above the single track.



Mama makes Amaya her nightly marshmallows. Goooodnight!

Puerto Penasco, Mexico

Last week, we drove the 4Runner South of the border for Tierra's Birthday. Who would have guessed that the place would be quiet on Cinco de Mayo?


Shrimp boats in Rocky Point harbor.




Feliz Cumplianos a Tierra! A 'homemade' dinner of jumbo shrimp (directly from the Sea of Cortez), real tortillas, freshly chopped salsa, etc., etc (yes, our budget kitchen sets up on the hotel balcony).




Pelicans pickin up the scraps.





This parot was the hotel swimming pool lifeguard.



Amaya had the pools to herself.
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Back in the USA---FIVE is Amaya's magic number. The following shots are from the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument down on the Arizona - Mexico border.



Blooms on Saguaro




Sun rises through an arch near Ajo peak.




Home on the range.




Ocotillo and sunset shadows.


Its way too hot for me down here, so I think we'll be headin' North to the canyons next.

Arizona

We've been visiting some of the Busby family and camping out in Arizona.


Cool Pool in Carefree, Arizona




Asher "cleans up" his supper




Who are these guys?





The morning moon




Camp near the Lake Roosevelt




Bloomin Saguaros and Turkey Vultures




Sunset over Ironwood Forest National Monument



Home on the Gila River










Amaya and Spiderman need to record a music video!

Turning Five and Roadtrippin' the West

Odin Lonning, Killer Whale Pod of Many Nations. 2006. Carved cedar with acrylic paint.




T&A ski tour just outside of Granite Falls, Washington.


Birthday girl Amaya below the salmon fry at the Seattle Aquarium.


Cousins Fisher, Maya and Amaya on a killer whale.


The Birthday girl outside the Portland Childrens Museum.



The Portland Party.


Olivia and Amaya.




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After a series of Birthday parties for our fabulous 5 year old (Granite Falls, Seattle, Baimbridge Island, Longview, and Portland), we packed up the truck and hit the road heading South through Oregon and into California.



Amaya below Mt. Shasta, northern California.



A rearview of the sunset near Yosemite National Park, CA.


Our mobile summer home on the east side of the Sierras, near Big Pine, CA.


Death Valley, CA.

We are now in Arizona and hope to update the blog again soon as the desert southwest is in bloom.

And the music never stopped...

Amaya ready to hit the streets with her super Swedish soul sister, Bubu.



Munchies? A mobile banana pancake bike offers immediate and such sweet gratification.


This tabby cat chills out above the locus pond near the River Kwai, Kanchantaburi.


HEYA, I guess its been two months since our last bloggerspot post---and we've finally played out our endgame... so lets catch it up! Back in February, we travelled south from Laos, crossing the Mekong river back into Thailand. We then stayed in the ancient city of Chiang Mai for about a week. An overnight train and bus ride later, we met up with some good friends living in Kanchanaburi. As a final destination for the trip, we made the journey back to the Treehouse on Long Beach, Ko Chang, Thailand. This pretty much took us well into March, and that long thought after "Point of Return." This was a great end to a great trip--afterall, we had started it all off on this same beach back in August; and many friends were still there.



Mick and Leaf kick it at the Treehouse on Ko Chang.


Amaya is taken in by Shavanti, Rory and Jakia---a power trio visiting the island from Queensland, Australia.



A couple of faces strained by travel...


After about thirty hours in transit, we finally finally make the ultra bizarre re-entry into the United States and reunite with our family. Above, Amaya and her dear cousin, Remy, at the Portland Airport. There's no saying how many times Amayar talked of Rem on this trip. Daily. It was a reunion to be reckoned with... and so good to be back.