Grand Canyon

Well here we are at the Grand Canyon. It sure is deep and HOT!




The family joined us but stayed in their own tent. Parker liked being with us. Zoe loved chasing me and then chasing Parker. After awhile all Zoe wanted to do was hide. She even curled up around Anne's neck to get away. Everytime we went for a walk, guess who wanted to come with us. You got it, Parker. She's a pretty awesome walker, and she gives great treats when we do what our parents want!

There was a cookout with s'mores. We didn't get any. Poor us! We're practically starving out here!







They all pretended to hike down the famous Bright Angel Canyon trail which was ten miles long zigzagging down into the canyon. That's a picture of it from Hopi Point which is a great place to see the sunset, too. It lets you look way down the canyon. They all went 100 feet. WOW!!!!








Mom enjoyed seeing the California Condors. There are only 63 in the park and they saw bunches. The views were awesome from all along the South Rim. They were even able to see rafts going down the Colorado River.

Well enough from here. Zoe will add all about Bryce Canyon which is our next stop.

Santa Fe

Zoe and I have enjoyed being in Santa Fe for this week. Once Zoe got better from her surgery, we got to go lots of places. Plus, Zoe has really been running me ragged. The parents really like the city of Santa Fe. The architecture is all similar, but Mom really loves the way it just looks like cliffs or hills until you get right up on it. Everything in the main area of Santa Fe is constructed in the adobe style even if it isn't original. Here is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. We thought he looked really kind standing in front of this cathedral. Maybe he'll bless us, too, even though the signs said no animals were allowed.
This hotel, La Fonda, was only built in 1922 on the same site of earlier hotels at the end of the Santa Fe Trail. I sure wouldn't have wanted to walk all the way from the East to get here like they did. I bet dogs weren't seen on the trains very often.




Last night, Mom had Dad drive all of us up to the Santa Fe Ski Resort to see the sun set at 7:21. Guess what? The sun really set at 8:21. We got to have a supper picnic looking out over the valley where Santa Fe is, though. Then I kept hearing Mom say "This really fits the saying, 'Every cloud has a silver lining!' doesn't it?" I don't think she is right 'cause the clouds turned orange and pink later on. I don't get it, I guess. Neither did Zoe. Dad seemed to enjoy it, though.





Today, all of us got ready to leave tomorrow morning. That means that Z and I slept while the folks shopped and shopped. You should have seen the stuff they brought back. Then we all piled into the truck and headed out for a place called Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks. There used to be volcanoes here a long time ago and this place has the weirdest rocks. Don't they look like Tents? They just stick up out of the ground. The problem, though, was that we all got out onto the trail after being told about rattlesnakes being right near the trail. You think I was going exploring? You've got to be kidding, right? Anyway, we got a little way down the trail and that wimp Zoe had her tongue dragging on the ground. It was only 91* so I don't know what her problem was. Mom kept touching the trail to see how hot it was on our feet and finally she and dad decided that she would take us back to the car area and he would continue on the trail alone. It was kinda hot, I guess. Z got to ride in Mom's arms back to the parking area, but I had to walk. Anyway, it was nice to sit in the shade and drink cold water until Dad returned. Coming home it showed 100* on the thermometer in the car. The reservation was really pretty - especially when we saw the buffaloes. Then there were these weird flock of birds - 20 or so Red Tail Hawks just floating along. I think I like the desert.


Well, I probably won't be able to write for a while. We'll be in Grand Canyon for 4 nights with our friend Parker and her folks. I can't wait to eat the marshmallows the guys bought today! I'll tell you all about our visit at the canyon when we get back to a place that has WiFi as soon as I can.

Oh, one last thing, Anne in NC said that lots of bloggers get book deals. Do any of you know a good agent? Think of all the fun I could have if I sold my memoirs! P

Dad's a Wimp and I'm Home Alone

Phaedra here... Well here we are in Santa Fe in a lovely campground with shade and grass, finally. Wait!! I can't walk on the grass? I still only get dirt gravel? Not fair.

Plus, Zoe had to go for the day to the Vets and now all she does is sleep since she got home, and Mom and Dad left me alone when they went to Bandelier National Monument. It really sounded neat because these are cliff dwellings in Frijoles Canyon near Los Alamos. I heard Mom talking about climbing to the top of Alcove House which was way up the wall in the second picture. She had to climb 4 ladders to make it to the dwellings. Dad only went up the first ladder. What a wimp!! The 3rd picture was Mom looking down at Dad after she climbed the second ladder. We are very proud of her 140 foot vertical climb. Dad at least made it back down. I don't think I'd like to live in those caves. Imagine what you'd have to do every time you went out for a walk. P

Snow! Snow! Snow!

Phaedra here... Wouldn't you think that if you are hiking when it is 56* with the sun shining and a cool breeze it wouldn't require too many stops? Not so! My parents were breathing hard after
the first hill. Well, maybe the 11,000 feet altitude had something to do with it, too. They said that the air is thinner, but it didn't bother me at all.


Zoe kept up with me through streams and over rocks, but she did a header down a snow field. She caught on soon enough, but still couldn't catch me! You won't believe what a movie star I am. Just ask my mom. You should have heard my folks exclaim over the ski runs here at Taos Ski Valley. Mom even told dad that it looked just like the recurring nightmares she used to have about how steep the runs were and how scary it was just to get started down. She doesn't think she could go down them anymore. I heard her say that 23 out of the 30 runs are only for experts, so maybe she's right. I could do it, though. When we got back we had to pack because we're off to Santa Fe tomorrow. That wussy puppy just slept for hours and hours. I liked that, though, because she bites me and pulls my beautiful hair out by mouthfuls! Got to go take a nap now. Guess I'm a bit tired out, too, but I'll never admit it. Adios from Taos. P

Brrrrrrrrr

Zoe here... We've gone from 97 degrees to high of 55 in two days. We are in a great campground in Taos, NM except there is no grass. I don't mind that so much 'cause I love to eat all the little stones I can get, but my parents don't think I should do that. I sneak in a few whenever they get distracted! Mom loves all the sagebrush. Sometimes it makes me sneeze. We had gone for a walk in the center of town and that was fun. See us sitting on a park bench? The plaza is an old Spanish plaza and it even has grass for us plus a kiosk with Mutt Mitts. Luckily they like us, dogs! I got carried across streets and sure was hot. My little legs work lots more than Phaedra's - it's not fair, I think.

Anyway, we woke up this morning to rain and SNOW. The mountains around us got up to an inch. We even had our heat on in the camper. We were left alone again when they went to visit Taos Pueblo where Indians have been living for 1000 years. Nap time for me. Oh Boy!!!! Phaedra just told me that we are going to do some riding around the area the next 2 days...our favorite pastime.