Bicycle Trips-Kayenta and Zion NP

Hello loyal follower(s),

     Thursday, March 31, 2011 Mr Nut and his biking friend went biking (just a couple of hours) in a beautiful desert community about seven miles west of St George, UT.  Mr Nut in his infinite wisdom forgot his camera, therefore no pictures.  But never fear we will go back probably April 4 with a camera.

      Friday April 1, Mr Nut and his wife (Cyndy) took a Bicycle hike in Zion national park with a camera.  It was a perfect day with a temperature in the 80s and clear blue Utah sky.

Zion NP is less than 50 miles from our home and it takes less than two gallons of gas for the round trip in our Toyota Prius.



We are at the park unloading our bikes.  Cyndy took off the blue denim shirt before we started.

Zion NP's elevation ranges from 3600 feet to 8000 feet, we were in the lower elevation area.  Cyndy at start of hike, sans denim shirt.

The majestic beauty can not be completely captured with a camera, especially by Mr Nut.



Notice the trees were just starting to bud.

What was Mr  Nut doing?

He was answering the phone of course.


It was our son William calling from California.

It was a "time out" while Cyndy chatted with Bill, he usually call about once a week, which we appreciate.

The structure (lower right hand corner of picture) was one of many bridges over the Virgin river along the trail.

This picture was an attempt to shown the height of the canyon walls in  the background.  Cyndy was just a reference point.

After about two mile on the purely hiking, biking trail, it was time to head up into the canyon.  Which meant we were going to be biking on the road.  No problem since from April 1 thru Oct 30 no cars are allowed on the road, only Shuttle Buses which h run on natural gas --- no fumes.

Mr Nut taking a water break at the Shuttle Bus stop at the mouth of the canyon.  An of course, being Mr Nut, he forgot and left his nice water bottle at the stop.

A fellow biker took our picture at the second water break at The Court of the Patriarchs.  Each peak was suppose to represent a Biblical or Book of Mormon person, Abraham; Isaac; Jacobs.
Could also be Larry; Curly and Moe.

A nice picture with a shuttle bus in the distance to give perspective.

Lunch time  at The Grotto, where we enjoyed some of Mr Nuts 87% Whole Wheat Sandwich bread with Cyndy's special hiking filling.

Aha ! Mr Nut himself, enjoying Cyndy's hiking sandwich filling.

The "rock" on the right has Angles Landing on top of it.  Directly below the tall dark shadow on the left "rock" was a horizontal dark line at about 10 degrees of of horizontal.  That was actually a groove carved into the side of the rock to make a path to the top of Angles Landing.
   It is four hour hike to the top of Angles landing and back, with an elevation change of 1490 ft.

Quote from NP guide: "Long drop-offs. Not for young children or anyone fearful of heights.  Last section is a route along a steep, narrow ridge to the summit."

Right above and to the right of the sign was a waterfall at Weeping Rock.  usually was just a rock face with water seeping out, but because of all the snow pack and rain this year, it actually had a waterfall.

A little closer shot, the falls was actually at least 500 ft up.

OK, now Mr Nut was just a reference point for the picture.

 One last view as we headed back to our car and home.


Mr Nut was "on" for making pizza when we got home.

About the pizza tomorrow.

Recipe for Hiking Sandwiches follows:


À bientôt,

Mr Nut

Hiking Sandwiches

from Family Fare compiled by Susan Martin 

at least ten years ago

4 ounces cream cheese (regular or low fat)

1/4 cup raisins or craisins

1/2 teaspoons dried lemon Peel

1/2 tablespoon  lemon juice

1/2 grated carrot (about 2 ounces)

1/8 cup sunflower seeds

Mix and spread on bread; makes two sandwiches.