Our Big Trip to Hong Kong and Macau
In February 2006, Warren and I went on a big trip to Hong Kong! It was fanastic!!!! I made a journal of our trip to print out as a keepsake. I am posting those pages here. I realize the text probably won't be legible, but you could perhaps see the pictures. :)
Fall and Winter 2005 Trips
More Zion National Park
You can never tire of a place as magical as Zion National Park, so to celebrate my birthday we headed to Zion yet again. Best part was the slot canyoneering.
Watson Lake
Okay, this really wasn't a trip because Watson Lake is in Prescott (where we were living at the time), but we went there so many evenings that I had to include a few photographs. So pretty.
Thanksgiving Trip
In November, we spent Thanksgiving in Tucson (where Warren had a photoshoot), then headed over to California to spend a few days with my brother's family and parents (who were there visiting.) While in California, we spent one afternoon kayaking in the Newport Back Bay and had fantastically close encounters with all manner of birdlife.
Christmas Break
For the Christmas/New Years holiday, we headed up to Utah to my parents, stopping in en route at Bryce National Park.
After a few days at my parents, we headed through the snowy Uinta mountains over to Dinosaur National Monument to see real, actual dinosaur bones still intact in the dirt (very cool!).
After a few hikes at Dinosaur NM, we spent two days at Canyonlands National Park, hiking in the Island of the Sky area one day (above) and the Needles area the next (below).
We actually went off trail on the return portion of the Needles hike. If it weren't for Warren's supurb backcountry skills, we would surely have had to spend a night in the wilderness--sans tent, jackets, food, etc... It was actually a pretty scary experience, and I'll admit this: I wasn't terribly brave!
Our last stop before ending the two week vacation was to check out the 2,000 year old petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument.
You can never tire of a place as magical as Zion National Park, so to celebrate my birthday we headed to Zion yet again. Best part was the slot canyoneering.
Watson Lake
Okay, this really wasn't a trip because Watson Lake is in Prescott (where we were living at the time), but we went there so many evenings that I had to include a few photographs. So pretty.
Thanksgiving Trip
In November, we spent Thanksgiving in Tucson (where Warren had a photoshoot), then headed over to California to spend a few days with my brother's family and parents (who were there visiting.) While in California, we spent one afternoon kayaking in the Newport Back Bay and had fantastically close encounters with all manner of birdlife.
Christmas Break
For the Christmas/New Years holiday, we headed up to Utah to my parents, stopping in en route at Bryce National Park.
After a few days at my parents, we headed through the snowy Uinta mountains over to Dinosaur National Monument to see real, actual dinosaur bones still intact in the dirt (very cool!).
After a few hikes at Dinosaur NM, we spent two days at Canyonlands National Park, hiking in the Island of the Sky area one day (above) and the Needles area the next (below).
We actually went off trail on the return portion of the Needles hike. If it weren't for Warren's supurb backcountry skills, we would surely have had to spend a night in the wilderness--sans tent, jackets, food, etc... It was actually a pretty scary experience, and I'll admit this: I wasn't terribly brave!
Our last stop before ending the two week vacation was to check out the 2,000 year old petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument.
Summer 2005 Trips
During the summer of 2005, Warren and I went on a number of weekend jaunts in the Western US. Here's a quick run-down of what we did:
Zion National Park
In early May we made another trip to Zion, catching a beautiful display of 'orange globemallows' en route:
While there, we hiked a bit in Zion, then explored nearby Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park:
In mid-May we took a weekend trip to California so Warren could photograph an airplane, and in late-May we spent a long weekend exploring eastern Arizona (on a photo shoot for a congressman, who wanted some beautiful landscape photographs of Arizona for his office in DC).
White Mountains
In early June we spent a weekend backpacking in the White Mountains, along Arizona's eastern border. It was my first pack-in trip, and other than having a fairly sleepless night, I was hooked. When it was all done, we climbed a nearby fire tower to survey our hiking area:
Zion National Park, again
In mid-June, we spend another weekend in Zion, this time hiking the East Rim Trail...fun but exhausting (a bit too hot!)
Backpacking in Pecos National Forest, NM
Having not gotten our fill of backpacking, we headed out again in early July for a three day hike in the Pecos National Forest, just north of Santa Fe. It was a beautiful spot, and a great hike (other than when we misread the map and ended up hiking over 17 miles in one day, fully loaded, at a 10,000+ altitude. Yikes!) En route to/from Pecos, we stopped in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Waputki National Monument & Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
In August, we fled the Phoenix heat in favor of a weekend in the cool climate of Flagstaff (northern Arizona). There, we explored nearby Native American Ruins and climbed a volcanic cinder cone (two steps up, one step down). Then we headed over to the Grand Canyon and headed part way down one of the trails we'd yet to hike together.
Hiking in the Wasatch Mountains
In August, while on a weekend visit to my parents house in the Salt Lake area, we spent an afternoon hiking in the nearby Wasatch mountains. After hiking up to a glacial lake and braving a sudden and fierce storm, Warren surprised me with wedding bands made out of meteorite. What a guy! :) [We'd been married for 2 years at that point, but were fairly unconventional about the whole thing so we hadn't gotten wedding bands yet.]
On the way down, we actually got chased by a moose. Seriously!
Zion National Park
In early May we made another trip to Zion, catching a beautiful display of 'orange globemallows' en route:
While there, we hiked a bit in Zion, then explored nearby Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park:
In mid-May we took a weekend trip to California so Warren could photograph an airplane, and in late-May we spent a long weekend exploring eastern Arizona (on a photo shoot for a congressman, who wanted some beautiful landscape photographs of Arizona for his office in DC).
White Mountains
In early June we spent a weekend backpacking in the White Mountains, along Arizona's eastern border. It was my first pack-in trip, and other than having a fairly sleepless night, I was hooked. When it was all done, we climbed a nearby fire tower to survey our hiking area:
Zion National Park, again
In mid-June, we spend another weekend in Zion, this time hiking the East Rim Trail...fun but exhausting (a bit too hot!)
Backpacking in Pecos National Forest, NM
Having not gotten our fill of backpacking, we headed out again in early July for a three day hike in the Pecos National Forest, just north of Santa Fe. It was a beautiful spot, and a great hike (other than when we misread the map and ended up hiking over 17 miles in one day, fully loaded, at a 10,000+ altitude. Yikes!) En route to/from Pecos, we stopped in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Waputki National Monument & Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
In August, we fled the Phoenix heat in favor of a weekend in the cool climate of Flagstaff (northern Arizona). There, we explored nearby Native American Ruins and climbed a volcanic cinder cone (two steps up, one step down). Then we headed over to the Grand Canyon and headed part way down one of the trails we'd yet to hike together.
Hiking in the Wasatch Mountains
In August, while on a weekend visit to my parents house in the Salt Lake area, we spent an afternoon hiking in the nearby Wasatch mountains. After hiking up to a glacial lake and braving a sudden and fierce storm, Warren surprised me with wedding bands made out of meteorite. What a guy! :) [We'd been married for 2 years at that point, but were fairly unconventional about the whole thing so we hadn't gotten wedding bands yet.]
On the way down, we actually got chased by a moose. Seriously!
Warren's Surprise Trip to NYC!
For our anniversary, Warren surprised me with a 5 day trip to New York City! What a romantic. :)
We stayed at the stylish Moderne Hotel, saw the hilarious Broadway Show "Spamalot", and ate dinner at the top of the Rainbow Room. Warren made all the arrangements ahead of time and managed to keep it a secret until the week before.
While there, we (characteristically) walked a lot, exploring the streets and sites of the city...
...and indulged in some of the more 'touristy' activities like touring the UN (very interesting) and visiting the Museum of Modern Art:
We had a blast spending time with Betsy's aunt Ardith (who lives in New York City). Together we explored the Park Slope area and had long conversations over delicious New York food.
On our last day in the city, we strolled around Central Park, and then renewed our commitment to each other for another year amongst the beautiful flowers and shady trees.
It was a perfect trip!
We stayed at the stylish Moderne Hotel, saw the hilarious Broadway Show "Spamalot", and ate dinner at the top of the Rainbow Room. Warren made all the arrangements ahead of time and managed to keep it a secret until the week before.
While there, we (characteristically) walked a lot, exploring the streets and sites of the city...
...and indulged in some of the more 'touristy' activities like touring the UN (very interesting) and visiting the Museum of Modern Art:
We had a blast spending time with Betsy's aunt Ardith (who lives in New York City). Together we explored the Park Slope area and had long conversations over delicious New York food.
On our last day in the city, we strolled around Central Park, and then renewed our commitment to each other for another year amongst the beautiful flowers and shady trees.
It was a perfect trip!
The Big Island of Hawaii!
In February 2005, Warren and I went to the Big Island of Hawaii. We spent the
first three days exploring at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park...
...where we were lucky enough to catch an active lava flow--all the way into the ocean! Of course, getting to the site required traversing an ankle-wrecking field of hardened lava.
Then we headed over to the other side of the island to meet up with friends Josh and Amy, where we spent four more beautiful days. We kayaked out to a snorkeling spot one day...
...and snorkeled with giant sea turtles and other colorful sea life on another day.
We also visited the observatory at Mauna Kea (Warren, Josh and Amy even went twice!)...
...and visited other parts of the island like South Point, Lapahoehoe Point, and the Waipi'o Valley:
Beautiful trip!
...where we were lucky enough to catch an active lava flow--all the way into the ocean! Of course, getting to the site required traversing an ankle-wrecking field of hardened lava.
Then we headed over to the other side of the island to meet up with friends Josh and Amy, where we spent four more beautiful days. We kayaked out to a snorkeling spot one day...
...and snorkeled with giant sea turtles and other colorful sea life on another day.
We also visited the observatory at Mauna Kea (Warren, Josh and Amy even went twice!)...
...and visited other parts of the island like South Point, Lapahoehoe Point, and the Waipi'o Valley:
Beautiful trip!
Fall 2004 Activities
Texas is BIG
In early September we DROVE to San Marcos, Texas, and learned firsthand just how enormous Texas truly is! Warren had an air-to-air photo shoot with a P49 and a P48-- vintage airplanes that he planned to use for the 2004 Prescott Air Show Poster. It was a bit of a rushed trip, but enjoyable nonetheless, especially since it was my first time in Texas.
October Trip to California
The next month, we took a long weekend trip to California to visit my brother's family, catch my niece (Sarah) and nephew (Nate) play soccer, and take my nephew to the big Miramar Air Show. Nate ended up liking it, but also found it to be a bit too loud. I agree.)
On the way back we spent a day in Anza Borrega State Park, hiking a small slot canyon and enjoying the desert landscape.
Prescott's first snow of the season
Although this wasn't a 'trip' per se, below are some pictures of a hike we went on after the first snows of the season in Prescott (where we were living at the time):
Thanksgiving in Utah
And, we spent Thanksgiving at my parents...which was always a good opportunity for outdoor activities in beautiful Utah.
In early September we DROVE to San Marcos, Texas, and learned firsthand just how enormous Texas truly is! Warren had an air-to-air photo shoot with a P49 and a P48-- vintage airplanes that he planned to use for the 2004 Prescott Air Show Poster. It was a bit of a rushed trip, but enjoyable nonetheless, especially since it was my first time in Texas.
October Trip to California
The next month, we took a long weekend trip to California to visit my brother's family, catch my niece (Sarah) and nephew (Nate) play soccer, and take my nephew to the big Miramar Air Show. Nate ended up liking it, but also found it to be a bit too loud. I agree.)
On the way back we spent a day in Anza Borrega State Park, hiking a small slot canyon and enjoying the desert landscape.
Prescott's first snow of the season
Although this wasn't a 'trip' per se, below are some pictures of a hike we went on after the first snows of the season in Prescott (where we were living at the time):
Thanksgiving in Utah
And, we spent Thanksgiving at my parents...which was always a good opportunity for outdoor activities in beautiful Utah.
Utah's High Uinta Mountains
In the summer of 2004, Warren and I went on a weekend trip in the High Uintas with my parents. Here are some photos:
Ahhh....Alaska!
In July of 2004, Warren had some photo shoots in Alaska, so we made a
vacation out of it. Wow...Alaska is so beautiful. We did a lot of
driving and a lot of hiking in the week that we were there, and were
continually speechless by the beauty of the landscape.
Landing on the roof of the continent
The highlight of the trip was definitely our scenic flight over Denali National Park to catch a close up of Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America. It was a bit expensive, but we decided to go ahead and splurge since it was our last day in Alaska. Below are some images from the flight.
To top it off...our airplane was ski-equipped so we had the once in a
lifetime experience of landing on a glacier! It was amazing to stand
among the great peaks; the immense scale was astounding!
Landing on the roof of the continent
The highlight of the trip was definitely our scenic flight over Denali National Park to catch a close up of Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America. It was a bit expensive, but we decided to go ahead and splurge since it was our last day in Alaska. Below are some images from the flight.
Big Southeast Trip
In the late spring of 2004, Warren and I headed to the southeastern part of the United States. Warren had some photo shoots for a client, and I tagged along. :) Maybe someday I will add more pictures and write journal entries (probably not), but for now, here's a little:
Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
Florida's Apalachicola National Forest
Snorkeling with the Manatees in Florida
And lastly, here's some paparazzi photos I took of Warren while walking along Daytona Beach, Florida (including him showing me how to correctly hold the camera...ha ha).
Louisiana
Beautiful Savannah, Georgia
Georgia's Okefenokee swamp
Florida's Apalachicola National Forest
Snorkeling with the Manatees in Florida
Additional Florida collages to be loaded soon---St Augustine, Ponce Inlet, and Clearwater area.
And lastly, here's some paparazzi photos I took of Warren while walking along Daytona Beach, Florida (including him showing me how to correctly hold the camera...ha ha).
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