Tag: hiking

The End of 2025

The year has come to its end and we are on our last camping trip of the year. Each year for the past 5 or so years we have taken our last trip of the year immediately after Christmas. It is a time when our kids are spending time with their in-laws and we get time to ourselves. Makes perfect sense to us to take a short trip. In the past we have done, Panama City, Biloxi, Outer Banks (a couple times), Fort Pickens in the Panhandle and this year it is Wilmington, NC.

We are staying with a Boondocker for 3 nights in Bolivia, NC. We arrived about 5:00 and set things up. It was already getting dark so we stayed in, had some leftover pizza and played some scrabble. John actually used all 7 tiles in the 2 games we played. In all the years we have played scrabble, neither of us has ever used all the tiles in one turn. I think he cheated.

We had a good nights sleep and headed to Wilmington to explore. We wanted to go to Airlie Gardens but dogs were not allowed so we headed to the Riverwalk.

From there we headed to the other side of the river to see the USS North Carolina. Which served during WWII.

After walking around the USS North Carolina we were getting pretty hungry and we really wanted to see the beach. Needless to say NC allowed everyone to build on the beach side so you can’t see the beach as you drive along the road closest to it. I hate that. I love riding along the water. After studying the map we headed toward Jack Mackerals Bar and Grill toward the end of the island. We had lunch, which was delicious and decided to head to the tip of the island and catch a ferry back to the mainland.

And then we took a ride on the ferry. Just a cheap thrill for both of us. Oh, and while we were at the restaurant we started looking up lighthouses because we were on coastal land so there had to be lighthouses somewhere near us. Sure enough there is one that can be see from the ferry. Score!

Had a great day and heading back to camp to fix some dinner and beat John in scrabble!

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Kayaks on the Upper Antelope

We had an early morning planned to go kayaking on Lake Powell for 2.5 miles, then hike for 2 miles then kayak back 2.5 miles. This was one of the best things we did. John and I would not have done it had the kids not planned. Our tour guide was a Biology major and told us so many interesting things about the rocks, the lake, the sand. As you know, when it comes to science I don’t remember it all. But, one of the interesting things he told us about the sand was why it doesn’t absorb water. I can’t tell you the science but the fact that the sand doesn’t absorb water explains why they have these flash floods out in the desert. Also, the water has been receding so much the ramp down to the water has been extended several times since 1985. I don’t think I got a picture of the ramp. Also, on our hike there is a marker that says 2020 on the wall in the canyon that shows where the water was just 5 years ago. It was about 20-30 feet over our heads. And we were walking in that canyon. Crazy!

After our kayak/hiking trip we headed out for Arches National Park in Utah. On the way we stopped in Monument Valley and at Forrest Gump Point. Here is a link to John playing Forrest Gump https://youtu.be/o8umeb7t73g

Five hours became six or seven. We all agreed we needed to chill in the morning. We were all exhausted. Well, maybe Melissa wasn’t. She is the energizer bunny. We were about to lose Mike, to work and Melissa really wanted to do a hike in the morning. She was going to do one with or without anyone. At 6:00 am, John text Melissa to see if he could go with her. I slept in. I am really trying to get caught up. Blame the kids, they keep us going non-stop.

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The North Rim Grand Canyon

We arrived! It took about 2.5 hours to get here–maybe longer with all the stops. We had no plans of hiking here. It was a nice day in that it was overcast and not as hot but, a little scattered rain here and there. Nothing to keep us back.

Melissa introduced me to Shaka Guide. It is an app for your phone to download an audio tour of National Parks. It coordinates with your gps so you are hearing information about the location you are driving. It was awesome. I highly recommend it. It was educational and entertaining. We learned about the Vermilion Cliffs and the Cliff Dwellers. We heard stories of Native Tribes. We learned about rocks. Seriously we really enjoyed it.

Don’t expect me to tell you about the Vermilion Cliffs. I know it had to do with the red color in the rocks. But science just isn’t my thing so, while I’ll listen, I won’t remember. Even if I am interested I could forget in a matter of seconds. Now the Cliff Dwellers–that’s a different story. That was interesting. Though I can’t remember names and dates, this couple back in the 1930’s (I believe) were driving through when their car broke down. They had nowhere to go so they settled here. She started making a home out of the rocks and next thing you know, they are selling food to visitors of the Grand Canyon. Not sure how they managed that one, but that was the story. Later they built a restaurant and lodge.

I can’t tell you if it is better than the South Rim because I haven’t been there but, it sure was amazing. We didn’t do any hikes in Grand Canyon, we just drove to all the overlooks and took pictures. We had a 2.5 hour drive home and no plans for a sunset or anything else. We had smoked pork loin in a crockpot back at camp and no plans for the evening. In fact we had an early morning coming up. But that’s for the next blog.

Edit: A month after our visit the lodge at the North Rim of Grand Canyon was devastated by fire. From the NPCA Jul 14, 2025: “Over the weekend, the Dragon Bravo Fire and White Sage Fire tore through Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim, closing the area for the season. The fire remains active and has already destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of other structures, including a visitor center, gas station, wastewater treatment plant, administrative offices and employee housing.”

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