Made it to California

Greetings everybody!  The blog is updated at long last!  Ellie and I are currently in Stanford, Ca, here to see Jack (Ellie's bro) run in a big time race.  Apparently, a lot of the best runners, both collegiate and professional, are in the area to prove their worth.  We'll head over to the track in a little while, and it should be an exciting evening from there.  California is awesome so far.  We stayed in Santa Barbara our first night before heading up Highway 1, an incredible scenic drive along the coast, on the way here.

A lot has happened since we were last able to make a post.  After Denver, we spent what seemed like a speedy lifetime in southern Utah, an amazing place indeed.  We visited each of the major national parks in the region and glorious landscapes in between.  We went into Arizona for a trip to the Grand Canyon, and even went so far south as Phoenix to spend a few wonderful days with Ellie's Aunt Ellen and cousins.  In fact, so much has happened that I cannot even begin to think about talking about it all in one go.  There should be enough photos below to satisfy your interest for at least a little while, and we'll get back soon with the rest

Here's Ellie with Maddie and Jackson, two of the coolest dogs out there.  Ellie's Uncle Kenny and Aunt Ann are the proud parents, and we were lucky enough to hang out with the family in Los Alamos, NM, prior to making it to Denver.  While there, we were treated to authentic New Mexican food, and between the green and the red chiles, the mercury nearly rose through my head.

A nice shot from Red Rocks amphitheater just outside of Denver.  That's our good college buddy Kate and her friend Addie, another top notch pup.

In Utah!  This photo comes from our first stop in the state, Canyonlands National Park, as Ellie poses between the sky and rocky terrain below.  While in this park, and also in Arches, we had the great fortune of a third on the trails.  Another college friend, Erin, joined up for this leg of the journey.  She's done some hiking in the past but never any serious backpacking, so this was a sort of inaugural trip.  And what a place for firsts!

There she is, Erin Peiffer, backpacker extraordinaire...

Erin and Ellie pose in a sandy wash that serves as the canyon floor.

A photo from afar of them walking the rocky trail.  There's no clear footpath, so we had to rely on human-made trail markers called cairns (they're just stacks of rocks -- pictures of them below).

The dynamic duo pumping water, a real treat in the arid landscape.

Cairns!  This was a neat space where a lot of hikers had created an abundance of them just for show.  Ellie added a creation of her own, the middle one in this photo.

Along the Joint Trail.  This was really cool, as we got to hike through this super narrow canyon.

Of the three of us, while departing Canyonlands.

Now in Arches National Park, named for all of the natural rock arch formations found there.  Overall, smaller and more crowded than the previous park but equally righteous.

Gordon takes some time out from guarding the dashboard for a photo shoot.

The picturesque Delicate Arch with the snow-capped La Salle mountain range in the distance.

Erin on top of a fin.  These are the formations that turn into arches with the help of water and wind's erosive powers.

Me.  On top of the same fin with more of them in the background.

The Double-O Arch.  If you look below the obvious arch, you'll see a small shadowy circle which is actually a second.

Unfortunately, that's where I'll have to leave you all for now.  We've got to get over to the track!  Hopefully, we'll post additional installments in the very near future with more photos and stories and such.  Be well for now and much love from the road...