In needle in a foot

Last week I had a really bad cough and a pain in my foot, so I went into Urgent care for cough syrup and an x-ray. As I was walking back from my x-ray, the tech asked me if I had ever hurt my foot, or had surgery, because I had a wire or something in my foot! Turns out, I must have stepped on a needle as a kid, and it found a cozy spot in my foot and decided to stay.

I get to wear a cool surgical boot while I heal, but the needle is here to stay.

The Escalante River, Snow Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Freemont Indian National Parks, Cedar City and St. George

 Hanging out with my new friend
 
We took a four day weekend this month, hitting up Cedar City, The Escalante River, Snow Canyon St. George, Boulder, Capitol Reef National Park, and Freemont Indian National Park. It was a crazy weekend, and now we are up to six national and state parks so far this month! 

 After driving in late Thursday night, we slept in Friday, then went antiquing and dining in St. George.

 Saturday, we took the Escalante river trail, visited Boulder, and went driving through Capitol Reef national Park scenic drive. On the Escalante trail, we spotted remnants of the Anizasi cave homes.

 Canyonlands

 Sunday, we went hiking in Snow Canyon National Park, and got super lost! Somehow, we found our way back to the car, and back to the Thai place for dinner. While in the park, there was so much wildlife. We spotted a snake, rabbits, lizards, and a bat. The desert was in bloom, and the weather was perfect. This was a my favorite day on the trip!

 Inside a lava cave

 Lava flow and caves

 Petrified sand dunes

 Cactus in bloom

 Lizards

 Petrified sand dune

 Monday, we took the scenic route home. We were both so tired after a weekend full of hiking, and I had a bum foot, but we still managed to hit up Freemont Indian national Park. It was a small park, but there were lots of pictographs along the canyons, and a neat little museum with artifacts and a  forensic recreation of a Freemont Indian woman skull.

It was a great, and busy trip!

Little Sahara, Eureka, and the Pony Express Trail

Christopher was given the day off for Good Friday, so we decided to take a road trip. We headed south west, and stopped off in Eureka, an old mining town.

 This is the old prohibition era bar.

 This is their old jail. I know I'd behave well if trouble meant living in that prison...

Next we went to little Sahara. We were hoping to get in a hike at the dunes, but it was wild with adults and kids on four wheelers and motorbikes. We stopped for lunch, and were on our way.

On the way home, we stopped by the pony express trail. My history buff is a big fan of historical plaques, so he was practically giddy. 

We also stopped by fort Bridger, the fort were US militia were stationed to keep Utah from uprising. there was a lovely little cemetery across the street for the soldiers that dies while stationed there.

Not bad for a Friday!