quick post...I hab a sinus infection.

Ugh.  and only on the left side of my face.  The nice doctor at the Hurricane UT clinic didn't understand either, but she gave me an Rx.  Got a fever and feel like crap.  Today was definitely an off day.

I'm going to run very quickly through the past two days.  On Sunday we drove to the Zion park entrance, but it was so crowded that we got tired of waiting in line to get in.  So, we took a side road to the top of a mesa that is mostly within the park.  Here's the view from the edge of the mesa, at over 8000 feet - the trees are already turning! It was a full 25 degrees cooler there than here at the state park.  The background is the Zion Canyon,

Back to Zion on Monday to walk a couple of 1 mile trails (paved things, I might add!)  Here is the beautiful Zion Canyon from a much lower persective.  By the way, all of the lower pictures are horizontal or vertical panaramas that Luke made on the computer.  I am SO impressed! Actually the scenery is so grand, that even with this technique, it's impossible to capture.

The Virgin River running through the canyon.

The falls on the walk up to the Emerald Pool. Look carefull for the hikers in the center of the picture for a size indication.

I made it up the mountain to the second level - Luke gamely hiked the last section of steep, sand coated rock steps to the Emerald Pool itself, with the immense towering cliffs above it.  Wish I had made it!

 

Last, a nice amble in the shade to "The Narrows", a part of the canyon walls that close in, with only a narrow section the river to divide them.  Many of the hikers knew the routine and took wading shoes with them to cross the river.  We will next time

 

 

 Off to bed.  In addition to feeling crapy during the night, we heard a coyote howling for a long time in the high desert next to the campground.  We werent afraid, but we sure stayed awake and listened to him!