Lake Tahoe

The Grand Canyon was awesome. We watched the sunset and the sunrise there and it was amazing. We had a nice campsite a quarter mile from the edge, so it was a short walk to the view. From there we headed to Zion National Park in Utah, which I thought was every bit as pretty as the Grand Canyon. Our campsite there was right in the middle of these huge red layered rocks, right down in the middle of the canyon. We took a tour of the area and hiked up to Weeping Rock, which was beautiful. We had a bad experience at Death Valley. There was only one viewpoint in the whole park and there was a sign written in marker saying it was closed. There were about a million people up there, though, so we decided to park and see what it was like. We were a fourth of the way up there when we heard somebody on a bullhorn yelling for everyone to get down. It was a park ranger and he was collecting everyone's lisence and passports (there were only four or five Americans in all those people). Everyone that gave him a passport had to give him a credit card too. He was yelling and asking everyone if they could read and telling everyone that every single person was getting a $250 ticket. A German hiker told him that the trail he hiked went up to the point and there was no sign saying it was closed. It didn't look closed at all. I looked behind me and there was a trail going right behind the signs and there was no way anyone coming from there would know it was closed. "I'm not taking any excuses," the ranger said. "You'll have to tell it to the judge in court." I couldn't believe what a jerk he was being to someone that was just visiting our country and wouldn't be able to show up for court, seeing as he lived in a different country!! Anyway, he collected everyone's lisence, made a big show of it, and then started writing tickets. After he wrote some stuff down, he shuffled through the passports looking for Americans. He let one couple go, then called Kevin's name and told him he got off with a warning. I have no idea why, since we could read the sign and we had a dog while there was clearly a "no dog" sign. We high tailed it out of there. We've been debating ever since whether he let the people from out of the country go, too. He was obviously looking for Americans when he called us.

The rest of the trip has been really, really good. We camped and did some hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains. We drove through Yosemite, which was beautiful, but insanely full of people. Now we're staying with Kevin's friend Cameron, who lives right on the beach at Lake Tahoe. It's so nice! We went hiking this morning in the mountains around the lake. Maddy, of course, has loved all the hiking and the camping. Tomorrow, we're heading on up through California to the coast. I'll post pictures as soon as I get wireless internet. Cameron's computer doesn't have the program I need.

Off we go!! We'll be at the Grand Ganyon tonight, then we'll decide whether to go through Utah or drive straight to California. I'm so excited!!

this one cracks me up. the preacher was CRAZY. looks like he's calling for rain, doesn't he? check out how mad flor is, how confused my brother is, and how amused my dad is. this just captures the whole wedding for me. 

just after the ceremony. don't they look like they're in love? this picture gives me hope. 

Mike and Flor 

Mr. and Mrs. Blair

My baby brother is officially married. I still can't believe they actually went through with it.