Lake Powell to Bryce National Park

Lake Powell in Arizona

Well, at least there’s still some water left in our quickly disappearing lake here in Page, Arizona. It’s a beautiful though slightly chilly morning here as we point the car north and head into…

Caroline Wise and John Wise at the Utah State line with Arizona

Utah! Isn’t it nice to just go out on some random day and see what the world around you looks like?

Road side in southern Utah

The spectacle of our exposed earth shows us its long, deep history by putting itself on display for all to see.

Dirt road in Utah

Pahreah Ghost Town is up that road, and while it’s tempting to go check things out, we couldn’t be sure that we wouldn’t find a wet, impassable part of the road, so we played things safe and made a note to help our memory bring us back this way someday.

Pie and Coffee at Thunderbird Restaurant in Mount Carmel Junction, Utah

We finally did it and stopped at the Thunderbird Restaurant in Mount Carmel Junction, Utah. This is the home of the “Ho-Made Pie,” and in that classical all-American setting where pie and coffee are able to put your mindset of the 1960s road trip on Route 66, this is that place.

Caroline Wise and Maisy the Donkey in Glendale, Utah

Meet Maisy the Donkey. This cute young lady lives in Glendale, Utah, and might be the friendliest donkey EVER!

Caroline Wise making snow angels in Utah

We leave Arizona with spring-like weather and end up visiting winter, where the snow angels take flight.

Bryce National Park, Utah

A bit more snow than we’d counted on.

Bryce National Park, Utah

We had entertained the idea that we might hike a short trail here in Bryce National Park, but upon looking out here, we were not prepared with the proper clothes or shoes.

Bryce National Park, Utah

Seeing Bryce covered like this is certainly a treat. By the time we landed in Cedar City, we were early enough that we were able to have a luxurious dinner at Taco Time before checking into the Cedar Rest motel for the great rate of only $26. Saving so much money on food and lodging, we stepped up the indulgence and visited the Stadium 8 theater to catch a screening of Clint Eastwood’s new film, “Million Dollar Baby.”

Lake Powell, Bryce, Zion, Arizona Strip

Freeway signs near Flagstaff, Arizona

A spur-of-the-moment need to get out had us deciding at 5:00 to go somewhere; by 7:00 p.m., we were finally on the road. Our choices for a destination as we left Phoenix were San Diego, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; the Navajo Reservation in Arizona; the Grand Canyon (we weren’t sure we’d be able to get a room so late); and Lake Powell. We chose to go north and shortly before arriving in Flagstaff, we fixed on Page, Arizona, home of Lake Powell.

The Freeway

View of the 51 freeway through a chain link fence in Phoenix, Arizona

Arizona Highway 51, running north and south bisects Phoenix and runs between the 10 and 202 interchanges in the south to the 101 loop in the north. This on-ramp is at the corner of Bell Road and the 51. The name of the freeway had been the Squaw Peak, named after the mountain next to its route but was recently renamed along with the mountain to the Piestewa Freeway after Hopi Native American Lori Piestewa died in Iraq.

Early Evening

Early evening in Phoenix, Arizona near the corner of 7th street and Bell Road

The last picture of the month. It is about 7:30 p.m., and to the naked eye, it is nighttime, but to the digital camera, it is late dusk. The location is near the corners of 7th Street and Bell Road. Taking a photo a day is not as easy as you might think; trying to find something every day out of your routine to signify a moment that might have meaning in the years to come is hard work.