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 Our friends from the Czech Republic decided to come to the U.S. to see some places which are iconic to them.  Mark and I left from ND and traveled to Wyoming through South Dakota and past this place those of us who studied Western History learned about, the famous Independence Rock where pioneers, usually the Mormons scratched their names into this landmark.  Independence Rock is at the confluence of the Mormon Trail, the Oregon Trail, and the California Trail.  It was pretty cool to walk around it and read the faded names written so long ago to mark a historic passage.  Outside Sundance, Wyoming we again ran into rain and at this point a sensor for the suspension system started to beep.  Mark was able to stop it occasionally, but not permanently.  We picked up Vlasta, Dana, Sarka, and Daniela in Salt Lake City.  They had rented a car and made a two day dash to Yellowstone and back so when we picked them up they already understood that an inch on the map is way more than a few miles.  Off we went on the the trail to Moab.  Since our car only holds five, Mark and I took turns showing them the sights.  I took them to Arches National Park where we saw the symbol, Delicate Arch, which is on the Utah license plate.  Beep-beep.

 

Mark took the group to Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park.  The variety and expanse of this area pretty much stupefied our guests who really were now getting the feel for our vast land!  Beep-beep.

Next up was a trip to Monument Valley.  By now Sarka understood why I chuckled when she asked if we couldn’t  just walk through it.  We took a tour with a Native guide who showed us many wonderful things. Beep-beep.

Petroglyphs!

Vistas!

 

Spires!

 

 And God’s earand God’s eye!!  Beep-beep.

 

Onward we went to Page AZ and a trip to Glen Canyon Dam.  When we arrived in Page, Dana and the girls went out for a walk.  Dana tripped over a board in the road and fell.  A doctor who looked younger than Doogie Howser sewed up her forehead with 15 stitched but missed the broken elbow.  yeesh!!  Beep-beep.

This year we went on a tour of the dam and were allowed to go to the bottom where 2 acres of grass is kept green with water which seeps from the concrete of the dam.  Our Czech friends got us these great tee shirts which we were very proud to wear! Beep-beep.

 

Next we we went to Antelope Canyon, place of incredible photos. I call this chapter, “Don’t Mess with Irene”  beep-beep.

 

 This is Irene.  She is about 4’8″ and can take on The Rock!  She hustled us into the slot canyon and showed us where to stand to take the best pictures.  After about enough frustration in watching me take snaps, she grabbed my camera, changed all the settings, and took all the pictures herself!  

 

This is an example of my pictures.  Beep-beep.

 

Here are how hers turned out!  Beep-beep.

 

She took pictures of waves, desert sunrises, canyon sunsets, Geronimo, Lincoln, Jefferson, bears, hearts, pillars, fires, and much more!  Beep-beep.

 

I can’t even compete with that!  Beep-beep.

Next we went to the Grand Canyon  where Mark had the pleasure of escorting our guests to what apparently is Mecca when coming to the U.S.  Beep-beep.

The South Rim was a great experience for them and Mark and they will have enough to tell their friends about for a long time!  Beep-beep.

At this point we were about as sick and tired as you are of the constant sensor beeping.  Not knowing how serious it really was we opted at this point for Mark to return with the motorhome to Arizona and I would continue to Las Vegas with the Czechs so that they could catch their plane home.  Mission accomplished with only the loss of luggage in Chicago, Dana’s fall, a six hour delay on the way back to the Czech Republic, and everlasting memories for us all!!