Back in Kansas

Hey everyone,
 Things have been kinda hectic lately so that's why i haven't posted in awhile.  I did make it back to kansas last monday and i've had a lot going on so i'll try to get the rest of my pics and updates from utah on here within the next few days.  My internet connection isn't the greatest,but i'll do my best.
 
Talk to you soon,
Kari

quick update

My computer is being stupid so i'm having trouble getting my pics from sedona uploaded =(  Might have to wait until i get back home before i can get the rest of my pictures on here.  Monday and Tuesday i just hung around the house in arizona and relaxed and got ready for the last leg of my trip.  Today i'm heading up to Utah and plan on being there for probably about 6 days, maybe less depending on how things go.  Hopefully it's as beautiful as it looks in all of the pictures i've seen.  Try to do better about updating while i'm in utah.  See you all soon

 Kari

Sedona-My favorite place in Arizona

Sunday i drove down from flagstaff to Sedona and hung out there for the day.  The drive there was filled with a lot of twists and turns but the views definitely were worth it, especially early in the morning with the sun filtering through in just the right places.  When i got to Sedona i decided to park and just walk around for awhile and take in some of the shops they had and also tried to take some pictures that i could while on foot.  Sedona is another town that i loved immediately.  It has beautiful views all around you and the artsy vibe of the town just made it feel like it's somewhere i could definitely see myself living in, like jerome, or at least spending a lot of time in.  There are such a wide variety of shops and restaurants lining the streets you could spend a whole day just going in and out looking at things.  I hit up a couple of stores and fell in love with a dress, but didn't want to fork over $75 for it, so i went on my way and found a cute tshirt that was more in my budget at a different store.   I went into the visitor's center so i could get some info about red rocks state park because i wanted to do some hiking and ended up getting directions to a few other places that got me some great pictures and some great experiences.  I first drove to chapel of the holy cross that is sitting high up on a hill.  Depending where you park you have to hike up to it, but it is so beautiful that it is worth the small hike.  The views from the top are great, but the little chapel itself is what makes it all worth it.  I'm not one who goes to church anymore, but i loved this chapel and the atmosphere of it was overwhelming and you could tell it was that way for everyone in there.  It was so simple, yet so beautiful and the second you walked in you just felt that love and presence that it brought tears to your eyes.  I thought maybe it was just me, but i could see it in everyone's eyes when they walked out.  Next up on my list was a drive out to the airport where there was a scenic overlook and some great picture taking opportunities.  It was kind of cloudy when i was up there so the pictures weren't as great as they could've been, but it was still a great view.  After that i was going to head out to red rocks crossing and park and take a hike along the river to see cathedral rock, but the parking lot was full, so i had to change up my plans.  On my drive back from there i did stop a few times and got some really cools pictures so it was worth the drive.  I ended up heading out to Boynton Canyon so i could do some hiking and that is where i spent the rest of my day in Sedona.  The Canyon trail was only supposed to be 2 miles one way, so 4 miles roundtrip and then there was a 2 mile roundtrip little vista hike you could take.  I got all my gear ready to go and started on the trail.  I decided to take the vista hike because i knew i could get some good pics from up there and i'm glad i did.  It wasn't that hard of a hike and it really didn't feel like 2 miles at all.  After that i continued on the trail and i think i made it almost all the way to the end before i started getting tired and saw some storm clouds off in the distance and decided to turn around.  It was pretty hot that day and i think my 6 hrs of hiking the day before caught up to me pretty fast so i was glad when i finally got back to my car at the end of the day.  I was kind of worried i was going to get soaked again, but thankfully the storm went around the canyon i was in.  I really enjoyed that hike also and it had great views all along the way.  Can't wait to come back to Sedona and get some more great hiking in because i know there are so many more beautiful things to see here.  The red rocks here are so beautiful and the people that live there are so lucky that they get to live in such beauty all the time, and i really do hope that they can take a step back everyday and appreciate it. 

Grand Canyon Pics

My first view of the Grand Canyon

Starting my hike down into the canyon







The beautiful views along my hike





Part of the trail i was hiking on





The views looking toward the sky were just as beautiful as the views below





The rainstorm i got caught in





Views from the Rim Trail





I loved those trees.  Such beauty in them





My tiny adventure in rock climbing........kind of





You can see the colorado river going through in this picture





This would've been a really good picture, but i was tired by then and not in the mood to smile =)




There were really cool trees lining the trail





Someone had set up bedrock city on the side of the road where you could camp and take a tour, it was pretty cute



Didn't end up paying to take the tour inside, but the gift shop had some cute stuff