Birthday weekend

Well here it is the end of April already. It's snowed the last two days, though we're tired of snow it was still beautiful.

I am already thinking of what I will miss when I leave the Canyon next week, but first let me back up to my birthday weekend.

Ellen, Jen and I went to Zion National Park in Utah. Spring, a different time of year, the sun wasn't so hot, the flowers not yet in bloom, the Virgin river too full and too cold to do the narrows, but the waterfalls were flowing. All that snow helped to create a rapid river and waterfalls.



On my birthday day while Jen and Ellen took the morning to hike near Angel's Landing I took the river walk. Of course I didn't stay on the paved pathway I had to explore all the little off shoots of little dirt trails here and there. It was too cold for the bogs to be brimming with the red dragonflies I saw last summer, but it was still beautiful; and of course a waterfall.





Before meeting up with them I had a snack lunch in the Grotto, which is a picnic area in a grove of Cottonwood trees. They were just starting to bud. I caught up with my birthday calls and then met them back at the lodge. We changed and went into Springdale (that CUTE town outside of Zion) and did some shopping. It was great going into all of the shops and stuff. For dinner we went to Oscar's, and split 1 hamburger 3 ways (they are really really huge and really really good), and a toastada with pesto, cheese and tomatoes. It was the BEST burger I've ever had. For dessert we all split the brownie sundae, it was as big as a dinner plate. It was so nice spending my day with them at one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

The next morning before heading back we hiked to the lower emerald pool. Ever stand behind a waterfall? It's magical.



Needless to say it was a great weekend, one I will remember for a very long time.