Travels during the first half of 2015 – Texas, Las Vegas, southern Utah

January through March of 2015 was spent on South Padre Island (SPI), Texas.  As this was our 4^th time there, so I won't to repeat past slutigram content.

One great addition to South Padre was the visit by Anne.

A new attraction to the Port Isabel (near SPI) was a tour of a shrimp boat and a talk all about wild caught shrimp being so much better than farm raised shrimp.  They convinced me, as wild caught does taste better.

The boat remains tied to the dock, but the speaker gave a great talk on what goes on when shrimping and all the safeguards that prevent turtles and dolphins from being harmed during the several weeks at sea. This net has an escape port for turtles.

Coming and going, we stay with Elaine’s brother Richard and his lovely family.  Thanks for the great time in Dallas.

I think it was 2013 when the George W. Bush Presidential Library opened on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.  All 5 living holders of our nation’s highest office were on hand for the opening.

Elaine and I enjoy presidential museums, as you learn a lot more about the person and  their life besides what the media has told us.  We have now visited several presidential museums, including:  JFK, FDR, Lincoln, Truman, Eisenhower, Hoover, G W Bush, G H W Bush and  LBJ along with several of the homes of our presidents.   Bush was a part owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, and his love for the game is legendary.

The highly controversial 2000 presidential election taught us a new phrase, a hanging chad, which is the little bit of paper that is punched out of the ballot paper.  Not a very good method of voting as it turned out.

Like other museums, there is a display of some of the gifts from foreign potentates given to him while president.  These a gifts to the country and not the person – so they become US property.  Some are pretty pricey with not a bit of plastic to be seen.

The famous “deck of 52 Iraqi most wanted” is there and you can purchase your ow deck in the gift shop.  No, we did not buy any.

A full-scale replica of his Oval Office includes the paintings that hung on the walls, the furniture where citizens, like us, and foreign leaders were invited to relax and the desk.  We view the first woman president at her desk.  BTW, that is not Hillary.

After a few months at home, we flew to Las Vegas, where we were separated from some of our cash by those enticing slot machines.  Lady Luck did not favor us.  However, we enjoyed the sights and were graced by the visit of Elaine’s sister Rita for a few days.  We also caught up with a friend of Elaine’s whom she met many years ago when she lived in Vegas.  The lights at night are some thing to behold.  You think your electric bill is high.

For many years Elaine has spoken highly of Cedar Breaks, Utah National Monument and Bryce Canyon, Utah, National Park.  A car rental was arranged and we traveled the barren desert between Vegas and Cedar City for a mini-trip within a trip to view these Parks.  Great views.

Cedar Breaks is at the 10,000 foot elevation level.  The main attraction is the great rock natural amphitheater.  It is over 2000 feet deep and over 3 miles in diameter.  Cedar Breaks is not very large and can be experienced  in an half-day visit.  Of course, if you fall in love with this place, weeks can be spent hiking and exploring.

Quite common in the park are bristle cone pines.  They are said to live for many centuries.  One tree we saw was 1,600 years old.  Aptly named, as the branches look like a bristle brush.

At this elevation, winter had not yet released its icy grip, so many of the wild flowers had not  bloomed as of our visit. Cedar City has a blossom festival in July if you are interested.

Bryce Canyon was our next day trip from Cedar City.  This National Park is at the 7,000 foot level.  Along with Cedar Breaks, Bryce forms a chain of Federal parks that descend from here to Zion National Park, Grand Escalante National Monument and culminating at the lowest level at Grand Canyon National Park.

The park offers a free shuttle bus to most of the scenic overlooks at Bryce.  Leave the driving to them and don’t worry about an available parking space at the more popular stops.

While the scenery is similar to Cedar Breaks, Bryce encompasses a much larger area, being about 18 miles long.  The effects of wind and water erosion provide interesting views throughout the park.

 

An impressive lodge was built during the Depression by WPA workers (a Gov’t make-work program).  You can enjoy a fancy meal there or just appreciate the view.

 Great places to visit.