Health Comes First

We arrived back in San Francisco last weekend with a plan to make it across Nevada to hit up the National Parks in Utah and Colorado before heading home for a trip in mid-March.

So far, we have spent some time in Tahoe, visiting family in Reno, and some amazing hikes in 3 of the 5 Mighty Five.

Heart Update

When we started out on this journey in January, we knew some health issues could bring us back home earlier.  One of the causes of John’s stroke could have been a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart, technically known as patent foramen ovale (PFO).  Testing before Christmas revealed he does have a hole, which eventually should be closed.  

It also revealed that John has a moderately severe leak in his tricuspid value.   It is believed to be caused by the pacing lead in his defibrillator, which sometimes can become dislodged.  It is something the doctors have been watching closely to see if it is getting worse, or if he has any symptoms impacting his quality of life.  The answer to both is yes, so he will have surgery in early April to either move the lead or convert his defibrillator to one that doesn’t require leads.

First, we are both glad that it has been found early.  If something like that went on for a long period of time it can lead to an enlargement of one side of the heart, which could lead to early heart failure. Second, we are happy that the amazing doctors at Cleveland Clinic have been helping us navigate this situation and have jumped into action immediately to help with personal calls to not only John and I but also his doctors in Toledo to do some interim work before his surgery in Cleveland.  

We have several more weeks left on our journey, much less than expected.  But we will continue to see amazing things and make lifelong travel memories up until the surgery, and certainly after his recovery.

Our Own Private Tahoe

Apparently not many people go to Tahoe in March.  It was peaceful, with crisp air gorgeous clear fresh water.  The color of the water reflects off the sky and, on this day, the most amazing greens, and blues.  It reminded me so much of the lakes around Banff and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.  

John’s cousin Mike spent the day taking us around.  John and Mike have been close since they were kids.  And I am sure we all remember how special cousin friendships can be when we were young, and I think it is great they have stayed in touch over the years.  Mike, his wife Barbara, and their kids Ava and Owen are great people and we loved being able to spend a little bit of time with them.  

The Mother of All Hikes…Angel’s Landing

Our first stop of the mighty 5 was Zion.  Angels Landing has been on my bucket list for a very long time.  Mainly because I know it is technically difficult, and I also know the parks system is moving to a daily lottery April 1 for anyone to make this hike.  It is very, very crowded during peak season, which is the main reason why it is considered the deadliest hike in the US.  13 people have died on this hike since 2000.  I navigated the elevation and very narrow passageway with a chain as a guide, and a big thanks for Mike and Barbara for allowing me to borrow some Yaktrax.  Without them, the hike would have been impossible over the snow and ice.

We spent the rest of the day in Zion riding our e-bikes over the scenic drive.  It is so humbling to be so close to such beautiful rock formations, which are right against the road.  Massive in size against with red, pink, salmon, and cream against the bright blue skies.  This is the fourth busiest park in the US, with over 4.3 million visitors a year.  We felt lucky to be here with very few crowds on a sunny 60 degree day.

Dunes on Fire

We made a quick stop to Coral Pink Sand Dunes to see for ourselves the shifting sea of red sand and stay for the sunset.  The wind causes the geography to change as much as 50 feet per year.  As the fine sand fell through my fingers, all I could think of was spice from the movie “Dune”.  The area is full of ATVs, providing adventure for all.

We made a friend as we entered the park.  David worked there and was very enamored with our van, asking lots of questions, and sharing stories about his sand toys.  He found us later sitting on the top of a sand dune and asked if we would be interested in riding in his dune buggy.  It was an absolute blast, riding down and around the dunes, through the different terrains within the park.  We ended the ride with an epic sunset over the coral sand.  A memory we will not soon forget.  

Bryce, Bryce Baby!

Next on the list was Bryce.  And there is nothing like snow covered hoodoos.  Hoodoos are tall, thin rock spires made over time from hard rock forming on top of soft rock.  Native Americans believe the hoodoos of Bryce possess power, and specifically petrified remains of ancient beings.  They are spiritual for sure, and awe inspiring given their height.  We started out on the rim and grabbed the Yaktrax and poles to make our way to the bottom of the canyon through the ice, snow, and red mud.  A great adventure.  With an elevation gain of 600 feet over 5 miles, it was beautiful to see from the top as well as inside the canyon. The greenery, with pure white snow, red dirt and multi colored spires.

The Hidden Gem Capitol Reef

Off the beaten path, Capitol Reef is a hidden treasure with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges.   In the summer the Fruita regions 3000 trees are full of apples, cherries, apricots, peaches, and pears for visitors to enjoy.  It is in the Waterpocket Fold, a 75-million-year-old “wrinkle in the earth” extending over 100 miles.  

We hiked the Cassidy Arch Trail, with an elevation gain of 950 feet.  It is named for Butch Cassidy, the outlaw and train robber, who had a hideout here.  Amazing views of an arch straddling a slot canyon, practically no one on the trail.  A great payoff of views during the entire hike.

From here, we finish out the Mighty Five with Arches and Canyonland, spending the night in Moab.  Then onto Colorado, for as long as the weather will allow. We are also debating a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico as it has been on our list of places to see for a long time.

Grateful for this trip. 

Grateful for family, friends, and flexibility in our life.

Grateful for amazing doctors and plans for improved health.

Grateful for time.