Marc's Public Blog - Trips to other locations


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This is a collection of my blog entries related to short or long trips I went on.
I have some master pages for some specific locations/trips:

paris over many years | UK over many years | Belgium over many years | Holland over many years | Vegas over many years | Australia over many years | Canada over many years | Japan over multiple trips | Italy in 2011 | France in 2013 | Indonesia in 2013 | Japan in 2013 | Japan in 2014 | Taiwan in 2014 | Indonesia in 2014 | New Zealand in 2015 | Japan in 2015 | Costa Rica in 2015 | Singapore in 2016 | South Korea in 2016 | Japan in 2016 | Germany in 2016 | Tasmania 2017 | Japan in winter 2017 | Great Britain in 2017 | Australia Flying Safari 2017 | Philippines 2018 | Spain in 2018 | Alaska in 2019 | England in 2021 | UAE in 2021 | Poland in 2023 | Portugal in 2023 | Thailand in 2023 | Japan Snow 2024 |

Table of Content for trips:

More pages: December 2023 June 2023 April 2023 December 2022 December 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 June 2018 May 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 June 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 May 2010 January 2010 September 2009 August 2009 June 2009 January 2009 December 2008 August 2008 February 2008 January 2008 October 2007 July 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 August 2006 July 2006 April 2006 March 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 April 2005 December 2004 October 2004 July 2004 June 2004 January 2004 January 2003 January 2001 August 1997



2012/09/27 Tour of Grand Canyon North Rim
π 2012-09-27 01:01 in Ntrips, Trips
Jennifer's Mom was staying with us to help Jennifer after her ankle surgery, and since Jennifer was supposed to start walking with a brace to strengthen her ankle, and she wanted to show something to her mom before she moved out of country back to Taiwan, she elected to do a tour of the north Rim of the Grand Canyon to Page, and finishing up to the South Rim before flying back out from there through flagstaff (the closest airport with commercial flights and rental cars).

The whole trip was a bit over 1000 miles in 5 days, not bad. We obviously didn't have enough time to properly hike or backpack in some of the parks, but Jennifer wasn't able to anyway, so it was mostly short distances from the car.

So, we flew into Vegas early morning, got our rental car, food and water and got the hell out :)





Day 1: Valley of Fire

Anyway, after a short-ish drive from Las Vegas, we got to the Valley of Fire thanks to a tip from JBQ:










Cool Roads
Cool Roads


We went for a scenic short hike at the end of the park.




pink rocks were cool
pink rocks were cool



more nice road/landscapes
more nice road/landscapes



And we finished with the famous elephant rock on the way out:





The Valley of Fire had a special meaning to me since my first book on the USA back when I was still in France, had elephant rock that happened to be from there (and I had no idea that was the case):


So that was well worth the time we spent there, and we then went on to Zion hoping that we'd get an hour or so to see the visitor center, but we forgot that we'd already lose an hour crossing the border, so that didn't quite work out. We just stayed by our bed and Breakfast to see a sunset:





Day 2: Zion

The next morning, we left reasonably early and went to Zion where we took the required bus after of quick visit of the visitor center. We only had one day to spend there (not counting the drive out we did the next morning), and that's not nearly enough for a normal visit of Zion, but in our case since we couldn't hike much or climb, that turned out to be just enough.



Except during very lowest season, the busses are required, but they run very often
Except during very lowest season, the busses are required, but they run very often


that's a tasty mushroom :)
that's a tasty mushroom :)


wheeping rocks
wheeping rocks











Day 3: Leaving Zion

Next Morming, we drove away from Zion towards Bryce, but did the hike at the other end of the tunnel before heading out:



light entry for the tunnel
light entry for the tunnel


From the other side, you can park and hike up:



that road would have been fun blocked off and with a real car :)
that road would have been fun blocked off and with a real car :)

you get a nice view from the valley and road to the tunnel from up there
you get a nice view from the valley and road to the tunnel from up there




Day 3: Red Canyon

After driving to Bryce Canyon, we hit Red Canyon just before that, and it was worth a quick look:




I did the reasonably short hike to the visitor center and Jennifer drove there
I did the reasonably short hike to the visitor center and Jennifer drove there



Day 3: Bryce Canyon

And finally we got to Bryce Canyon for the afternoon, which was barely enough for a visit with the car. We drove to the end where we had a late lunch, drove back to see view after view with Inspiration point as the grand finale. We then finished by sunset point for the super scenic 3 mile hike:













We then got to Inspiration Point, arguably the best view in Bryce Canyon:





And we finished with a beautiful 3 mile hike:














And we got back on top just in time for sunset and moonrise:



That was a really nice day, Bryce was fantastic. We then went to the nearby town for some food and sleeping.


Day 4: Page's Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons, and Horseshoe Bend

The next morning, we got out of Bryce as early as we could to get to Page and Antelope Canyon as early as possible and get a tour of lower antelope canyon while a beam of light shined in. Well, even though it wsa late in the season for that, we got lucky and saw a couple for a few mere minutes.


Day 4: Upper Antelope Canyon

We started with Upper Antelope Canyon, the most popular, and paid our due to the local tribe for a 1h tour. The tour was indeed spectacular and we got the best time of the day. That was good timing and luck.












Day 4: Lower Antelope Canyon

After the great views, we drove to lower Antelope Canyon which is definitely worth visiting separately and much deeper:







Day 4: Powell Lake

Next, we went to check out Powell Lake:











Day 4: Horseshoe Bend

and we finished with some pictures of the famous Horseshoe Bend:



it was a tiny bit late in the day sun-wise, but still nice
it was a tiny bit late in the day sun-wise, but still nice




Just this once we finished the day a little bit early, although getting dcent dinner in Page on a sunday night was no piece of cake.


Day 5: Monument Valley

The next morning, we drove from Page to Monument Valley. We actually thought it was pretty neat. Some viewoints were quite worth it, and I definitely doing your own tour so that you can enjoy some viewpoints like the North Window Overlook and Artist Point Overlook:



















Day 5: Grand Canyon South Rim Sunset

Once we were done with Monument Valley, we drove towards the Grand Canyon South Rim to see the easternmost entrance we had never seen: Desert View and its watchtower, and then got to a viewing point for sunset.









Day 6: Grand Canyon South Rim

The next morning, we got up early and went to see all the viewpoints on West Rim Drive, which we were able to just drive to instead of taking the bus since Jennifer was handicapped (we got a special code for the gate and were allowed to drive to all the stops).
Mind you, I would rather have been able to hike a lot of that, but Jennifer was not quite ready for that yet, and besides we didn't quite have the time anyway (we had to go to flagstaff to catch our plane home).




















And after a lunch by the canyon, we drove to Flagstaff to return the rental car and fly home via Phoenix.



This was a packed 6 days, but we got to see a whole lot (probably 10 days worth at a slower pace, taking time for more hikes that we just couldn't do this time around). We sure got to see a lot considering, and I got about 1200 pictures after weeding the bad ones, not bad.

See more images for Tour of Grand Canyon North Rim
2012/09/06 Visiting San Diego
π 2012-09-06 01:01 in Ntrips, Trips
Since I was going to San Diego for Linuxcon 2012, I figured I should use the opportunity to visit San Diego. I took 3 days extra, and then spent one of those days to go diving, leaving me with barely 2 days left.
I had seen all the parks in San Diego already (Sea World, Legoland, Wild Animal Zoo (whatever it's called), and saw the Zoo in Balboa park maybe 10 years ago). Turns out it takes more than 2 days to see the rest of San Diego. 3 days would have been ideal :)

Either way, while the days were packed, I got to see everything I could given the time, especially on that very busy Sunday I flew out and described below.

Got a few shots from the plane:

Sea World
Sea World


As soon as I arrived, I went to the waterfront to visit the Maritime Museum and got an included cruise:


the midway, which I went to visit later
the midway, which I went to visit later





Back from the cruise, went to visit the few boats and submarines they had on display








Next was the USS Midway, the best aircraft carrier I've ever visited. They show you a lot more than the average boat, you see 4 levels of decks, and the inside of the city on the sea.
You can see all the pictures of the Midway.

I then spent the rest of the day in downtown San Diego and the gaslamp quarter:









I also got to see a critical ride:


Once the conference was over, I went to Balboa Park to see the Science Museum. It wasn't the best one I've seen, but entertaining nonetheless. They did have good IMAX movies running, so I went to see 3 in a row :)




After the conference was over, I went diving off the San Diego Coast (kelp and wreck dives), which considering it was 6 dives in one day took 12 hours :)

The next day, it was my only day left to visit San Diego (2 in total) and I had a flight out that evening, so it was going to be packed.

I started with Cabrillo National Monument:









The naval base is well visible from up there
The naval base is well visible from up there


Next, I went to Jola to see the aquarium and Sea Horse nursery they had:












Next, I went to Old Town San Diego, which while I didn't have enough time to visit appropriately, was still quite nice to visit:




Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo

Next, I went to Balboa Park to see several things I hadn't seen the first day. I lucked out and saw birds that were there to be adopted. They were fun to be with:








From there, I went to the model railway museum:





Next, was time for the Air and Space Museum, which was a bit tough to see in 1h45, but I was able to see most of it and it was quite good: See my post on Air and Space Musem.

After the Museum, I jumped to the Zoo to catch barely catch a couple of hours before heading for the airport. Turns out, I hadn't quite planned for the fact that the zoo was going to be quite useless after sunset, so I had less time than planned, but made the best of it. Of course, seeing the San Diego Zoo in 1h and change, is a joke, but I took the tram around for the 10 cent tour, and saw a few things on foot before it got too dark :)






I have a few other random pictures. One interesting thing in San Diego is how much in the middle of the city the airport is. Great for commute, but interesting planes landing in the middle:



And there you go, the long somewhat rushed sunday was over, and time came to fly home. Next time, I'll plan for an extra day or two :)

See more images for Visiting San Diego

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