An hour and a half later we were in Phoenix. We walked around a little bit and found a place for dinner. It was a Friday's but it overlooked Chase Baseball field. We watched them fix the grounds while we ate. They were preparing for the opening day game on Monday. After dinner the day was over and we walked back to the hotel.
The next day we watched conference on my I pad in our hotel room. Nothing like being cozy with a small screen. Between conference we walked around a place called the Arizona Center which was near our hotel. They had lots of places to eat but we just had an ice cream and sat and looked at the fountains and flowers that decorated the grounds.
There were even jacaranda trees that were in bloom with their purple flowers. These are trees from South Africa.
We then went back to the hotel and on the way passed an orange tree. We knew from past experience many years ago that you do not eat these oranges. I had to have Cindy take a picture to remind us of that event many years ago.
We then made it back and watched the afternoon conference. After that I was off to do a presentation at the conference. I used a statement by Elder Holland at the end of is talk and applied it to end my speech, modified a little bit of course but had the same intent.
4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Community Regeneration PolicyLive In-Person EventSessions & DiscussionsCommunity RevitalizationRoom: 228 (PCC)Planning for a More Dynamic Population
The
“market” doesn’t see your community the same way you do. What do you do? This
session explores what Ogden, Utah is doing to develop housing choices, work
with other partners and even nature to create viable neighborhoods.
After the presentation Cindy and I went back to the Center and had dinner on the patio. We then walked around and came across this park downtown that had this giant art piece suspended over the park. It looked like a whirl pool or tornado. It was massive.
Monday I had meetings all day long at the conference center. Cindy went on her own to the science center. We met for lunch there since it was across the street from the conference center.
In the main lobby is a large telescope and in the ceiling is a design that looks like it is the other end of the telescope. As you look in the eye piece your eye shows up like this photo of Cindy's eye watching you.
Besides the Science Center to the east of the convention center was St. Mary's which was to the north. It was constructed in 1902 and has a landscaped plaza along its side.
There were also areas where aloes and bougainvillea were flower along the sidewalk.
After the day at the conference the Monday night activity was going to the opening day baseball game between the Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. Chase Field was very impressive as it has a retractable roof. Earlier in the day the roof was closed but when it was game time the roof was open. We were able to walk from our hotel room to the field.
Our seats were behind right field but it was a really good view. There was a fly over of two F-35's which was exciting and then it was time for the game. It was a sell out crowd of 43,000 and before the first pitch they honored Joe Garagiola who recently past away and was famous old ball player and announcer who was part of the Diamondbacks. I took a picture of where we sat two days earlier at teh restaurant and looked out onto the field. People came to see Zack Greinke pitch who the Diamondbacks had acquired.
In the end though he did not last long as the Rockies batted around in one inning on him. It was Colorado's rookie Trevor Story who hit two home runs in his first major league game that set a record. Even though the home team did not win it was a fun evening at the ball park.
The next day I had meetings in the morning and then the conference was over. Cindy and I rode the train to Tempe and walked around Mills Street.
We then went to Mesa to see the temple. At the visitors center was our old city attorney, Norm Ashton and his wife. They were serving as the director of the visitors center and it was a very enjoyable meeting and time we spent together. We then walked around the beautiful and peaceful grounds. The corners of the temple have different reliefs of settlers in the area.
We then went back to Tempe for dinner and see the sunset over the Salt River parkway.
The next morning was an early flight to Las Vegas and then we rented a car and drove to Death Valley which was the next part of our adventure. It was a little more than a two hour drive from Las Vegas. You start to descend into the valley. There is a look out called Zabriskie Point which is the first glimpse into the valley. Around you are various colors of rocks of the area called the badlands. You would never believe that the colors are real as they are just piled on top of each other.
We then dropped into the valley and went to the visitors center. We looked around and then went outside to take our pictures by the temperature sign. As you can see I am a little hotter than Cindy.
Its hard to believe it is April 6.
After that we checked into our hotel at Furnace Creek. Furnace Creek is an oasis with palm trees and grass that is watered by a spring.
We then headed south to an area called the Devils Golf Course. Devils Golf Course is an area of large, sharp clumps of salt formations. I brushed against one an cut my leg.
From there we continued south to Bad Water Basin. This is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. We hiked along the salt flat that is the basin and here the salt is smooth and level.
We then headed back to hike a canyon where a natural bridge is. The canyon was a smooth gravel wash .The sides of the canyon was exposed conglomerate rock. A short way up the canyon we came to the bridge. The sun was behind the cliff so it made the walk enjoyable.
After the hike we noticed there were still a few flowers left from the couple of weeks before when the whole hillside was covered in gold flowers. We could see the many dried stems left from what was called a supper bloom. The last before this happened 11 years ago.
We then drove along a road called Artist Palette. The colors in the rocks were amazing and it was as if they were just dabbed here and there. No one would believe this happened naturally. The pictures do not do the colors credit.
That evening we ate and then swam in the hotel spring fed pool. There was no moon and the stars were bright but I must admit I think the stars shine brighter in the Wyoming sky.
The next morning we went north of Furnace Creek. We started at an old borax plant. There was even one of the old borax wagons near the ruins.
From there we went to the sand dune area and walked along the dunes.
The afternoon we went for a hike up a canyon called Mosaic Canyon. On one side of the wall was conglomerate rock and on the other side the rock was marble and smooth.
We then had one more destination before we left Death Valley and that was to Salt Creek. Salt Creek is a spring that is seven times as salty as the ocean and after a while disappears into the ground. It is inhabited by a rare fish called the pupfish. They are all over the creek. This is the only area where there is any plant growth.
After visiting this area we then headed to Las Vegas but on the way took some pictures of the remaining flowers that were in bloom along the road side.
That evening we ate and then swam in the hotel spring fed pool. There was no moon and the stars were bright but I must admit I think the stars shine brighter in the Wyoming sky.
The next morning we went north of Furnace Creek. We started at an old borax plant. There was even one of the old borax wagons near the ruins.
From there we went to the sand dune area and walked along the dunes.
The afternoon we went for a hike up a canyon called Mosaic Canyon. On one side of the wall was conglomerate rock and on the other side the rock was marble and smooth.
We then had one more destination before we left Death Valley and that was to Salt Creek. Salt Creek is a spring that is seven times as salty as the ocean and after a while disappears into the ground. It is inhabited by a rare fish called the pupfish. They are all over the creek. This is the only area where there is any plant growth.
After visiting this area we then headed to Las Vegas but on the way took some pictures of the remaining flowers that were in bloom along the road side.
We made it to Las Vegas in the evening and had dinner in one of the restaurants at Cesears Palace and then we went and watched the fountains. With that our trip came to an end and we had an enjoyable time.
