It is with great sadness that I announce our sale of our beautiful sailboat and long time companion, Evergreen.  She was a real friend and lover - taking us to great places and adventures over the Sea and sheltering us from the storms along the way.

​Alas, we have to part with her.  Keeping a boat such as this in retirement requires a higher income than we enjoy.  So, we are selling her to someone who I know will be excited to have her and will hopefully love & enjoy her as much as we did - if that's possible!  

While are very sad to see her go and our greater Sea adventures along with her, I would like to introduce Magic Van! 
(Did you really think we were going to stay home and give up adventuring?  Ha!  Not a chance)!​

Stay tuned for more great adventures with Magic and the Merliers,
​or the Magic Merliers, if you will!

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in the American Southwest. It is located on Navajo land east of Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, scenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as "Upper Antelope Canyon" or "The Crack"; and "Antelope Canyon" or "The Corkscrew".[2]
The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means "the place where water runs through rocks". Lower Antelope Canyon is Hazdistazí (advertised as "Hasdestwazi" by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department), or "spiral rock arches". Both are located within the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation. (Wikipedia)

If you have never been here. folks, you want to put this on your 'bucket list'.  It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen!

The sandstone reflects the light according to the temperature of the rock creating the colors.  The warmer temperatures are the yellow, orange and pinks   The cooler rock is lavender, blue, and purple.

Come join me for a stroll through this most remarkable canyon.  Click on the pictures to enlarge them.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!  Feel free to leave me a comment.

One of the most beautiful places I have ever been is Bryce Canyon, Utah.  Come walk through the Queen's Garden with me, but remember to bring your imagination!

Did you know that rocks could talk?  They sure can!  They convey all kinds of information both geological and personal.  Take a look at the pictures below to view two types of ancient rock language - petroglyphs and pictographs.  These images are about 10,000 years old!  They have survived the weather and time to give us clues to what the ancient people who made them might have been trying to say.

​The first 6 images are reproductions and not the real thing.  Petroglyphs were produced by etching.  The ancient people who made them used rock tools made out of a harder rock than the sandstone upon which they were etching. The black substance that is on the rock walls upon which they etched is a type of lacquer that leaches from the sandstone during the natural weathering process over time. Pictographs were made from a paint that ancients produced from hematite.  The iron in hematite is what makes the color red.  I think it's amazing that so called 'primitive' people could produce a paint that has lasted for 10,000 years!

We arrived at Grand Canyon National Park just in time!  We spent two days touring around and enjoying the awesome views, but had to beat feet South to avoid a weather system that would dump very cold rain and snow!  Back to the desert for awhile!

Every stop had a raven to guard the 'Spirit of Place'