I've been asked what are my favorite trips to take.  Well, the answer is simple...they are all great. It is not so much where you are, but what condition one's spirit is in at the time of travel.  One could be in a beautiful place, but there might be something "off" about the trip or spirit for one reason or another which makes it not so great.  Taking an adventure travel vacation may not be a vacation from doing daily tasks, but perhaps a vacation from making a thousand decisions which effect the whole family or a company.  I have had passengers come up to me and thank me for making a week's most important thought...food, a swimsuit, and what footwear to get for the day.

Speaking of food, here is a video I put together which illustrates what it is like to be on a trip with the GT...the footage is from the Yosemite 3day and the National Parks Loop trips. Turn the music UP and please enjoy!
http://youtu.be/WyCbcOyXlVA 

Next Trip...NPL!!!

Finally rested, getting laundry done, need to pack, cuz Friday, I'm off for 16 days on the National Parks Loop to: San Francisco, Lamoille Canyon, Jackson Hole, Grand Teton NP, Yellowstone NP, a special Hot Springs, Kodachrome, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Arches NP, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon NP, Las Vegas then back to San Francisco. Really, this IS my work!

 

Driving and searching...

When looking at the schedule of the year thus far, I have been on ten trips.  The season started with mainly charter groups and a few Death Valley visits.  Now we have gotten into the real season. June was interesting because I was in Yosemite three times.  The Yosemite trips, for the guide/ driver are about the most technical driving there is. The lanes are quite narrow and there remain perhaps only inches of clearance for the bus which needs to be split so the bus can fit within the lane.  Mentally, it is taken in small blocks of task, two hours here, thirty minutes there, and then there is the passenger management.  When dropping 30 plus passengers off at the Yosemite Lodge with instructions on what to do, what not to do, and the right time to return to the pick up point...there is always that one.  The one who gets lost, fails at time management...well of course...he's on vacation...or the non-English speaker who is overwhelmed by the whole experience and is unable to express one's self. No worries, we still love them because at one point we have all been "that guy"

There is hardly a complaint from me because even if I have to calm a bus full of peeps while waiting for That Guy, I get to enjoy the view from my rolling office.

Season Two!

Yes, I know it had been a while since I have said anything here...a very long time.  But really, I found it very difficult to express myself utilizing a smart phone.  I really would prefer to use a laptop for a tablet for that task.

So, here it is the end of June and the season has taken off.  The first few months (April and May) have been taken up by school charter trips.  We would take a classroom sized groups out and about for a week.  It is great.  I remember my 5th, 6th, and 8th grade school trips quite well.  In fact, I feel they shaped my love of the outdoors so much, I just had to work in that kind of environment in order to feel complete.

As the season opens up for me, I think of all I have done and if I feel like I am moving in the direction of fulfillment. I can answer, YES.  It is a compromise to work seasonally and for low wages, but the rewards are great and my "wealth" does not come from a bank account or collected physical items.  It come from knowing my work is important and affects hundreds of people in such a positive way that they are for ever changed. My birthday is tomorrow which causes me to ponder a little about my life.  One aspect that comes to mind is my high school year book senior quote under my photo which reads, "I'd rather wake up in the middle of nowhere, than in any city on earth."  I think my life reflects that vision and I embrace the chance to lead others to great adventures. 

So it's back on the big green bus for a while with few days off until Oct.  I was going to start to bring my laptop along so I could blog, but it is going on the fritz.  The monitor is flashing all sorts of psychedelic colors.  I have been told that the computer has about run its course and time for another. Dang!  Just when I am broke.  Lol on me.   I guess I will have to be patient with myself as I blog w/ a smart phone.

Ready to do it again!

Back home and wiped out.  Yesterday was my last day off then I repeat the trip with different guests. This time we won't have an AC issue and have to spend a day in a repair shop in Salt Lake City.  This time we will wake up on a jetting on the Great Salt Lake for breakfast instead of dumping our "family" off at the temple...man that was a drag, but I have to hand it to our guests, they made hanging out in SLC a good thing and they mostly reported having a fine day.

In just a little while I load my truck headed to the GT yard to shop for this next trip.  It is usually an all day affair with shopping, loading , unloading, then loading the stuff on the bus. Loading the foods in the giant coolers is like loading a submarine. It is narrow and the crates tend to be a bit heavy. One needs to be careful because it can be a knuckle basher...ouch!

I will sleep in the bus tonight by myself, then tomorrow it will be time to tie up any loose ends.  All this prep work does take away from the home life, but it is all really quite worth it for it is thought all this work that results like this are achieved. 

And this:

And this!

May you travels be wondrous and peaceful.

Not your kind

Maybe they knew I was going to be here

The Grand Canyon

This trip is a compressed blur if experiences. We left Moab and made our way to Monument Valley. We stopped at the point in the road where Forrest Gump was running in he middle of no where. There were tons of cars stopped to take a photo. It is a true testament of the power of movies and media when icons are manufactured. I refused to snap a shmarmy photo of the scene. I did however get a photo without the road in it.

Hen went onto Page AZ, a little town along the way with a good supermarket and some eateries. Then at midnight we were on our way to the Grand Canyon.

I was way too tired to do anything when we arrived, due to the fact I drive most of the night with slumbering guests. So today I play tourist at one of our nations greatest national parks...The Grand Canyon!

I found it!!

As with any trip this one is not without it's challenges. I have managed to loose a tent stake, a tip of one of the tent poles and most heart breaking, a half load of laundry.

Here is the rest of this entry that was lost from the iPhone.

Just when you thought you were having troubles, the universe shows off in wonderful ways.  I stumbled across the pole tip, the tent stake was under the tent, and when we went back to Moab to do some more shopping the next day, I went into the laundry mat and there it was...my bag of clean socks and undies. Yippie!  SEE! What a wonderful world! Plus, I got free cherries form one of our passengers! Yummy! 

Dusk at Bryce.

Bryce Canyon at dusk

Dinner is served

Bryce

Quick shot at Bryce

Bryce and a shower

Sometimes I get to a great spot on the trip and miss all the hiking. Today is one of those days. No worries, because I get to come back in a out three weeks. I am at Bryce Canyon NP. The clouds are starting to develop, the guests are out in their hikes, and I am taking my required rest period. I got a few gifts for a few special people and retting comfortable in 90f degree heat on the bus. What I CAN do is take a much needed shower to get some of the stink off me.

Sent from my iPhone