Panama Day 5: Rain

Our conference ended today. Quite a few people headed out this afternoon. Our group ride to the airport picks us up tomorrow morning at 5AM. It's a national holiday and traffic is expected to be bad. It will be a long day. We'll certainly enjoy that 1st class upgrade!

I shot this last night with the lights of the ships waiting for canal passage.

I had hoped to spend the afternoon by the pool. Despite the usual cloudcover, I changed after lunch and went down only to realize I had forgotten my sunglasses. I went back up to the 7th floor turned around and went back down, but it was misting. Oh, well. There are little arbors over the lounge chairs. Except I kept getting splatted. When it started to pour, I went back to the room. I loved seeing separate storms in different directions. Someone was walking on the beach with an umbrella. I'm afraid I'm not that hardcore.

Tomorrow it's back to a leafless forest waiting for snow to brighten things up. No sun. Sigh.

Hopefully it will be an uneventful trip, and I will not write anything tomorrow. Until next time.

Panama Day 4: ICETE

The purpose for this trip to Panama is the trianual meetings of ICETE, the International Counsel for Evangelical Theological Education, the acrediting agency that Steve has worked for that brings together the regional acrediting agencies for theological schools, including both AETAL (Brazil and Latin America) and ACTEA (Africa) that he has worked most closely with over the years. I come along because it is my chance to put faces with names that I hear constantly in his work. I have been often enough over the years (most recently Turkey, 2015) to have many friends of my own to connect with.

This time we are 450 participants from more than 70 countries, representing more than 200 organizations. A couple new countries are represented this time--countries that previously could not attend for political reasons. (Ask me privately if you ae interested.) That is very exciting. Sadly a dozen people were denied entry for visa problems despite having followed all the instructions we had been given. Imagine spending 5 days traveling to a conference and being turned away at immigration with no recourse! Others were turned away at their points of embarcation or part way along the journey. One was a speaker!

Coffee breaks and mealtimes have been most important for networking conversations. The hotel has given us our own pavilion, surrounded by swimming pool, for our meals.

I picked one friend's mind on electronic publishing. Another may be the contact we have needed for accessing audio files for the enhanced e-book I have been working on with my friend Sylvia Scott.

The theme is doing away with the sacred/secular divide that compartmentalizes faith from Monday through Saturday activities. As theological educators, how can we encourage pastors to see ministry as not merely church-based ministry roles?

Worship times have been great. In a diverse group like this, it is especially meaningful to sing a text like, "We are one body, one body in Christ / and we do not stand alone."
         

Panama Day 3: Panama Canal

This afternoon was our "free time." Some attendees used it to sleep or swim. Three busloads of us used it to visit the Panama Canal. I remember studying this place in school. The French tried to build the canal in the late 19th c, but 25,000 people died of yellow fever and malaria. It wasn't until those diseases were better understood (and Panama City paved it's streets with brick to get rid of mosquito breeding puddles) that the US succeeded in the endeavor. The canal opened for buisness in 1914.


As you can see, there isn't a lot of space to spare. The small locomotives you can see on the tracks guide the ships through the locks. Tugs keep them on track through the lake. Here's a site that explains how it all works. The whole thing is pretty green, using the prolific rainfall and natural rivers to fill the man-made lake and gravity to fill the locks. The water eventually goes to the sea, just as it would naturally; it just gets used to lift ships on its way.

From the locks, we went to the old city, a delightful network of narrow brick streets lined with French style buildings, art deco buildings, and an 18th c Spanish cathedral. In the center of the picture you can see the road we were on the other night to circle around this part of town.

The cathedral is being renovated in anticipation of Pope Francis's visit next year. Lots of other buildings are obviously undergoing renovation as well

By the time we headed back to the buses the sun was setting.

Panama Day 2: Hotel

We'll try again for some pictures of the hotel. First are a couple views from our balcony.

Note the line of ships on the horizon, waiting their turn to go through the canal.

A walk along the beach the first afternoon (when there was actually some blue sky!) Note the mangrove trees standing in the water to the left.

When I went back at low tide, this is what I found.

I saw a couple signs saying not to enter the mangrove on the landward side. I assumed that was to protect the delicate roots that stick up out of the sand. Then I saw this sign: no swimming; crocodile habitat. Strong motivation to stay out.

Couldn't resist this evening shot as the hotel was preparing for a cultural presentation for another group.

Panama Day 1: Westin Playa Bonita Hotel

[Sorry. No pictures today. I have a new phone/camera and have experienced a couple goofs so in the end I have nothing usable for now. You'll have to believe me or that it is beautiful. That, or check the website.]

After celebrating Bella's birthday on Saturday, we were off Sunday to Panama for the trianual ICETE meetings. Steve had used airmiles to upgrade us to first class, which meant we had both lunch and dinner. We waved to Larry and Mary Caldwell as they passed us boardig in MSP, then ran into a bunch of other people headed this way in the Delta Lounge in Atlanta. We were all on the same flight and able to connect to share Uber rides to the hotel.

We drove all the way through a beautiful modern city since the hotel is on the opposite side from the airport. We even had to take a bridge over the canal. A 1.5km road out over the water circles the old city. Very impressive.

It was 11 PM before we were settled at the Westin Playa Bonita and crawling into bed. I had hopes of sleeping late, but...the old body clock wakes at 5:45.

In Turkey three years ago our package included all drinks, both in the hotel and by the pool. Here is only in the hotel and non-alcoholic drinks. I do have my thermal mug and little coil for making tea in the room so I can take that where I will. However, the climate is very muggy, so I'm not sure how much I will want tea by the pool.

This is not a travels-with-Claudia journey although I'm wishing it were. The hotel and beach remind me so much of Hawaii and the good times Mom and I had there. She could have managed the pool and watching the waves just fine and skipped all meetings. But she chose rainy Seattle instead...

The forecast is for rain every day here, but not all day. So far it hasn't rained, but the skies are moisture filled and my hair collapsed immediately upon leaving air-conditioned space. Pictures will not be as blue-skied as Utah.

I took several pictures this morning as we explored the beach, only to find that I had inadvertently clicked a setting on my new phone that makes them all 2-second videos. One of the women at the airport yesterday showed me pics of her grandchildren with slight movement, and I expect that is what she was using. Great for grandkids, but not for the beach--at least not when you don't realize that is what you are doing and move the camera around.

We'll see how this pic of Steve swimming laps works.



Tide was in this morning. Tide is out now and a totally different beach.

I had noticed several signs not to go into the mangrove and assumed it was to protect the air roots that stick out of the ground. Then I saw a sign saying "Keep out. Crocodile habitat."Boy is that motivation!

Utah Day 13: On the road again

We were on the road by 7:10 this morning. The first three hours were beautiful--through the Colorado Mountains.

After that... Well, eastern Colorado and Nebraska don't merit a lot of photos.

We're back to Mom in the back so she can put her feet up. The walker is packed in the trunk so getting out involves taking an arm and less independence at rest stops. Now that we are at the hotel, everything comes out of the trunk including the walker. It is Sunday evening so supper is popcorn, apples and good Burnett Dairy cheese, as it would be at home.

Tomorrow we'll be up early and on the road. Should be an eight-hour trip home so Steve can hop back in the car and head for band practice. Mom and I will no doubt be sound asleep when he gets home.

It's been a wonderful trip with almost more beauty than we could take in. My brain is already planning the Shutterfly book. Mom's highlights are sunset at Bryce Canyon and the hogback where canyons dropped away on either side of Rt. 12 (day 8). Steve's highlight was clinging to the cliff on the gravel Shafer Trail Rd. in Canyonlands (day 4). I loved sunset at Bryce and at Arches (days 8 and day 4), but I think my highlight was getting down among the hoodoos, hiking in the early morning at Bryce Canyon (day 9).

Mom has been a trouper, getting up way earlier than she usually does at home, eager for the sights of each new day. We are grateful for fabulous weather, good health for all three of us, and no car problems (except needing to add air to a tire a couple times, but considering some of the roads we were on, that's hardly surprising!)

Delightful as it has been, I am eager to get back to revisions of Glastonbury III and follow-up on rights for a non-fiction book in process. Also home-cooked food, my own bed, and not having to repack every morning.

Unless something unexpected happens, this will be my last post until Panama in October.

Day 14:
We finished the audiobook just north of the Twin Cities. (I highly recommend the whole series.) I found a North Dakota license plate somewhere in there. We ended the journey with 44 plates seen, missing West Virginia, Maryland, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Hampshire, and of course, Hawaii. You almost have to be on a military base to find a Hawaii plate. I saw Alaska twice. Does that count? For the record, national park parking lots are great places to hunt.

Utah Day 12: Headed Home

This morning we started the long trek home. That doesn't mean leaving behind the beauty. All of I-15 and I-70 are marked as scenic on the Utah road map. Besides, you know us. We took a detour.

We left the rolling hills of I-15 at Cedar City and headed up Rt. 14 into a beautiful canyon, but sorry, no convenient places to stop for photos. We did stop at the top and look back toward Zion. I don't usually like dead trees in my pictures, but this one has a hawk in it.

We turned north at Rt 148 where we turned the other day coming from the other direction and retraced our route through Cedar Breaks National Monument. This time we stopped at the visitor center and took in the overlook.

I ran into a couple who were so pleased to have just purchased their lifetime pass for national parks. We bought ours several years ago when the cost was $10 for seniors over age 62. The price has now gone up to $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime. "It's a worthy cause," the man told me. I agree. And we have used ours in 7 places this trip alone. At $35 for most of those parks, even $80 is a bargain.

We continued north on Rt. 143 where we had turned east before. Steep winding roads with high snow poles marking the road for winter. The area was devastated by the pine beetle. Brian Head is a ski area, and there we saw whole hillsides of dead trees being logged.

At Parowan we continued north on I-15. It felt really weird to be going so fast (speed limit 80) on a wide divided highway.

Even the rest stops on I-70 have stupendous views.

Another stop. That's the interstate down there passing through a gap where workers could touch both sides when they started construction in 1970.

My dad wondered why there were never any houses in my pictures. I think he was wondering if anyone actually LIVES in Utah. Yes, they do, but not in the national parks. Dad, here's the view from our hotel window this morning. Note the houses of La Verkin, Utah.

Tonight we're back in the Best Western in Grand Junction, CO. Got a buclet of KFC and ate it in the shady courtyard outside our room with a can of corn and another of German potato salad. Very pleasant. Tomorrow we leave behind the mountains.

Utah Day 11: Boots on the ground in Zion

Best birthday present ever! Steve dropped me off at the shuttle a little before 7.

I rode up to the top of Zion Canyon and walked the very tame, but very beautiful Riverside Trail.

Breakfast spot.

I SHOULD have taken a change of shoes. Many walkers headed up the Narrows wading in the creek. I had the impression that it was all (10-12 hours with equipment from an outfitter) or nothing. I'll have to come back. (In fact, Steve gave me a book of hikes in Bryce and Zion as a more concrete birthday gift.)

The plan was to meet up at the Visitor Center at 11:30, so I had time to fit in a couple more easy walks. This one was to Lower Emerald Pool.

When I got there the pool was small, but the water coming over the rocks sparkled in the sun.

I saw deer a couple times, but they tend to stay in the grass and shadows and don't come out for photos. But this guy did.

I was glad someone else put his hand near to show the size and I didn't need to.

One more quick hop off the shuttle to climb to the Patriarchs overlook. Beginning in the middle of this panorama shot, that's Abraham, Isaac and Moroni there with Jacob peaking over Moroni's shoulder.

I know. Moroni isn't in my Bible either. The Mormon's named the peaks.

After yummy crepes in a local cafe, we took the road to Kolob Reservoir. It goes in and out of the park past a variety of trail heads, but is MUCH less crowded than Zion Canyon itself. We passed a house with this view. Can you imagine what they must have paid for the lot?

The asphalt ended at the reservoir.

Water level is down a bit. I'd be happy to contribute some of our lake water that currently completely drowns our beach.

This is our last national park for this trip. Tomorrow we start home--by the scenic route, of course--up I-15 to I-70. No more hiking, but maybe I'll convince Steve to stop at a few scenic pull offs.

Utah Day 10: Rt. 89

At breakfast in our hotel we heard Korean and German. In the park we heard lots of French as well. If you are a foreigner visiting the US, this is a great part of the country to visit.

After breakfast we took off west on 12 back along the north edge of the park. It was cold--37--but it didn't stay there.

You don't have to be in a park to see beautiful scenery around here.

We turned south on Rt. 89, but the Hardys never go anywhere in a straight line if there is a scenic route nearby. We turned west on Rt 14 at Long Valley Jct. (a gas station). We made a loop north on Rt. 148, back east on Rt. 143, and south again on Bicycle Rt. 70 to return to Rt 14 and 89. We've seen a lot of bicycling around here. Definitely not the kind of up and down I would choose. The other day coming over Boulder Mountain on Rt. 12 we saw a whole group of bicyclists. Apparently a tour group. Probably with someone taking their stuff to the next stop. But near the bottom of the mountain we came upon a man pushing his bike. He had miles of uphill ahead of him. He must have been REALLY wondering what he got himself into.

Our loop was mountain country similar to what we saw on Rt. 12 over Boulder Mountain. We came upon an area of resorts, but I suspect they were places where Utah people go for a get-away, not foreign tourists, since there was nothing unique about them. It wasn't as scenic as it might have been since in places there were more dead trees than live. One entire mountainside seemed to be nothing but dead trees--a forest fire waiting to happen as Steve said. I suspect the cause is the pine beetle that has been devastating western forests.

The other interesting thing we saw was rocks--piles and piles of them in a ring around a mountain. There was a sign for a "cinder cone," so we figure a long-ago volcanic explosion.

Turning back south on Rt. 89, we hit the first road construction we have seen the whole trip. One way traffic, but not a big delay.

Coming west on Rt. 9, we pass through a 1.1-mile-long tunnel to enter Zion Canyon. We had to wait our turn. It's a one-way tunnel so the buses (which are considerably larger than when the tunnel was built in 1930) can go down the middle

The tunnel is unlit. Signs remind you to turn on your lights and take off your sunglasses. There are a few windows that open onto the canyon.

On the far side are a series of switchbacks down into the valley.

From one of the switchbacks, we could see one of the tunnel windows on the cliff face above.

Lunch was in front of the shopping area outside the Zion National Park Visitor Center.

Steve went to the bathroom before lunch. After lunch we stopped at the information booth. While we were asking questions, someone came up with his wallet saying, "Someone left this in the bathroom." Steve Hardy's guardian angel to the rescue again. It had probably been half an hour, but all money and credit cards were there.

Due to the crowds, cars aren't allowed up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. You have to take a shuttle. Even the shuttle parking lots were full, with instructions to park in the town of Springdale and take a free city shuttle to get the free park shuttle. We were concerned about Mom getting on and off a bus and were able to get a special permit to drive in but not stop. At least Mom could oggle the views.

Supper at China Buffet in Hurricane. Nice change. (How on earth does a town in the middle of the desert get the name of 'Hurricane'?)

Utah Day 9: Bryce Canyon, up close and personal

The shuttle doesn't start runnng until 8PM so Steve took me into the park and dropped me off before sunrise. I was well before the hour, but if I had been much later, I would not have gotten a place along the rail. I was glad for my jacket in the pre-dawn chill. Clouds obscured the sunrise, which is great when your goal is to see the golden ring around them, but not so nice when you want the early rays hitting the rocks. The light was filitered, but not bad.

I started down Queen's Garden Trail. I wasn't the only one, but most of the crowd headed back to their hotels or campsites for breakfast. I had packed granola bars, a fruit cup, and a thermos of tea, and sat on a log part way down, waiting for the sun to rise above the clouds. Eventually the sun came out, and although I was low down in the valley, the views were breath-taking.

A few places they had cut doorways to ease the trail along. Yesterday while Mom sat at Sunset Point she watched people appear and disappear along this path.

I did a lot of looking straight up.

I took the connecting path to Navajo Loop Trail and came up "Wall Street."

The stairs turned to switchbacks. This is the view I saw last evening that made me determine to do this trail. Steve took one look and said, "No, thanks." (Note the switchbacks down to the dark opening between Hoodoos.)

The light could no longer be called "early morning" (it was a little past 9), but it was still spectacular.

Steve and Mom were enjoying a rerun of the incredible road we came down yesterday. I was scheduled to meet them at Inspiration Point at 11:30, so I followed the Rim Trail. Getting to Inspiration Point well before the meeting time, I continued toward Brye Point Overlook. Didn't go that far, but here is a glimpse of the narrow trail along a spectacular hogback just south of Inspiration Point.

Conclusion: I wanna hike every trail in this park!

Utah Day 8: Bryce Canyon from the rim

We arrived in Tropic with plenty of time to do a quick survey of Bryce Canyon. Wow! We parked Mom at the overlook at Sunset Point and hiked over to Sunrise Point.

Unfortunately, I had my phone in airplane mode because we had been out of range so much. It didn't occur to me that that turned off the GPS. So I can't tell you for sure which view is from which overlook. Suffice it to say, they were all fabulous.

Mom went out at Sunset Point and Bryce Point, but Inspiration Point was too steep.  We highly recommend parking at the entrance and taking the shuttle unless you have mobility problems. It lets you on and off and you can easily hike from one point to the next.