California Coastal Cruise

I just returned from a relaxing week on the Crown Princess Cruise Ship. My parents invited my sister and me to join them on a California Coastal Cruise. Our journey began in Los Angeles with ports of call at San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico returning to Los Angeles. Sandy & I enjoyed Zumba and Line Dancing, both made for a good workout. Although the sky was cloudy most of the week, the temperatures were pleasant. We all got together often for dinner and the nightly shows in the Princess Theater. The entertainment was good and offered quite a variety throughout the ship. The food was good and the desserts, of course are always good. It was fun re-visiting the towns we vacationed at many years ago as kids; especially San Francisco and Solvang. We met a lot of nice people on the ship. If you've never been on a cruise now is the time to start planning. How would you like a vacation where all you have to do is unpack and enjoy the ride?

We sailed on the Crown Princess, it's a beautiful ship

Mom & dad, the Official Cruisers

Dad, mom, Sandy and I

The Stateroom Sandy and I shared

Our room was comfortable, we also had a balcony

The Atrium is a great gathering spot

We enjoyed these Circus performers in the Piazza, they were good

Neptune's Reef & Pool

Dinner at the Crown Grill

Dad's awesome chocolate dessert, it tasted as good as it looks

Cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco

It's been years since I've been here

We could see Alcatraz

Stinky, noisy Sea Lions at Pier 39

Sandy & I rode the Cable Cars

We last rode these when we were kids

We walked down to Chinatown & back up the hill

The Famous Lombard Street

Coit Tower and city views from Mom & dad's room

Evening views from our room

Sandy & I walked to the end of Stern's Wharf at Santa Barbara

Enterprise Rent-A-Car picked us up at Sambo's........the original Sambo's

I got to drive a 2015 Ford Mustang......whoohoo!

Solvang is a cute Danish town about 35 miles from Santa Barbara

Of course we had to try a pastry

I remember seeing the windmills when we visited here as kids

Further up the road we stopped at Quicksilver Ranch

The miniature horses were so cute

This little guy was one day old.......so cute & tiny

We tendered at Santa Barbara since there were no docks

We were entertained by a variety of sail boats in the harbor

Good night Santa Barbara

Arriving in San Diego

Crown Princess holds 3200 passengers & crew, 951 ft. in length with 18 decks

We were docked right in downtown San Diego with great views of the city

Looking toward Seaport Village and Coronado Island

The airport was nearby, too

The 'Unconditional Surrender' statue on display in Tuna Harbor Park

Interesting Bronze Sculptures along the way to Seaport Village

We have arrived to Seaport Village, a fun shopping spot

Sandy couldn't resist the cowbench at Ben & Jerry's

We passed through the Gaslamp Quarter on our way to Horton Plaza

Interesting work of art along the way

Great views from the Promenade Deck, 3 laps equal one mile

A couple of stowaways on a balcony below

Coming to the end of another fun day at sea

Coffee & dessert from the International Cafe make for a great afternoon treat

Me in our Stateroom don't I look relaxed.....cruises are fun!

Our view of Ensenada, Mexico from our balcony on the Starboard side of the ship

Here comes the first cruise ship we have seen on this trip

Where is the Carnival Imagination going?

We went to mom & dad's room on the Port side of the ship to see where the Carnival ship docked

Ensenada was much larger than I expected

We had fun looking at all the shops in the Downtown Shopping District

Stinky Sea Lions below the ship

Adios Sea Lion

Last evening at sea......in the morning we shall be back at Los Angeles

Every night, Wendell our Room Steward left these wonderful chocolates on our beds.....I brought them home for Kent

Just a few mementos from the cruise

Water Canyon, Top Rock, White Domes & Hoodoos

Saturday we headed for Water Canyon which is located about 25 miles east of Hurricane. It's rather remote and few people have ever heard of it. It is a moderately strenuous hike with lots of up, up....no kidding! Bruce Pitts, a friend from church who is a part-time St.George/Alberta, Canada resident wanted us to take him there. His daughter Karen & husband Bruce were visiting so they were excited to come along. Yes, there are two "Bruce's" on this hike. Water Canyon is a narrow slot canyon with a crystal clear stream cascading out of the sandstone. From there we traversed several switchbacks up the mountainside to the rim. Once up on top we decided to head for the White Domes; there is no real trail. We followed a sandy wash then walked the colorful slickrock in the direction of the domes. We reached the Canaan Mountain plateau upon where the White Domes are located; one look at the view and we were in awe....the most amazing view of Zion and it just took, one step at a time.

Water Canyon Arch 1,000 ft. above the canyon floor

Towering sandstone cliffs

This permanent stream supplies water for Hildale & Colorado City

Kent & Bruce entering Water Canyon

Bruce doing his squats

Waterfalls cascading down the slickrock

Looking back to where we came from

This is the way up to Canaan Mountain

Taking a break, the trail has lots of UP, UP

Colorful plants...Bruce decided not to continue on with us, like I said, it's a strenuous hike; he did awesome and made it to Water Canyon!  If only I can be like you one day......way to go Bruce!

Bruce helping Karen up a ledge, it's just the 4 of us now.....

We are now out of Water Canyon

No real trail, just working our way towards the slickrock

Kent found out there was quicksand in this area

Heading towards Canaan Mountain

We are getting closer to the White Domes

The White Domes really stand out against the red, orange & yellow sandstone formations

It was fun walking around on these domes

So pretty

Can you spot Bruce, Karen & Kent?

They call this The White Wave......we had the whole place to ourselves

Something different in every direction

What a great place to have lunch

Bruce, Karen, me & Kent

Awesome views of Zion and beyond

We made it to the White Domes.....yea!

Totally worth it for a view like this.....wow!

Layer upon layer

Such an awesome place & very few people ever see this

Unbelievable colors

Pine tree growing out of the sandstone

Unique colorful formations

 Heading back towards Water Canyon

Moqui balls galore......iron oxide concretions found in the Navajo sandstone

We walked on slickrock most of the way to & from the White Domes

Sandstone layers

It's unusual to see so little snow this time of year

Our last peek of Water Canyon Narrows before hiking out of the canyon