Chris Sharples Photography - 2009

California Dreaming Day 33

22nd Aug 09
3:22pm

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A day’s rest, and then onto California Adventure. I then staked out a spot for two hours for the best view of the fireworks.

California Dreaming Day 31

22nd Aug 09
3:11pm

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It’s Disneyland, California.

California Dreaming Day 29&30

22nd Aug 09
3:04pm

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All of us got up early to see the sunrise - although not quite as good as day before. Then down to Boulder City overnight - hi Sandy! - and then onto… what does that sign say???

California Dreaming Day 28 - afternoon

20th Aug 09
6:29am

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We finished the walk - there were a lot of ‘haribo’ moments - where the boys posed for photos in return for haribo sweets… very quickly they were suggesting their own ideas for poses… We then moved onto Panguitch to stay in Grandma’s Cottage. Lou and Bruce suggested we went to the local rodeo - at which we saw bronco riding; calf roping and bull riding…

California Dreaming Day 28 - morning

20th Aug 09
6:04am

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Third early start as I get up for the sunrise over Bryce Canyon… magical patterns in the sky before the sun appeared… All of us set off for a walk down into the canyon which made the rock patterns even more vivid.

California Dreaming Day 27 - afternoon

20th Aug 09
4:58am

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After breakfast at Kaibob Lodge, we drove to Bryce - to find that the Bryce Canyon Lodge is inside the National Park and located only 2 mins walk from the rim. The rock formations are distinctive…

California Dreaming Day 27 - morning

20th Aug 09
2:21am

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This was a 4.40am start, and seemed doomed to failure as we set out towards black thunderstorm clouds and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We parked at the North Rim Lodge, and I walked out onto Bright Angel’s Point into a hail storm and thunder. However, the hail and rain did stop, and there were photos to follow. Matthew joined me as well, despite the 3000 ft drop either side.

California Dreaming Day 26

20th Aug 09
12:07am

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We got up very early (a recurring feature of the next few days as you will see) to do the Zion ‘Narrows‘ Walk. This involved getting the shuttle bus to the Northernmost stop and then walking up the River Canyon. Easy for the first mile, but then you have do more than half of the walk in the river - and the first section was up to Matthew’s chest… we had hired suitable footwear and sticks which helped enormously - the boys loved the scrambling and we made progress for over two hours before we all decided enough was enough and we needed to turn back. By then the sun was up, and we felt just a little smug as we met coachloads of tourists starting out, when we had had the canyon almost to ourselves. 4 hours walking and not a winge from the boys. The lodge then allowed us to use the swimming pool before we set out for the Grand Canyon - North Rim …

It’s the Monsoon season here and you can see the thunderstorms that were breaking over the canyon when we arrived. Amazing to see forked lightning in the dark clouds over the Canyon - but not possible to show in a photo unfortunately.