Well, fellow travelers, when last we communicated yours truly was endearing himself to the Navajo Nation adjacent to majestic Lake Powell, Arizona. (Named after Major John Wesley Powell, who was the leader of two expeditions to the area in 1869 and 1872.) Worthy accomplishments, but as a comparison, almost 30 years AFTER John C. Fremont explored the area! (Which is why my new book refers to Fremont as “The Wonder of the West.)

In any case, we arrived on the rocky shores of the lake on Monday, April 8, just in time to observe some sort of solar eclipse. (Which you might have heard of?) To be perfectly honest, the eclipse was not overly impressive from our vantage point, so we sipped a little of the local tequila and then took a peaceful siesta on the porch.

, The following day, we got up early (way too early) and spent the morning rafting the Colorado River, which was a real treat. After I woke up (halfway down the river) I saw some stunning scenery and some very old Indian petrography. The images we saw were roughly 9,000 years old. I was tempted to make a few corrections on the buffalo images, but I thought it best not to alter the overall concept.

Our next stop was Kanab, Utah, which hosted an elaborate “cowboy barbecue” for our group. Utah is a lovely state, and we were fortunate enough to see one of the state’s most precious sites, Bryce Canyon National Park. We stayed in a quaint lodge and tried to absorb all of the natural beauty of the place, but to be honest, you would need at least a week to walk around the trails. (My wife started to complain about carrying all of our outdoor gear the moment she came to the first mountain! I asked her if I should rent one of the jackasses, but she said that one was enough.)

The next day was spent at my favorite stop, Zion National Park, which has to be one of the most spectacular places on earth. Almost beyond description. Even the lodge was nice, and the food surprisingly good. I could have stayed in the valley for several days, but we were scheduled to be in Las Vegas, so we bid a fond farewell to our the park and headed for Sin City.

I am tempted to share my Las Vegas tales, but you know what they say…. what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. (Including most of my money!) Gambling, as you may have heard, is a great way of getting nothing for something. Well, I’ve certainly learned my lesson. No more gambling for me! I’m serious! I’ll never gamble again! Wanna bet?

All in all, it was a marvelous trip and we made a lot of new friends. Our next outing, which should be even more relaxing, is a trip down to lovely St. John, in the American Virgin Islands. We will be staying in a bay-front villa with our dear cohorts, The Princess of Portugal and Baron Lee. Needless to say, I am looking forward to a great week of snorkeling and rum intoxication.

Just for the record, sales of my new history book, titled, WONDER OF THE WEST, have been quite good, so if you’re looking for a great summer read check it out on Amazon.com

Until we meet again, stay happy and healthy…. and don’t forget to drink plenty of water!

Love to all, Doc Yanoff