Sherry, If you go to see the giant redwood/sequoia trees, please realize that there are dozens of places worth seeing them along the coast from the CA/OR border to central California and in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along the CA/NV border that each have their own unique appeal. It would take a week just to explore all of the big tree NP's, SP's, SRA's, SNR's and Monuments in CA alone. When I lived in San Francisco, Russian Gulch, Big Basin SP and Mount Madonna were favorites, but after I moved to Carmel it was all about Polo Colorada Canyon and the many spots around Pfeiffer Big Sur. I'll have to tell you about my very rare and unique coffee table made from a Polo Colorado Cyn giant and Bixby Creek driftwood sometime. Yes, "mesa" is a term loosly applied to any landform in the arid west with a flat top and verticle cliff sides, and they are quite common. They are also referred to as table mountains, buttes, potrero or tuya depending on how they were formed and their characteristics and can vary from small ones like those in the BDW to the Grand Mesa in CO which is the largest in the world at around 500 square miles on top. Sometimes plateau is also used wrongly. They don't always have the verticle sides and are much bigger covering huge areas up to millions of square miles. Yes I could move back to St.George I guess, although in many ways the cost of living is higher there than Vegas. I'm sure some of my old friends are still there and kicking. But since my Dad lives there now I wouldn't even consider it.

Cathy, if you want a feeling of what a massive piece of sculpture it is, you won't get close to Crazy Horse, they are still working and so there is a "demolition zone". You can get much closer to the faces at Rushmore. Plus, Rushmore is a National Park and Crazy Horse is administered by a non-profit organization. That means no government money goes into Crazy Horse, so it's going slowly. Crazy Horse was a hero to his people, caring for the ill and elderly, protecting the children, and he died from a knife in his back, ostensibly from a soldier at the fort where he went to talk about treaties between the U.S. Government and the Lakota. The faces on Rushmore, though, were national figures, not simply ethnic ones. Each has its own history and significance. Rushmore, though, has historical significance for everyone, not just the Native Americans. And walking down that walk of flags, with a flag from every state, is very cool! Annie

Visited the Canyon on Sun., a bit chilly, but quite a few clouds, so somewhat less interesting for taking pictures. They say that some of the rocks are over 100 million years old, and that it took the river about 8 million to dig that trench down the more or less 5,000 feet. Such a variety of formations and colours. And average width 10 mi., but widest about 18 mi. - and over 225 mi. long. A fabulous place. So much for some claiming the world to be about 6,000 yrs. old. Came home Sun. night, Kathryn to bed early, up about 6 to co-ordinate people training laid-off workers in webinars, in the Eastern time zone. I checked Phoenix maps and attractions, thought of going to library but didn't. Read a book, "The Joy of NOT Being Married", by Ernie Zelinski, from Edmonton, while sitting near busy daughter. Some thoughtful ideas related to the lives of singles, whether original or retreaded. He also wrote, "The Joy of NOT Working", dealing with various issues relating to people who have been laid off, or retired. An opportunity for a wholesale re-evaluation of life ... good idea to be prepared, etc. A concept that comes close to Kathryn's profession. It must be tough to be opimistic, vivacious and perky in a gathering of people whose spirits are lower than a snake's belly in a wagon track. Wearing. We had dinner on Monday evening with Kathryn's good friend from several years ago when she first lived here - who loaned us the laptop that I'm using now. Kathryn bought an attractive 3-br. condo in the northern area of Phoenix in the late spring and is enjoying it: a major reason for the trip was for me to see it. Good wishes for the rest of the week. ole joyful

Casey: how long is a "few days"? If you go thru north, then Valley of Fire SP (beautiful), Hwy 15 IS my DH favorite road to drive on, Springdale and Zion NP, Mt. Carmel tunnel and hike on the east side of it, Checkered mesa. If you have enough time: Bryce NP and Kodachrome SP. If not head south-east to Rt.67 to north side of Grand Canyon. Then to Page for a hike thru Antelope Canyon (I like Lower better). Then around to Rt 64 (Rim drive). It is all very scenic but a lo-o-ong drive. If you only have time for GCanyon: drive thru the Rim drive. If you have time to hike, November is a good month to go down to Colorado river and back in one day. If not all the way down, then atleast to Ahh Point from Yavapai point trailhead. Grandview trail is nice (steep) short hike. Yuo can take bus to Hermit point and hike along the rim back to village (9 mi) or take bus along the way back. Sunrise is good at Mather Point. Sunset at Hopi point (must take bus) or down at Ahh point (must hike). Good luck :o)