Ever Evolving Travel Plans

So two blogs ago I said two things that have now changed. I said no planned nature side trips for Oct 2026 and that I didn't know if Great Basin National Park was worth it. Fairly soon after that posting, we decided to do it. The fall plan now is so packed, we're crazy! We will pick up car and head the 4 hours north to GBNP, stopping along the way for a gift shop at the edge of the Extraterrestrial Highway and hiking for 90 mins or so at Cathedral Gorge State Park before a few short (I'm talking .5 to one mile each) at the NP. I've reserved a little cabin nearby on AirB&B. The area is supposed to have some of the darkest skies of the lower 48 and we will be there a day before a new moon so only 2% moon lit; should be amazing. Next morning, we will do 3 mile Alpine Loop Trail and then Lehman Caves Tour. Then possibly drive thru Cedar Breaks National Monument area before the Kolob Canyons area of Zion we missed last fall for sunset. Final morning before Vegas, awake and arrive at Snow Canyon State Park for 1-2 hours of hiking at sunrise. Like I said, we're crazy. The other change, is we'll put off doing Banff for another time. Why? It's a bucket list wish I've had for a few years now? Because Mr. Juice threw out another idea that we just had to jump on because of our Diamond status with CET. We have now booked.... AN ALASKAN CRUISE! It is booked for mid May 2027. We're doing Haven on NCL again; because once you go bougie you cannot go back. Jeff's one request is a Helicopter ride to a glacier and mushing huskie sled dogs in Juneau. OK! So one day/night in Seattle and then 7 days aboard the NCL Encore (fitting name for our second cruise). How I will handle a full year day dreaming and researching this when in the two weeks since booking I feel I have already spent a third of my free time looking at stuff? I'll be so overloaded with all things Alaskan ports by then I may make my head implode.

Two women have questioned him on if I really want to do this. Why are so many ladies beach girls that they can't imagine that others are not? You give me the combo of water, mountains and pine trees and it's my idea of heaven. This is why Banff is so high on my list, Lake Tahoe is my favorite spot in the US and we talk about when we'll return to Yosemite someday. Beaches and sand barely peak any interest in me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed our trip to the Bahamas, but I do not daydream about future trips to a beach at all. Give me hikes among the trees looking over a rocky shore vista anyday!