Bryce Canyon - Sophia's birthday

After a lovely day yesterday, with beautiful weather, we had freezing temperatures overnight. We warmed up this morning with a canyon hike - walking the Queen's Garden Trail, the Rim trail and the Navajo Loop. It was amusing to watch people walk on a paved trail with hiking poles - putting all their weight on them as if their very life depended on it! It seems to be the "touristy" thing to do - to own hiking poles and then walk paved trails with them. Along the way, we came across an area full of cairns, and the children really enjoyed making their own. Throughout our walk, Ken and I were reminded of our time in Cappadocia 2 years ago, flying over the fairy chimneys in a hot air balloon - the landscapes are so very similar. At the completion of our walk, we celebrated Sophia's 9th birthday with her choice of cheesecake and icecream. Tonight we will attend an astronomy lecture.

Setting off on our hike today

Making cairns - fun!

A boy shaped hole in the rock

Awesome shapes  and colours in the rock

Looking back down at the bottom of the canyon - we are proud to have walked all the way down and back

The people look like ants on the hiking trail

Sophia's 9th birthday in Bryce Canyon

My birthday girl!