The view from high on Boulder Mountain We can only guess what is going on here.  A typical behavior for predatory wasps suggests it has stung and paralized  this caterpillar and will bury it and lay her egg/s in it.  The wasp larva will then live on it until it is ready to fly. Another colorful and unknown bug - probably a Bronzed Tiger Beetle fo Red Canyon.  Not in Bryce, but nearby - and yes, it really is this red! Tropic Reservoir Willis Canyon is one of many “slot” canyons in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.  Most are too remote, rugged, and deep for old geezers like us to get into - but this one is doable. We always look forward to a hike at Kolob Canyon, a separate part of Zion Wilderness off  I – 15, and do a hike up Taylor Creek.  It’s several miles of hiking, eventually bringing us to a large cave under a double arch---but not without dozens of ups and downs and stream crossings (the number has to be 40 – 50.)  Color is more subdued this year. The sun in this season does not hit the canyon floor, and it can get a bit chilly in there! Looking at this photo it’s really hard to appredciate how deep and narrow the canyon is.  This photo is actually two very wide angle views stitched together! Strawberry point Off in the distance is Zion Canyon On the way home, we are treated to close-up views of numerous mt. sheep, many lying out on the sunny slick rock , seemingly ignoring tourists.  Meant to mention that there are groups of artists and photographers throughout the Park, taking advantage of clear days.  We watch a four-point buck near the mouth of the Canyon.  He raised his head as if to bugle—but no sound coma out! Well, it’s a long cold winter coming! Spiny Tachina Fly, Paradejeania rutiliodes  (sometimes called a Moth Parasite Our last day in Zion is Nov. 4th.  We move over to Hurricane (“Hurcun”) to WillowWind RV Park, stopping firstfor gas and propane, also giving the propane tank an additive to eat up the moisture in there.  No more hair dryers. We’ll get this heater working, by golly. After much  shuffling, packing, shopping for last-minute stuff, eating out, transferring boxed and unboxed stuff from mh to car, we’re ready to leave for home Sunday, Nov. 6.  Sadly, the heater does one more “gotcha” before we left.  Charlie winterizes our chariot, and it gets stored. We take pics of it, then have buffet breakfast at JB’s, feeling lucky to have pretty good traveling weather.  Surprised at the amount of traffic on the freeway, truck and cars forming continuous clots for miles. We do see some snow on mountain tops but have  no accumulation to wrestle with the whole way up. Twin Falls is our chosen spot to roost--we’d obtained a traveler coupon for a Best Western there—and then were charged $20 less than the amount listed thereon! We see some more signs of colder weather along the way—like ducks walking on icy ponds, colorful larches touching up the area, cars loaded with snow--- but we reach home just in time for snow to arrive that very night.  How lucky is that??  And how lucky are we for such a glorious and safe 2011 fall trip? As we enjoy our days here, we remember friends Colin and Sharon who suffered a horrible tragedy a week ago.  There was a furnace fire at their Eureka MT home, in which Colin died.  Sharon was able to escape, and now, at age 74, is faced with beginning a new life in CA, near a daughter.  None of their possessions could be saved; everything in their beautiful log home was lost.  The motor home is going to sleep for the wintetr Storm clouds gather as we head north Winter is nigh at home