The Pioneer Trail, Zion Canyon, Wildcat Willie's and OK-The Best Burger Ever at "The Flying Monkey"

Driving the course............Check out the straightaway

The day after the marathon was Sunday, and in Utah that means they roll up the sidewalks and nobody goes anywhere or does anything. We decided to hike the Pioneer Rim Trail in downtown St. George, and then hit the hot tub.

A typical "cow pie" rock formation in St. George

A bit of a dry spell here

I went all the way to Utah to buy these Canadian K-Swiss shoes.Gotta get them dirty.

Desert vista

Tarantula hole. Or maybe a small desert tortoise?

Like in Old England, the women walk well behind the men. Maybe they just want to make sure there are no snakes.

Look what I found!

Beaver checks out the pool. It was 53˚F.

Captain found it perfect for a 10 minute post race ice bath.

The next day we felt a bit more energetic, and headed to Zion Canyon.

Meanie takes the wheel.

Meanie takes the wheel again!

Portage and meanie observe some low lying clouds

I have no comment on this photo.

Or this one............

Looks like Annapurna but it's in Zion Canyon.

OOOOooooooooohhhhhhhhh

This tunnel was blasted through the mountain in the 1930's, when cars weren't as wide as they are now. It can get dicey in there.

How is this tree even growing?

A fine looking group. Captain, Hoover, Portage, Digger, Meanie and The Beaver.

Love these signs

This deer was pretty tame

It's true.

The mighty Virgin River, which carved out Zion Canyon

The beer and wine menu at the Flying Monkey. When we came back two days later, they were sold out of most of this stuff, it was their last night open this year. The waiter told Portage, "You can have any kind of wine you like, as long as it's the Pinot Grigio."

OK-The Best Burger Ever

Not a speck left.

We found the spot where Dora took my favourite photo ever.

My favourite photo ever, taken 2 years ago.

Rock hounds. "How do we get those into our suitcases"?

That is breakfast at Wildcat Willie's.

Wildcat Willie's and The Flying Monkey are both in Springdale, right at the entrance to Zion Canyon. Both are beyond excellent.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

The Mighty Virgin

Crazy mountain climbers were everywhere on the steep walls. It took a bit of uphill hiking for me to get this shot.

My 2nd burger at the Flying Monkey. It was the day before thanksgiving, at closing time.I may have been served the last burger of 2011. Or maybe Beaver was, we both got the same thing.

Last night of operation this year for the Flying Monkey? Beaver prepares to chow down on a burger and a brewski. Do I sense a Paleo convert?

My 2nd burger and waffle fries bite the dust.

 We were hugely impressed with The Flying Monkey, and are deeply in debt to Brownie for telling us about it. They make great beer, and also have a wood fired pizza oven. We all had different meals, but everyone agreed it was one of their best dinners ever. Derek, the young chef, is amazing. We ate there on Monday, and again on Wednesday, which was the night before Thanksgiving here in The States. The burger was better than The Hard Rock in Las Vegas, and better than the Elephant and Castle in Pennsylvania.

Had to get this shot.

A Polygamy Porter (why have just one?) and a Full Suspension Ale

'Tages Wood Fired Lasagna Pizza

Derek, the magic man, in front of his oven. The ladies liked what they saw. Note the Tennessee hat? Go Vols!

A  Four wheel drive Mercedes Beer Wagon parked outside "The Monkey".

Clumsy people don't last long around here.

What am I awkwardly looking up at?

This!The view from the Emerald Pool.

I haven't the foggiest idea where this is. Somewhere in Zion.

A waterfall

The Emerald Pool. Can you see the water and the reflection?

Not a snake, but a tree root.They grow right out of the rocks.

The sun will come out, tomorrow. (And it did)

 Next up, Bryce Canyon.