DAY 15

Tuesday
 Bryce canyon known to be greater then the grand canyon but hey I wasn't going to take the advice of the old guy. 

Orderville is samll but I like small.we went to the post office teheran stress of paying for the bo the lady told us to go to terry's to see if he had any boxes for free. And sure enough he did, sweet I saved $3 marvelous! My box was Sent containing the essentials to ones life,canned pumpkin.

Bryce canyon is known for their Hoodoos which are giant rock pillars that  are created from rain and snow degrading the rocks forming as some call it hammers of the gods. 

On our journey to the hammers lands we drive past a place that sells Elk. Now my brother is an avid hunter and one dauy watching his hunting video I see the buntings of elk. Now I decide to try it. 

Nestled in the rugged outback of Utah is the cowboy diner that is home to our infamous elk burger. Well well well what does elk taste like? Delicious. I has more flavor then a steak. It's a rich beef flavor that when minced tastes like beef heaven. Served with amazing chips and a soda bob is my uncle and i am happy.

We continue onwards and enter into the National park. By this time its about 2 pm. Stop off at the visitors center and visit the museum that shows a bit of the history of the park and its natural surroundings.

We journey onward to the walks that Anna had picked for us to do which led to us walking down deep into the canyon.

There are lookout s placed strategically all around the edge of the canyon and good on them for that. You can see from all angles the little nooks and cranked of the canyon. Anna took me on a trail that is call najvoo, meaning hard bring water. Nah just kidding it was deceptively easy walking zigzag down the canyon into the wash and from there you get amazing views of the canyon from the bottom. The day was picture perfect with the red rocks and the blue sky and the obese chipmunk. This thing was HUGE massive. I jus thought oh yeah fat but when I later saw smaller ones...it was like an cat to a mouse ratio, it being the cat.

The track took you down into the wash or a dried river bed and then onto the other side of the hill. The reality of scaling. Ahil sets in when you start blaming your fitness levels on the altitude. It's true it's harder to breathe in the mountains...

From there we take the track back to the car stopping for an ice-cream and drink. Remember this place it will be important for my later dramas.

So we head from the general store to drive to the other look outs. They are further along the way. We stop and get out I take more photos of rocks...oh I have a lot of rock photos. Utah has a lot of rocks. We see a classic sign that says "dangerous cliffs watch your children." classic!

We see actual living deer...not the dead bloated ones on the side of the road that have been mangled by the onslaut of diesel trucks oh no...living frolicking deer. 

By about 6:30pm we head back mind you it's like daylight and still hot. Driving down the long highway well state road 89 I snap a few pics. The drive from Orderville to Bryce canyon is about an hour. Another important thing to remember. So along the way Anna and her amazing musical talent is introducing me to some amazing bands and I decide to write them down. In my wallet there are always receipts so I hunt for my wallet...not in my bag...not on the floor...we stop the car.

Its 7:30 ish and the park closes at 8pm. What have I done with my wallet. Flash back to the general store and the feeling that I shouldn't put my wallet down comes rushing into my mind...yip it would be sitting on the bench right outside the general store overlooking the hill. Scenic.

We call the lost property, nothing. The visitors center only answers the phones till 4:30 pm. It's lost...money, credit cards, memories, all gone poof.

I think of all the things I can do to save my money. Cancel my cards and fly home. I had no money. 

TRAVEL MUST: separate your cards. Have spare cash in your bags in various places. Don't ignore those thoughts and feelings about your personal belongings. 

Well we drive home to Anna's house and I by that time had said a prayer and decided to call dad and wait for his call on what to do next. 

Dad is in Sri Lanka and advises me to not cancel my cards but to drive back to Bryce canyon tomorrow to see if anyone had found my wallet.

Anna has a love for guns. Guns and shooting stuff. This is what I love about Anna. So she decides that we need to go shooting it's a stressful day and well let's go shoot off some steam.

Annals grandfather owns a gun shop ( I am pretty sure she said that) so we head over to his house where the family is chilling out on the front lawn. I love this about small towns everyone has porch with chairs on it so you can wave to your friends as they go down the street. Love it! 

We head to the cove with a 22 rifle and a pistol in the back steatite. Annals like well if I leave them out in the open and I get pulled over I'm not in trouble. I was like wow not in Australia. I love America and their love for guns!

So the cove is s property out the back of Orderville and we go hunting for things to shoot. We find a couple of cans a drink box and cup and a glow stick in the back of Annas car!

Well I've shot a couple of guns before but Anna just loaded the rifle and handed it to me. Safety on and all I had to do was cock it, point, and shoot. Well I did pretty good I got all of them and left the glow stick for Anna. 

I love guns. Ha Anna it's rubbed off! Is IS a stress release. Love it. The pistol was loud. When you shot it left your ears ringing and slightly muffled. And at this time well we didn't bring ear muffs. Ha I'll blame not being able to hear my children on shooting guns without ear muffs.

While we were out ther shooting we meet Anna's second parents who are out on their four wheeler shooting too. He had a nie gun,a black fancy rifle. No idea what it's called but I want dto shoot that one. I just loved how we were shooting and then they were shooting and then well all of a sudden we meet shooting. The best part was it was normal to see that. The best! They went on their way and I finished my rounds.

It got to dark but we had some fun and thank you to Anna and her idea to go shooting and her grandfather for the guns and her mum for the amo.

The rest of the night we chill while Anna finds cool places around the Grand canyon to see. Her sister made s'mores outsi and I graced them with my presence...for a s'more oh yeah coconut marshmallows are the bomb! 

That was our day. Missing wallet, gun practice and an adventure in the canyon. Pretty sweet day wight he possibility of an early plane home if no luck tomorrow with my wallet.

So remember to do something crazy with your day...and don't loose your wallet!