What It Looks Like

[ithildin]

I'd mentioned we went to Kolob Canyon during the trip. I didn't have my camera because I didn't know we were going till after we were in the car, but here are a few photos I found, if you'd like to take a look. It's actually a part of Zion National Park, something of a back corner. Photos from Zion proper are here. And this is what my mum sees on the drive to work every day.

For reference, this is about 2 1/2 hours from Las Vegas.

Comments

[some-day-soling.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. Those pictures make me homesick.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Next time I'll remember to stick the camera in the car regardless!

[dejla.livejournal.com]

Beautiful country!

I haven't been able to write yet -- the knee's giving me gyp at present, but a question occurred to me as I was re-reading the QoS things and watching videos...

Tessa asks about the crops and the workers -- what would they have been growing? If it's the Napa Valley area, would there have been grapes at that period? Or what?

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

It's actually the Central Coast area, between Monterey and Santa Barbara. They grew all sorts of crops, including wine grapes. Wheat, corn, citrus, legumes, lots of cattle ranching, which also resulted in export of hides and tallow. And the crops were exported as well.

[dejla.livejournal.com]

Ah! Yes, then nothing at all like the desert. I thought wine grapes primarily because they're constantly wandering around with bottles of wine and none seem to have labels, so I was thinking they might be local vintage.

I knew about cattle ranching (and some of the arguments about sheep grazing in the same area cattle graze, since sheep hooves destroy grazing land..). I wonder if they called it corn or maize?

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

As far as I remember, wine production was one of the first things the missions got into. I found lots of interesting info here (http://www.zinfandel.org/) a few weeks back on California heritage wine.

You might be interested in this information (http://www.pasowine.com/pasorobles/history.php). Paso Robles is about two hours south of me, and is around where I think Santa Elena would have been.

[dejla.livejournal.com]

Just an inconsequential thought... have you read An Infamous Army by Georgette Heyer? It's based around the Battle of Waterloo and might be helpful for what Helm went through and why he quit.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't read that one. Will have to add it to my ever growing Amazon Wishlist.

[dejla.livejournal.com]

Do you want it? It's in a lovely new paperback edition. I'll buy it for you for an unbirthday present. (Obligatory Alice in Wonderland ref).

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

You don't need to buy me a present :)But thank you.

I went and looked at it, and I'll admit I've never read a Regency romance before [g] Looks like she's written a lot of them!

[dejla.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Over 90, I think... She was one of the first, if not the first, of the regency romance writers. Most of her romances are set in that period, or the Georgian periods previous to that. There are a couple of earlier period historicals, and several mysteries set between WWI and II and slightly after. She died in the 70s, I believe.

Infamous Army is more of a historical than a romance, as such. It's set in Brussels during the Battle of Waterloo, and has as its centrepiece the characters being involved in the battle, both the soldiers and the women in Brussels helping the wounded.

She researched all of her periods very thoroughly and uses quite a bit of period slang, phrasing, and cant in the novels, which Helm should likely be using and which would probably confuse the hell out of Grisham.

Infamous Army takes more time to absorb. The other romances are fun, quick, enjoyable reads.

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

Those piccies remind me of my too short roadtrip, which missed Zion *grrr* but still included some biyooooooooooootiful spots. Hmmm. More travelling required.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Yes, you must! Then I can meet you, and the little sweetie munchkinette! And your husband, I suppose [g] [waves to the spousal unit]

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

Nah, I'll leave him behind :p

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Meanie! [g]

[dejla.livejournal.com]

There's a heck of a lot of scenery in the States, and a long time to cover it...

At least England's a little more compact, although I haven't made it to the Lake District or the Highlands yet.

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

Those are beautiful. Thanks for showing them to us.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

You're welcome :)

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous pics! The Subway looks interesting but how big is it? Person sized? Subway sized? Bigger? Very cool.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Everything you (http://climb-utah.com/Zion/subway.htm) ever wanted to know (http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/zion/subway.htm)!

[ninjababe.livejournal.com]

I so want to do the Subway hike someday... Ever since I saw this (http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/zion/05011.jpg) as a postcard... (Anyway, I think it was that one. Even if it isn't, it would've made me wanna go...)

But, possible rappelling, swims, 8-12 hour hiking... It'll be a few years :)

[dejla.livejournal.com]

I'm already too old to do that kind of thing. But it would be great to have someone else do it and take pictures (hint).