<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0">
    <channel>
        <title><![CDATA[Attractions, Outdoor Adventures, Recreation - Reviews for Everything | SlySpyder.com]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[My vision for this website is to have reviews for everything. I noticed that review sites usually concentrate on a certain area, but what if you want to look for a different review? That s right, go to another website. This site will have everything you need over time.]]></description>
        <link>http://www.SlySpyder.com/</link>
                                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">124-390</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Antelope Island Camping Sites: Great place]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.SlySpyder.com/component/content/article/207-camping-sites/124-antelope-island</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                I just love the place and I will come back soon.                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Camping Sites]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 01:47:03 -0500</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">330-384</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Canyonlands Ballooning : Thrill of a lifetime, we would definitely go again]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.SlySpyder.com/component/content/article/427-hot-air-ballooning/330-canyonlands-ballooning-</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                Every one should experience the amazing experience of traveling in a hot air balloon at least once in their life! This sentiment was what prompted me to contact the Canyonlands Ballooning company. I wanted to plan it as a belated birthday surprise for my unsuspecting husband ;) Sandra was fabulous with helping me work out all the details, a true pleasure to deal with both on the phone and by email. 

I have heard that a lot of  balloon rides consist of going straight up, maybe hovering a dozen feet  to the side, and then coming straight back down. Well let me tell you that is not what you get here! This experience is a full blown journey and adventure. The balloons flight path is in the hands of the wind, so they never know where they will land. And what better place to fly than over the surreal and mesmerizing landscape of Southern Utah. 

We arrived at the meeting place - very easy to find!, and met our group. This was when I admitted to my husband that I had not woken him at 5am to go for a "special hike".  We boarded the van that took us to the take off point where we were able to watch as the balloon was filled. So cool! 

The balloon swiftly ascended into the heavens, smooth and fast, like a celestial elevator. Then we were off. I believe Lou said we were moving along in about 15 mph winds, but it doesn't feel windy at all as you are moving with it. The stability of the basket is very reassuring - I am afraid of heights, but I was very comfortable the whole time. 

Our particular flight took off from the Dalton Wells area I believe, and then we flew West, Southwest. 

Lou is the best pilot ever, so friendly and personable. He told us about all the canyons and other formations we were flying over. One very exciting thing is that you don't fly really high the whole time. Lou uses his skill to take the balloon real low, just above the tree tops in a magical glide. Suddenly a canyon might drop out below you in all its' grandeur. One of the most memorable parts of our flight was when Lou flew us down into the canyon and then back up the other side, the skillful flying whispered us close to the wall and whisked us out of the canyon without skimming a tree or rock - truly magic! 

Lou prepared us all on how to hold on for the landing. We landed right at the edge of the road where the crew was radioed to pick us up. Then the balloon scooted us across the road and tipped slowly sideways so it was easy to climb out. What a blast! We were all laughing, it was so much fun. 

We had a lovely champagne and/or sparkling juice toast to celebrate the landing. 

This was so amazing and photos and memories to last our whole lives. Not only that, my husband and I are really anxious to fly with Lou again. 

Bottom line, this was worth every penny, was a highly enjoyable and memorable experience, and we can hardly wait to do it again!!                 ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Hot Air Ballooning]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:26:19 -0500</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">285-332</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Laketown / Meadowville Mountain Bike Trail | Bear Lake, Utah | Laketown Canyon: Glorious Countryside, Moderate Effort ]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.SlySpyder.com/component/content/article/189-hiking-biking-trails/285-laketown-meadowville-mountain-bike-trail-bear-lake-utah-laketown-canyon</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                My husband and I decided to do this biking trail on our trip to Bear Lake this June. Overall the ride was great, the countryside is gorgeous and we were lucky that there was a cool breeze that kept us from over-heating. 

However, we found some discrepancies in the information we found online. 

For starters, we went into Meadowville, there was no old rock shop anywhere. Because of this being such a small town with narrow roads, we decided we would rather park and start the trail from another point, than park our car where it shouldn't be. 

We parked in Laketown at the park located on North Main Street. We then started bicycling out on N Round Valley Dr. 

The pioneer cemetery is off this main trail, you have to take a little side trip up a hill to get there. It was interesting, many pioneer babies, and a surprising amount of twins. There were also a few modern graves, which was a surprise. 

The schoolhouse is off the left of the trail. It is boarded up, and we didn't see a trail that went close. I was a little disappointed as I had been looking forward to exploring the building a bit. 

We didn't see any sign of an "elaborate old mansion". I have no idea if it would have been on another side excursion that was out of view from the trail or what. 

The trail passes through a lot of farm land. The trail is paved road until you get to Meadowville. I don't know why the trail is listed as only being open to biking, hiking and horses, as they are all used by regular traffic. 

The worst part of the ride was when we were out on Highway 30 heading back to Laketown. The traffic is busy, fast, and there is not much of a shoulder to the road. I got nervous a couple of times... 

We saw an abundance of wildlife on the trail, as well as a farm that had a large flock of albino peacocks and geese. 

I am a beginning rider, and I found the trail to be just the right intensity and length, plus offering sumptuous views.                  ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Hiking / Biking Trails]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:34:37 -0500</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">148-157</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[BioBlitz 2009 - Antelope Island: Fun other than the sand flies.]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.SlySpyder.com/component/content/article/406-nature-events/148-BioBlitz-2009-Antelope-Island</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                We arrived at noon and we got to choose which group we wanted to hang around with. You could choose from birds, plants and reptiles. So we choose reptiles. Our group leader was very knowledgeable about reptiles and the island.

We started at Lady Finger Point and explored that area for a while, we saw a few lizards which was fun. Our reptile expert came and got us to show us a gopher snake which was very cool. Got a few great photos of the snake. I've never seen a snake in the wild before other than a small garter snake as a kid.

It was slightly windy that day so that was very nice. There are some very annoying bugs there in the spring sometimes called sand flies, and they bite and they are extremely annoying. If the wind was going they would go away.

We also saw several different types of birds, like Western Meadowlark & Cormorants. Then animals like jackrabbits, antelope, and bison. We stopped around 4 pm, when we got back to Lady Finger Point. I figured all the various groups would meet and talk about what they saw. But everyone was gone! So that was disappointing. 

Overall it was fun, other than the sand flies. If we do it again, we'll probably choose birds.                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Nature Events]]></category>
                <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2009 15:37:48 -0500</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">124-130</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Antelope Island Camping Sites: Beatiful Island - Bugs can be annoying]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.SlySpyder.com/component/content/article/207-camping-sites/124-antelope-island</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                Not the best place to camp during the summer. We are going to camp there this May, so I'll updated this review after my trip.

[Update]

We went May 1st weekend for camping and the brine flies are out in full force it was so annoying. They fly around you none stop. Flying into your face, even the bug spray we had didn't help much. About 30 minutes after we got there some Boy Scouts arrived. They hated the brine flies too. They tried to walk away from there camp site to get away from them. 

Then I heard one of the boys scream "I wannna die!". That was funny to hear because I was about to scream out loud myself.

But my wife somehow manage to cook us dinner with tin foil over the pots and not one fly got into our food. She is truly amazing.

To get away from the flys for a bit we took a drive around the island. By the time we got back it was getting dark and the flies actually died down a little. So we lit a fire, and that keep them away very well. At that point it was very relaxing, roasting marshmallows, chatting, listening to the wildlife.

The next morning it was raining heavily and our tent was leaking in some spots. So we choose to pack it up sadly. One plus about a little rain though, the brine flies go away.

We choose to drive around the island to see some of the wildlife. This was the first time I've even seen an antelope on the island oddly enough. I usually just see buffalo. There was a big heard of antelope in the distance. Then some right off the road too.

We had binoculars, so we could get a good look at them, very fun, that along made the trip worth it. We also saw a coyote cross the road! First time I've seen one of those. There where also several hairs (rabbits) by the camp grounds too.

We didn't have any good rain gear for hiking that day or else we would have. There is a huge part of the island that you can't see unless you hike to the top of the mountain.

There are big horn sheep on the island too. Then bald eagles visit the island in I think April or March. So plenty of reason to visit the island. So we will be going back, it's a fun place (other than the brine flies). 

So spring camping, sucks because of the brine flies. Summer camping is to hot out there. We may try fall camping and see what that's like.

It's a very beautiful island, more so in Spring.

[Update June 2010]

Went back to camp again, but this time with a motor home. This time is was slightly rainy and a little windy which I thought was nice because it kept the bugs away. Weird thing was you still couldn't build a fire which bummed me out. It rained pretty heavy the night before too.

We got up early to see if we could see any wildlife. We managed to see 2 coyote, a herd of pronghorn, and some buffalo. There is a owl that lives out on the farm, but we couldn't spot it this time. Overall it was a great trip, I'll have to borrow the motor home for next time. Makes it much more enjoyable out there honestly.

There is a trail up the mountain there, we took the shorter one this time. Very fun hike, got very close to a pronghorn. About 30 feet I'd say. Once we got to the top of that trail it was fun to sit up there and feel the wind on our face and look over the island from up high.

Best times to visit are spring and fall there I think.                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Camping Sites]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:45:49 -0500</pubDate>
            </item>
                        </channel>
</rss>

