Glorious California Scenery

Paul and I have talked and talked about wanting to do a vacation driving the coast highway in California.  When the kids were at home, we knew it would just drive all of us crazy.  This year we decided to do what we could on a $500 budget in 5 days.  We didn't drive the whole coast, but we got from Crescent City (very close to the Oregon border) down to Fort Bragg.  We'll just have to get the rest later.  We were perfectly satisfied with what we did get to see.  We left the day after school got out, May 23rd and got home on the 28th.  All told we did 2,709 miles and loved every minute of it!

• Wednesday - St. George to Enterprise, Panaca, Ely Eureka, Sparks, Portola, Quincy, Paxton, wrong turn to Belden and down that road a little more.  Then we figured out we goofed and headed back up.   When it got pretty late, we found a great, illegal camp spot in a park.  It was dark and when one car drove by, we quickly shut off our lantern.  It was a great spot and they had just serviced the port-a-potty that day so that was nice.  Had a great night and quickly put the tent away before breakfast!  Sorry, we were just too tired to keep on going.  We saw some cool stuff that day and listened to a great cd - John Steinbeck's Travels With Charley - In Search of America.  We decided that the wrong turn actually was great.  It went down a beautiful canyon alongside a gorgeous river.  We were not sorry and we were glad to drive back up it the next day to see the part that we had missed in the dark!  Nevada can be a little tiresome, but there are a few pretty things to see on that route.  We did see Wheeler Peak.  It just kind of pales next to the awesome California scenery. 

That's our camp spot at top right - doesn't it look like a good place to camp?

•  Thursday - After getting back up the canyon we decided to try and hit Lassen Volcanic National Park - oops again - got to the turn off and found the road closed due to snow. No problem.  Went around it via Westwood and on up 89 to McCloud, Mt. Shasta, Weed, Yreka to Hornbrook, across to Happy Camp where we hoped to take the road across to Obrien.  We had been told that it was open...not!  So we re-routed down to McKinleyville and went up the coast instead of down as we had planned.  Still not a problem.  So much beautiful stuff to see we didn't even care.  We got to Trinidad and finally the ocean.  We walked on the beach a couple of places there where we saw a sick seal (someone came from the Marine Center to check on it thank goodness) and a memorial lighthouse and then found a sweet, legal camp spot at Emerald Forest.  It was in the middle of a redwood and fern forest and even had private shower facilities.  We got dinner ready and ate it in the tent due to rain which continued in the night, but we slept great!

En route to Trinidad - L to R - Sasquach, Paul Bunyan and Babe, lunch spot by a lake, Mt. Shasta, Paul under the rainbow, Bonnie, sick seal and Paul.

Beach scenery at Trinidad

 Trindad's public library, our camp spot at Emerald Forest, cute store and so pretty flower trees.  Trinidad is a really cute little town.

• Friday - We packed up camp and breakfasted in the car (light rain) above the beach and did some hiking to see another beach.  After that we headed up the coast and did a cool hike to a place called Fern Canyon - amazing place.  We saw an elk along the way.  Usually there are lots of them there and along the nearby beach, but they were off calving, so we were glad to see the one bull.  Then we headed on up the coast visiting Redwood groves all along the way and made it to Crescent City where we hiked out to see a light house.  We also went to see another one, St. George lighthouse, but it was way out on an island and we could just barely see it.  Then it was back to Emerald Forest for another night of camping.

These trees are really hard to take a pictures of - they are so gigantic!  We visited Big Tree and then saw one even bigger just down the road - its the one Paul is standing by.

Sites around Crescent City - Look behind the mermaid and you can see the lighthouse.  There is another lighthouse (depicted below in mosaic) about 6 miles out - St. George Lighthouse.  It was just barely visible in the mist, but couldn't get a real picture of it.  The harbor in Crecent City was really wiped out just a little over a year ago in a Tsunami.  It's in good shape again.  I liked the driftwood sea serpent and driftwood gate.

• Saturday - We drove on down the coast through some fun little towns - Loleta and Ferndale.  Loleta wasn't much to look at, but they did have a cheese factory  - we enjoyed their samples.  Ferndale is the cutest town - all Victorian themed.  We loved the houses and the old time mercantile and blacksmith shop.  The graveyard is amazing too.  We spent the morning here, ate lunch and then drove on down the coast along the Lost Coast highway stopping at beaches, driving through redwood groves, visiting Shelter Cove and finally arriving very late at Westport where we opted to stay in a motel so we could clean up for Sunday church.

Loved the road signs - so realistic!  This area is very dairy.  Also loved the handmade sign of the mad butcher in the Loleta meat market window.  Also pictured - the cemetery and the old time mercantile. 

We had this narrow winding road along the Lost Coast almost all to ourselves.  We stopped and beach combed and found a plaque about a lighthouse.  We couldn't figure out where the lighthouse was.  Then later at Shelter Cove we found it - they had moved it via helicopter to save it from toppling into the sea when it was no longer in use (see pictures below).  One picture shows Paul standing by a Maypole that had been intricately woven with ribbons - strange but pretty. 

The lighthouse found & black pebble beach.

 Drove through this tree and went inside the House Tree on the way to Westport.

• Sunday we made it to church in the little Westport Ward.  It was a small, but very nice ward.  I think there were more visitors than regulars there that day.  Lots of people were in town for Memorial Day.  After church we went to MacKerricher State Park, changed clothes in a bathroom and walked out to see the seals. They had it roped off since they were having their babies so we couldn't get too close.  Then we had our lunch at a pullout overlooking the beach and reluctantly headed inland to start the trip home.  We saw more amazing scenery and stopped for camp earlier than usual - dinner before dark for a change.  This time we camped under Sequoia trees.  There were some other pine trees there that had huge pine cones.  Need to find out what kind.  It was a very nice camp except for a group of kids that thought they were some kind of a choir complete with a bongo drum player (lots of beer involved).  But they quieted down at 10.  They probably didn't appreciate us getting up at 5 am California time and packing up! 

 Glass Beach - a former (1950-67) city dump, was bought by the state as an addition to MacKerricher State Park in 2003.   They hauled away large metal objects and other trash, but bottle glass was left behind.  Rounded by the surf (some ground as fine as sand) the glass pieces paint the beach in strange colors.  We saw some old car parts - spark plugs, electrical motor winding wire, cables - which were embedded in the rocks.  It was very interesting. 

•  Monday morning, after a little walk and breakfast, we headed home via Truckee, Donner Pass, Lake Tahoe and finally Las Vegas.  It was a great trip.  Yes, we took some detours, but we had decided to stay on the back roads and along the coast road as much as possible so we didn't want the GPS telling us the fastest route.  We really didn't encounter much traffic or many people except on Sunday.  We did long days - up at 6 and in bed around 11 to try to get all we could our of the time we had.  We didn't eat out once - just out of the ice chest getting dry ice along the way and picking up a few groceries as we needed them.  Only regret - we had hoped to camp one night on the beach, but the night we could have it was so windy that we didn't think our tent would stay up, so we did the sheltered camp among the trees instead.  Can't wait to continue down the coast! 

Last campsite, Donner Pass drive by shot, Emerald Bay Lake Tahoe, last of the mountains, back to the desert. 

School's Out...celebrate!

AM Class

PM Class

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I feel just like a kid at the end of the year!  Had another great year working with a super teacher.  We had a great class - challenges yes - but still great.  It's so grand seeing them progress so much.  At first you don't think they'll ever get it, and then it all starts clicking for most of them.  Some still have a little catch up, but most are on target.  I got the opportunity to work full-time for several weeks at the end of the year when the AM aide got sick and had to take some time off.  I had worked with many of the AM students the previous summer in the summer kindergarten preschool, so it was fun to be back with them.  I enjoyed it, but now I know that I am perfectly satisfied to work part time.  I'm just too spoiled to give up all of my day.  If I got another 4 hours added to my day to make up for it, I would be just fine with it. (Missing a few absent kids in both pictures.)

A few of the pm kids

Pine Valley, Webelos Day Hike & Eclipse

 For our date this week we decided we would go up to Pine Valley for a picnic (after putting ribbons on plants/trees that Webelos would need to identify on their day hike).  We didn't think the gates would be open yet and planned on taking a hike to get in to a picnic table, but we were pleasantly surprised otherwise.  It was 20 degrees cooler than St. George and almost no one was there.  The only regret was that we weren't camping out.  After dinner we took a little hike.  It was so great we hated to turn back when it started getting dark.

Saturday was more good times.  I had volunteered to be the hike leader again for the District Webelos Day Hike.  Last minute the person who was going to do the fire building class had to speak at a funeral and Paul said he would do it.  I didn't think it could be done any better than last year's guy, but he did a great job and the kids (and leaders) seemed to learn a lot and enjoy it.  He divided them up in groups of 4-5 boys and each group got to build their little fire with no help from the leaders. Most were able to do it with only one match and were so excited about it.  Then they had to put it out and clean it up so they left no trace.    I was just there for back up and whatever needed doing.  On the hike back they tried crawdad fishing again, but again they had no luck.  There were 91 boys in attendance.

Today after Sunday dinner we had our own little eclipse party in the back yard.  According the the paper the last time a ring eclipse was visible from the continental US was in 1994 and the next to be visible from Utah will be in 2023.  It was so cool.  Didn't get any pictures except of the funny shadows different places around the yard.

Lillypad busy times...

Lots going on lately - here's the latest.  We had a small family "feast of the fast over" at Moss and Christie's this time.  It was them, us and Derek and kids.  We missed the rest, but we had good food,  got to give Kaebri her birthday present and see Tasia's first gap from a missing tooth...at last!  On the way home we stopped by for a quick visit with Weed and Trigg.

Next fun stuff was spending an evening with Juge and kids.  It included dinner, fun times at the Town Square and a stop at 25 Main for marked down after 7 pm cupcakes.  Sarai wasn't too sure about the water at the Town Square, but Eden and Noah were in and soaked pretty quick.  By the time we left they were shivering and a little blue around the lips, but still happy and able to enjoy those yummy cupcakes!  (We had hoped to ride the carousel, but it was already closed down for the evening...shucks.)

Notice Noah leaping from rock to rock - he's going to grow up to be a mountain goat just like his dad!

 The next event was a Saturday pre-mother's day brunch hosted by Moss and Christie and catered by the men of the family.  Some cooked and some babysat.  I seemed to mostly get pictures of people enjoying Brenden's collection of super hero masks.  Good food, visiting and presents made for a really good time!  We were glad that Lou and kids went to all the trouble to make it down...even after she ran and got 5th place in a 5K that very morning.  It was also great to have the Weavers and the Lillywhites make an even longer drive down to join the fun. Thanks to everyone for the great presents.  Love you all.  YOU are the best presents of all! 

Just of few of the very SUPER heroes in this family!

 After that those who wanted to went to participated in the festivities at the Town Square.  (Most of the men headed back to the house to do some computer stuff.) It was a pretty busy place, but a lot of fun. First we rode the carousel. Face painting (and hand) was a favorite activity.  There were also puppies to be held, "Mom you rock" rocks to be decorated, visors to be decorated, Angry Birds to catapult at, sand to be played in, cotton candy to be eaten and of course, water to be played in!

On Sunday Grandma came over for the more peaceful Mother's Day feast which was cooked by Paul and Jay.  Mmm good!  There were also presents to be opened and cats to be petted that day. 

That evening we went over for a little celebration with Zade.  He turned 4 that very day!  We hunted up several Z's and 4's around the house (at least 4 of each) and then had cupcakes and ice cream and opened up the presents.  I think the "tiny Nutella" of his very own was one of the favorites.  Derek posed for a picture of his so creative "MOM" facial hair creation.  Happy birthday Zade!  We love you!  I think the toilet Z wins the prize for the hardest to find.  There was a 4 on the kitchen ceiling that I didn't get a picture of.  The decorations were really fun and Zade was so excited to about them.  Such creative people.

Monday evening Paul and I went up to check out the Webelos Day Hike trail that we will be doing on Saturday.  We put up some orange tape on plants they will need to identify and thoroughly enjoyed the peaceful evening in a beautiful place.  Genghis was waiting to be petted when we got home.  

Lots happening...Stake Activity Day, Zion, new grandbaby & Ironman 2012

Where to start...I got behind last week and now its catch up time.  Last Saturday morning Paul and I helped with a Stake Activity Day hike up the Temple Quarry Trail.  Paul gave his rock splitting demo and some history and then showed the girls the marks of the pioneer work that are still visible along the trail.  We had about 19 girls and some leaders attend.  It was fun and they seemed to enjoy themselves.

Someone spotted this cute little critter on the way down.  It was trying very hard to hide.

That afternoon we drove up to Zion to look for the elusive China or Cooley Hat petroglyphs that we heard about...still didn't find them, but had a great time just checking out side canyons.  It's so fun when the park is so crowded to just go into the side canyons.  There's usually almost no one there.

Things to notice - somebody was leaving fun little cairns all along the wash we hiking through to access all the side canyons.  Look at how the roots of that tree have snaked across the rock to find what they need. 

 Thursday evening Lenae and Derek had a new baby boy, Trigg Kevin.  That makes #17 for us!  He's a real cutie and healthy and strong.  We are so happy for them...and us!

Friday evening Paul and I camped out at Sand Hollow reservoir to be on hand to help with the swim part of the 2012 Ironman.  Moss got us a job on the dock again this year helping people out of boats if they couldn't finish.  Last year there were almost none, but this time there were probably just over 100.  About 10 minutes after the race start a horrific windstorm came up.  We could hardly stand on the docks and got pretty wet from the waves breaking against them.  I don't know how anyone could swim in that mess, but lots of them did.  The lifeguards couldn't stay with the swimmers because their boards and kayaks just got pushed away by the wind.  It was actually pretty scary.  After that, we came home and took a long nap.  Everyone out there starts getting things ready at about 3 am, so we only got about 4 ours of sleep.  It was fun hanging out with everyone.  I'm so glad I'm not interested in doing an Ironman!

Hanging out on Friday evening.

The pros getting ready for their start.  Everyone else getting ready for the mass start.  The mass start!

Moss & Christie in the wind, the first place guy coming in with second place close behind.

Private lunch for two at Bright Angel Point, etc.

We took advantage of a great opportunity for a working vacation Friday and Saturday.  A company that we have done some previous work for at the North and South Rims called up and have another job they needed us to check out and give them a bid for.  We were more than happy to take the time to go over and do that.  We left Friday right after I got done with school and stopped off in Hurricane to try the outdoor pizza oven for lunch.  It was really good.  Then we took off for Jacob's Lake to spend the night.  We stopped of at a viewpoint and bought some pretty jewelry from some Navajo ladies and then took a side road for a cool walk in the ponderosa forest.  We arrived at Jacob's Lake and checked in.  We had reserved one of their old rooms, but they gave us one at their new building because they are doing remodeling on the old rooms.  It was a nice upgrade and even had a balcony.  We learned that you don't want to go out on the balcony without bringing your key!  We both went out and then couldn't get back in.  There was nobody around, so I volunteered Paul to make the climb down.  Luckily there was a big pile of snow just below our balcony that made the drop shorter.  When Paul asked them for a second key the kid at the desk was amazed that he had gotten down from the 2nd floor.  After a nice dinner we took a wonderful evening walk in the forest.  In the morning after breakfast we were off to the North Rim.  We checked out the job and measured it up and then headed out to Bright Angel Point where we had lunch. It was so cool that it was just the two of us at one of the most popular places to go when the park is open.   We saw maybe 5 other people there working to get ready for the park opening on May 15th.  After lunch we did a short hike - Uncle Jim's loop.  It has some very nice views of the canyon.  Too bad a lot of the trees had in that area had been burned or it would have been even prettier.  After that it was time to head home via dinner in Kanab and the drive through Zion.  It was so much fun, and just what we needed.  Hopefully we will get the job and be able to get back over there to wash it!  It was a great Earth Day celebration...just one day early!

This little guy seemed to want his picture taken.

The skies and clouds were magnificent.

Easter Fun and more

Our family Easter gathering was on Friday this year.  It included a picnic in the backyard and presents and cheesecake for Christie and Sarai's belated birthdays.  After that the parents headed up behind the tank on the Red Hill to hide eggs while Paul, Juge and I herded the youngsters up there taking the long route.  The eggs were in place when we got there and the hunting began.  Every egg was found.  Then we trekked back down where the kids commenced and pretty much finished up on the consumption of the goodies.  Before everyone came over we made it down to the Art Festival and enjoyed it.

On Saturday we took a drive looking for a "hidden" waterfall.  It's still hidden, but we did see some interesting territory.  After that we took a hike in the Red Cliffs reserve.  It was tame, but close by with some nice views.

I had Monday off and we went up to Zion with Juge, Lance and kids to take a short hike to see some petroglyphs and then went up a pretty little canyon and ate our lunch along the way.  It was a beautiful day and a fun time.  Eden just loves the pretty sand.  Every time we go hiking with her she seems to come up with a bag that she has to fill with sand.  This time was the same.  She and Noah both seem to like it...enough that I saw both of them take a little pinch to eat!  Funny birds!  Sometimes it is so pretty that it looks "good enough to eat"!

Yesterday I had to talk myself into being happy that it was raining when I was so hoping to get out on a hike.  Instead I did housework that I had been putting off and after that Paul and I took in the Scout Expo and ran some errands.  Then I got started on another task I have been saving up - making a bunch of tiny sugar cube temples for a stake activity for the girls 8-11.  We are taking them on a hike to the temple quarry and learning about how the temple was built.  Hopefully it won't rain that day.

Lots of scouting and a relaxing walk to boot

Scout - the eagle - was part the the Eagle Scout program

It's been a very scouty week at our house.  I went to two pack meetings this week and then Paul and I attended one of his former scouts Eagle Court of Honor last night.  It was all good.  I helped judge a heptathlon at one pack meeting and helped judge pinewood derby cars at another.  I'm getting to be a regular at the meetings so they don't consider me a scary "stake visitor" anymore - I'm just someone there to be an extra pair of hands to help out.  I like that a lot better.  One of the pack meetings started pretty early and when I got done I was so excited that the sun was still up.  I nagged Paul - it didn't take much - to go and take our evening walk at Snow Canyon.  It was perfect - perfect temperature, perfectly quiet, and perfectly beautiful!  So glad we live where we can enjoy all this beauty almost in our own back yard.  We've had the flu and are finally starting to feel close to normal.  It was great to feel good enough to go for a walk again.

No cap & gown, hoopla or pictures... but a graduate nevertheless!

Just in case you haven't heard, Supe graduated on Tuesday, March 20th, from Utah State University.  He earned Bachelor's degree in history and a minor in business.  He will be finishing up this semester and then moving across the country to start a job for Epic Systems Corporation, a  health care software company,  located in Madison, Wisconsin on May 7th.

A quick blurb I found:

Recognized by the 2007 Place Rated Almanac as one of the "One of the Ten Most Livable Cities in the United States," Madison continually ranks as one of the best places to live, work and play in the United States. Built on an Isthmus between Lake Monona and Lake Mendota. (He says he might learn to sail - he's learned the St. George and Logan sports, so now on to new adventures.) Madison offers incredible natural beauty, stimulating cultural opportunities and a plethora of restaurants, shops and attractions. Healthcare is another of Madison's strengths with five general hospitals, more than 20 major medical clinics and UW-Madison's medical, nursing and pharmacy schools. Madison also boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.

Doesn't sound too bad...not St. George, but not too bad.  Here's hoping planes fly Supe our way every so often and that he will eventually find a job in a more westerly vicinity.  I'm proud of him and excited about the very great job offer and opportunities it will bring, but I miss him already.  I have a hard time with the idea of him leaving the Utah nest. I have been too spoiled so far. I guess I survived Italy and Africa...Supe, tell me this is only temporary too please.  

For now...to infinity and beyond!