Happy late #6 Koen!

Sunday evening we finally got to sing to Koen and celebrate his 6th birthday.  We were out of town for the actual date.  We love you Koen!

Autumn biking in Pine Valley

Saturday we worked like the dickens all morning to get done with what we needed to and at 1:00 we were ready to go up to Pine Valley to check out a possible site for a Stake Camporee.  We decided to take our bikes along for a some riding after we had finished up.  It was a beautiful day up there.  We had missed most of the pinks and corals, but the golds and browns were still beautiful.  We had a great time riding the roads and the Santa Clara River Trail and hiked a little ways up the one trail too. 

Possible Camporee site, and "Bat Horse"

Autumn brown and gold with a touch of pink and green
 There were some foot long trout in the stream!

More Autumn and Paul 

Supe and Beacher live in the Garden of Eden!

Tuesday after work Paul and I took off for the long drive to Astoria to take Supe and Beacher's stuff to them.  We had planned to leave early Wednesday morning, but were too excited to wait!  We tried to make it to Sparks that first night, but we were just too tired to go that far and ended up staying in Tonopah, Nevada.  It is not the most beautiful place on earth and we stayed in a somewhat seedy motel, but it was good to stop.  As we were checking in an older man came in very irate about when the hot water was going to start working so he could take a bath.  All I can say is that we checked pretty close for bed bugs and and were glad we didn't find any.  We got a good night's sleep. In the morning we grabbed a quick bite from a little store and got on our way.  (The water in the morning alternated between scalding and cold!)

Big Bill is a hero in Tonapah.  Other sights before and after Tohopah.

Our goal for Wednesday was to get to Crater Lake, Oregon and find a place to camp.  We did get there and it had been snowing and all of the campgrounds were closed, so we drove down to a little town on the other side (Prospect) and got something to eat and then found a campsite and ate our dinner and camped out there getting set up in the dark.  It was low enough that there was no snow and we had a dry night in a beautiful spot.  We found out in the morning that the campground was actually closed, but since it was dark we didn't notice that little sign.  We did pay for it though! No wonder no once else was there!

Rogue River Gorge in the evening and camp spot in the morning

Thursday morning we went back into Prospect and got breakfast at the same little store and then drove back to Crater Lake to see the sights.  It was beautiful and freezing!  We watched the movie in the Visitor's Center while we waited to see if they would get the road cleared so that we could continue on the route we had chosen.  They got the west side of the loop around the lake cleared which was what we needed. We gotta get back up there when the weather is a little warmer to see the whole place.

Shot overlooking the lake, Wizard Island, learning to take a Selfie, beautiful stone fireplace in the Visitor's Center. 

We continued on stopping at a few waterfalls on the way and made it to Astoria in time for dinner with Supe and Beacher.  They live in a cute house in such a beautiful setting.  We unloaded their stuff after dinner. I think they were the most excited to see their bikes had made it there at last and Supe was really excited to get his little 3-D printer.

Clearwarter,Whitehorse and Watson Falls

Same places, silly Selfies

Supe and Beacher's place and crossing the Astoria-Megler Bridge

Friday we hung out with Supe during the day until Beacher got off work.  They said we brought the rain with us.  It wasn't the pouring type of rain, but mostly heavy mist. We went down to see/hear the crazy seals that are on the docks behind the store where Beacher works. We also visited the Astoria Column and Young's River Falls. For dinner we got the amazing crab melts and clam chowder that we have been hearing about.  It was at a place right on the dock.  After that we went on a beautiful drive through the "enchanted forest". Then we headed home to play Hellsapoppin' and drink hot chocolate and figure out how to work their pellet stove. 

Young's River Falls, Astoria Column, crazy seals and Paul in a troll hole

Beacher's Workplace and outdoor chowder/crab melt dining spot -
we got done just as it started to mist.

Saturday Paul and Supe got the bikes put back together and then we went exploring again while Beacher worked.  We went to Fort Stevens and down to the beach by it where we saw the wreck of the Peter Iredale buried in the sand.  We also went to Fort Clatsop where Lewis and Clark spent the winter after they reached the coast and walked on some beautiful trails through the forest there.  After we picked Beacher up we got some delicious fish and chips for lunch and then drove across the Astoria-Megler Bridge that spans the Columbia river between Astoria and Megler, Washington.  It is 4.1 miles long being the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.  After that we were off to Cannon Beach and Haystack Rocks for low tide.  Then it was home for a gourmet pasta salad and garlic bread dinner by Supe and Beacher and an evening playing Rook.  They wasted Paul and me!

Peter Iredale wreck and Fort Clatsop trails

Dockside sights, Fish and Chips, "enchanted forest"

Cannon Beach/Haystack Rocks and one-legged seagul

Sunday morning after sacrament meeting it was time to say good-bye.  The ward seemed very friendly and excited to have them and Supe got called to YM working with the deacons.  Then we headed off to Kennewick enjoying the scenic Columbia River Gorge to visit Mom and the Brooks clan.  It was so fun to see the kids/grand kids that live in that area too.  Tony cooked up some delicious pheasant for dinner and they also loaded us up with lots of wonderful things they grew/canned/got in the area to take home with us.  It was such a fun evening.  Monday morning it was an early start for the long drive down to Lehi where we got to spend the night with Jay and Brynn and girls and sing a late birthday to Jay.

A birthday Bonsai

Rain drenched beauty

Tuesday morning we left early to get to Paul's doctor appointment in Park City, drove the Alpine Loop, went to an appointment in Provo and then home to St. George - almost 2,700 miles in all.  It was a great trip.  Loved seeing everyone and everything.  Just wish Supe and Beacher, Jay and Bryn and the Brooks clan/Mom were a little closer so we could see them all more often!  (Didn't get pictures of this last part - just got kind of done with taking pictures.)

Fall bike ride in Zion

We decided to check out the paintings being displayed by the artists in the upcoming Zion Park Plein Air Art Invitational and added a bike ride for some exercise.  It was a perfect cool fall day to do the ride.  We are so lucky to live by such a beautiful place and biking it is a really great way to see it. The paintings were beautiful too.

The Sacred Datura were blooming everywhere.

We see this sign in Laverkin on our way to Zion and each time we laugh and wonder if they really have a cold beer vault inside their large clean restrooms!  

Pine Valley, Browse, Joseph and Cub Scouts!

Pine Valley FHE - saw a fallen tree washed down from the recent heavy rains.
Beautiful, cool evening!

Raingutter Regatta at the Town Square!

Might be the final Fall camp out.  Good to see the Sequoia still doing great!
Took no breakfast so we could hurry home for General Conference Saturday AM.
 So funny that we ran into the Weavers up there for a picnic with friends!  

Used my Mother's Day gift cert. to see this fun play!  A little more risque rendition
than I remember last time, but a perfect evening in a beautiful place and an amazingly talented cast.  The sets were great too!  

Rain drenched desert

Saturday started off with a double rainbow.  After several showers it started to clear up.  Later in the day we headed out to Snow Canyon to see what we could see.  We scored some amazing scenery including a couple of waterfalls that are rarely running.  Ended the day with a visit to White Rocks and then to the job Paul is working on right now up in The Ledges.  I love the desert after a rainstorm!

Feast of Fall colors

Friday after early out at school I convinced Paul to be early out from work and we headed for one more feast of Fall colors outing.  Grandma was able to make it this time and really enjoyed it.  Even Bandit, her little dog, seemed to enjoy it!  We had some intermittent rain showers that only added to the beauty!  I think I can be happy now.  I've reached satiation...until the leaves down lower start changing.  

Paul, Anna Lou and Bandit

Happy #39 Lou!

Got to join Lou Anne and family to celebrate her #39 this week!  Juge and kids joined us for cake! Happy Birthday Lou.  What a great start of the family child you are!  We love you.  Thanks for cooking a great birthday dinner and cake too.  Nice of you to feed us for your birthday!  

Fall colors at the Tushars

Had a beautiful, varied weather day with the Weavers checking out the fall colors up at the Tushars.  We had hoped to see some goats, and we did spot a few very far away, but the colors were worth the trip.  The weather was very cooperative starting out sunny so we could picnic for lunch and then moving on to sprinkles while we were trying to spot goats and then to downpour while when we were heading out.  The colors were eye-popping bright and beautiful!  All things bright and beautiful...the Lord God made them all and we are so thankful!  Of course we needed ice cream at Beaver on the way home and then Juge made us a fantastic dinner when we got back to Cedar!  A great outing all the way around!  

On to Oregon!

Supe, Beacher and Hector (their baby sequoia tree) left this morning for their new job and new adventures in Astoria, Oregon!  It has been so much fun to have them in our home for the last few weeks and enjoy some adventures with them.  We are going to miss them and wish they were quite a bit closer, but we are happy for them to be able to really get started on their new life together now. Hope it won't be too long before they miss the red sand in their shoes and move a little bit closer to home.  Until then we hope the job will be great the and adventures even better.  We love you two!