Camping Day 2

Day two of our camping trip started bright and early for Spencer, who had to drive back down to the city for a full day of work at the office. 

That left me alone for the day, with the dog and Spencer's gun to keep me safe.  The night before, Spencer had me practice taking off the safety and pretend to shoot the gun at the door of the trailer - where the intruder would be.  Luckily, I never had to put that training to use.

I spent most of the day rotating between three activities - hiking, reading, and playing Quiddler solitaire.

Quiddler solitaire is fun the first couple of times you play.  By game 7 or 8, it gets a little old.

Hiking, on the other hand, never gets old!  I love the exercise, fresh air, and beautiful scenery!

Jack loved chasing squirrels - and anything else that moved.

 "Now where did that squirrel run off to?"

"This may not be a squirrel, but I do love these bubbly white waves!"

I started reading The 5,000 Year Leap by Cleon Skousen in between hikes.  Every American should read this book.  I haven't finished yet, but already I am learning so much about the founding of our country.

While I spent my time reading, Jack investigated all the best spots for lying around the campsite. 

Every time I looked up from my book, Jack was lying in a new spot.

Silly dog!

Eventually, though, Jack must have become a little bored.  After glancing up from my book and realizing he was nowhere to be seen, I started to get a little panicked.  I called and called his name.  I walked up and down the road and trails by our campsite.  I checked down by the river.  I imagined him getting swept down the current or being bitten by a rattlesnake. 

After more than half an hour of searching, I even said a prayer that he would be found.  Finally, after coming back to the trailer after another search along the river, I saw Jack walk out from behind some bushes.  His ears were down, his tail between his legs, and all he wanted was to go lay down in the trailer.  And that was fine with me.  Who knows what kind of adventure he had!

Spencer showed up back at camp just after 7:00 pm, and after another delicious tin foil dinner we sat around the fire for a while. 

Soon the flames died down and all that was left was a pile of glowing red coals.

It was time to wind down now with a game of Quiddler and some hot cocoa with sliced strawberries.

 I must say, the strawberries were a great addition to our steamy cups of cocoa.

Then it was off to bed again, to prepare for the final day of our camping excursion.

Camping Day 1

We packed up the trailer and headed up American Fork Canyon last Thursday for a weekend camping trip.  After setting up camp, Spencer thought it might be fun to do a little off-roading in the 4Runner.

He has done a lot of modifications to improve the 4Runner's capabilities off-road, and I think that has given him the confidence to try obstacles that he would have avoided otherwise.  Great. (can you sense the sarcasm?)

We had a couple of close calls in the 'rock garden.'

The picture here just doesn't do justice to what was actually happening.  That back tire was at least 3-4 feet off the ground!  Yikes!!

Spencer finally admitted defeat and decided to head back to camp.  Unfortunately, now we had to go back down the trail we had just crawled up, only this time we had to do most of it in reverse!  The decision was made for me to drive and Spencer to be the spotter and guide me down the trail.  Wait!  Me?  Drive?!?  That's right!

By the time this photo was taken I was able to get turned around, and it became slightly easier than driving in reverse.  I think Spencer and I were both a little too nervous to think about taking photos while I was going backward.

Okay, I admit, I was not happy to do this at first.  I did not want to be responsible for ruining our car on a huge boulder.  But Spencer gave great instructions, I went very slowly, and we made it out of the rock garden with no body damage!  Zippee!

Back at camp, it was time for a campfire.  I was in charge of starting the fire and did it on the first match!

And just to brag a little more, when I started our fire the next day, I did it with just one match again!  No lighter fluid, no tricks, just good old-fashioned fire-building skills (and some really dry wood).

Tin foil dinners.  Yum.

Double yum.

Stay tuned for Day 2!

GOAL!!

Way back in May, Spencer and I went to our first Real Salt Lake soccer game.  If you have never been, you need to go!  I have never had so much fun at a sports event! 

We will be going back again soon.  I have plenty more cheering and yelling at the refs left in me!

Repeat

I know I just posted about this hike, but I really don't care!  We did my favorite hike again, this time bringing along my brother and his wife and son and my uncle. 

We used the campfire at the beginning of the hike to cook our tin foil lunches.

It was a perfect day for a hike - not a cloud in the sky!

father and son

 Spencer is checking out the water levels - still too high to cross!

Is it over already?  But I was having so much fun!

Joseph

My family just had a reunion in - of all places - Joseph, Utah. 
There is an old church in the tiny farm town that has been converted into a vacation rental with bedrooms, kitchen, a great room, etc.  It was a great place to spend time with extended family where we could all be together.

We drove down Friday night and left Sunday morning.  As we were driving along I-70 toward Joseph, I thought it would be great fun to start the photos off with some shots of the freeway signs leading to Joseph.  That is when my camera's battery warning came on, and I did not bring my charger. 

Therefore, I have just one picture of the weekend.  Ariel and I were battling it out in a game of bean bag toss. 

The rest of our time was spent eating, playing kickball and wiffle ball, eating, some extreme see-sawing (don't ask!), eating, ping pong, movies, eating, visiting, and of course more eating!

The games were fun, the company was great, and the food was delicious! 

Jack was happy to be back home Sunday afternoon.  Spencer left an empty box of dog treats within reach, and it didn't take long for Jack to find it.  Lucky dog!

Best Ever?

Spencer and I like to hike.  Well, I guess I should say I love to hike, and Spencer comes with me (he would much rather ride his mountain bike).  Every summer we go on many hikes and see lots of great landscape.  Well, yesterday we may just have found my favorite hike ever!  Do you know that SpongeBob song, "The Best Day Ever"?  I do (because I teach first grade), and that song comes to mind when I think of this trail.  Perhaps the pictures will speak for themselves.

Here is a view of Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork Canyon

Notice how the trunk of this tree is growing completely horizontal above Spencer's head, and then grows straight up from there.  CRAZY!

Jack loved romping in the lush green meadows.

 

"Oh look!  Another weird tree!"

I know I am posting a lot of pictures, but can you blame me?

We came to a river crossing, with the trail continuing on the other side.  But the water levels are crazy high right now, and the raging river was too dangerous to attempt a crossing.  So this is where we turned around.  Don't worry though, I'll be back!

We were able to experience a mountain thunderstorm on the way back to the car.  Great big drops of rain, booming thunder, but not too cold.  AMAZING!  (And thank goodness I brought my hoodie!)

We made it to the car safe and sound, and a little wet.  The wet dog smell in the back of the car was less than pleasing, but definitely a price worth paying!