A Trip South: Part 1

Before I really get going here I need to say two things. First, I would be the worlds worst editor. I can't let food go to waste. I can't pick items off a menu without much consternation. I can't pick a favorite child. And to the point, I can't narrow down pictures well. I know this is a lot of pictures, but frankly, you are lucky there aren't even more. Second, I went back and reread last years posts and had a grand time re-living my life via the blog. So although not pithy and grand, here recorded for posterity is part one of our Labor Day weekend adventure.

We couldn't let a three day weekend go to waste. Originally we wanted to go to Great Basin, but it is their biggest weekend and they only have first come first serve campsites. We were afraid we wouldn't make it in time to snag a spot. We wanted to go somewhere new, so we decided to give Escalante and the area around it a try. I am so glad we did! I love Southern Utah. It is such an incredible landscape, with an interesting history, and so much variety. I could go on and on, but I won't.

The kids on a fake kiva in Torrey, UT

The incredible view of the Staircase as we drove through

the equally scenic Dixie National Forsest on our way to Escalante:

Anasazi State Park where we got to learn more about the Fremont Indians

and see the ruins (and reconstructions) of a small community. Somehow

Clara heard the word Indians as aliens and we had to endure lots of worried

questions about aliens the whole weekend.

Clara admiring the pithouse

The drive from Boulder to Escalante was CRAZY. We drove along

a narrow fin with canyon dropoffs on both sides and views of amazing

vast sandstone desert views. It was beautiful.

I wish the camera could capture the beauty and grandeur.

Trust me it was unbelievable. Those CCC crews built some

gnarley roads!

We had reserved a campsite in Broken Bow RV park in Escalante and

after one look we headed for the hills. It was bad (like all asphalt and no trees or grass). We drove 16 miles up a dirt road in an amazing downpour to Posey Lake. So glad we did that.

We got a great campsite !

Clara is pretty verbal. But lately she just doesn't stop jabbering.

She had a lot to say as we tried to go to sleep. Finally she shut up

and started imitating Lucy, who was snoring (due to severe congestion).

It was pretty funny.

The next morning we hiked to Calf Creek Falls. It is a mellow hike

through a completey stunning canyon to an oasis like waterfall. It is kind of long (3 miles each way)

The hike in wasn't too hot. We stopped at markers along the way as Tucker read from

the trail guide. Some highlights were the Fremont Indian Pictographs

and some Indian granaries hidden in caves on the sheer cliffs.

Some people were brave enough to dive into the icy pond. But

I wasn't one of them.

The hike back was much longer. Rob got to carry Clara who

can't seem to stop talking for even one second. Seriously. She

talks non-stop, unless she is asleep. We were HOT and TIRED!

Our hands were nice and swollen from the heat!

We made it back and the kids dunked their feet and

eventually their whole bodies in Calf Creek by the

campground. Very refreshing.

We then drove to Kodachrome State Park by Cannonville

for a fun hike on the funky sandstone formations.

(A note about small Southern Utah towns: How

can a town not have restaurants and grocery stores?

I don't understand! The towns are far apart and they have no

amenities. It is very mysterious!)

There is so much to see and do and we barely scratched the surface! We didn't make it to the slot canyons or any of the other millions of amazing places....next time!

(Lucy wins props for hiking sick. Seriously. She had a fever and was a trooper. Did she complain? Not once. She kept up and led us to believe that she was just fine. Rob and I win worst parents in the world award for making a tired, fevery, congested girls hike 7.5 miles in one day.)

We Even Saw a Fox

In my world Saturday's are for cleaning. In Rob's world Saturday's are for playing. He is rubbing off on me. We happily ditched the housework on Saturday and headed up the canyon for a hike we hadn't done before. Mule Flat, or something like that just above Storm King Amphitheatre in Big Cottonwood. We usually hike further up the canyon where the scenery is a bit more alpine. This was a nice change and the different scenery was beautiful with very nice views of the rugged canyon cliffs. It was a pretty decent hike and I'm impressed with the kids. 2ish miles and a 1000 foot elevation gain. You hike up to an old collapsed mine and the remains of the old miners cabin (which is mostly the rusted out bedframe and other rusty stuff). It was a lot of fun. We saw a gazillion little lizards, a snake, and we even saw a fox.

Back To School 2009

I've always been one to dread back to school. The getting up early, the getting into a routine, the carpooling. Did I mention the carpooling? Well my kids went back to school last Tuesday, and can I say, HALLELUJAH! It felt so great to have my house stay clean, to get Clara to take a nap, to take a nap myself, to spend some one on one time with baby rascal, and to not have to clean the kitchen up every fifteen minutes. Seriously, I loved it. What made the difference? I think it is not having a kindergartner or preschooler. Half day kindergarten reeks havoc. It splits your day into tiny unuseable chunks. You have to frantically fit things into tiny blocks of time. It is the worst. And now, I have an entire day stretching out in front of me with plenty of time to get everything done.

And, I'm excited for the kids. They are learning and having fun and being with friends and not making messes at my house! School, this year, is a beautiful thing! Here is to fourth, second, and first grade.

Besides, I think I will enjoy some one on one time with little crazy Gochi.

Summer Wrap Up

Well it appears that our summer is officially over. The kids are back in school, the nights are cool, and the days are starting to get shorter. The last four days before school started we really tried to pack it in. Friday we hiked with some friends through Albion meadows at Alta. Okay, hike is a stretch. We had too many small non-hikers to make it far, but it was still beautiful and fun. I think we missed the peak wildflowers by a week or so. I definitely want to see this place next summer in full bloom. That night we drove to Provo to pick up Tutu (Rob's mom) from education week and ate at my fav, Bombay House.

On Saturday we went to the Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy. This place is much improved since the last time I went. We had a good time. After we swam at Todd and Courts and then Rob and I went out to dinner for our anniversary. (We went to Sage Cafe, a great vegetarian restaurant in SLC.)

On Sunday, since church was cancelled for the temple dedication, we headed for the hills. We drove up to the Uintas. It was beautiful, but a bit on the chilly side. We braved the cold and walked around Mirror Lake. It was so pretty.




All summer the kids have begged to go to the Pioneer Village at This Is The Place. I promised I would take them before the end of summer. Well, procrastination won the day, and on Monday, the day before school we headed up there. It is a fun place, and as usual, the kids had a great time.


And that is the end of summer. Sigh.