Fall Time

It's our favorite time of the year, fall brings ideal temperatures and the mountains come alive with colors. Cheryl and I ventured out today. We love the area we live in.

Well let's get started. Let's see, I got my fishing vest and waders so let's go! We can take the Alpine loop and as we see a good or two hole we'll just drop a line in for a fish or two.
Today was "free day" to the Alpine Loop and I believe the whole state took advantage of the opportunity. Well maybe not the whole state population but probably all of the surrounding counties.

Despite all of the traffic and people it was a beautiful day and we enjoyed every minute of it. We saw lots of beautiful country, a few unusual sites, and breathed in a lot of fresh mountain air.
Rachel, here's a photo that you'll like. It ought to bring back good old memories of dad driving into a hole while driving around the alpine loop. I can just see and hear it now.

"Oh look how beautiful the leaves are." "Honey let's pull over and take a picture of the leaves." "Okay" "Oh CRAP!"

Hmm, I wonder if they took a picture of the leaves. And you all thought that I was bad when I drove into a little hole.

What about the fishing? I was already to catch the big ones. Let's see got my fishing vest, got my waders, ... oh crap didn't bring my pole. Regardless we still wouldn't trade the day.

Building a Better Community

The past month, I have completed two major projects that the citizens of the state will benefit with the added infrastructure.











The first project was the Jordanelle Hydro Power Plant at the base of the Jordanelle Dam. The project team, despite the numerous challenges and obstacles encountered stayed on track and completed the project. The 3rd largest hydro power plant in the state required us to install a secant wall in the river, excavate, construct the building and install the Owner furnished Turbines and Generators. This project is being recognized as an alternative means to energy sources much needed in the state.

The second project has been some 25 years in the works and yesterday became a reality. Cheryl and I were able to participate in the opening of the 14 mile stretch of highway known as the Legacy Parkway. We were responsible for the most complex of the three segments. Segment III was only two miles in length and had 8 major strucutres. The stuctures if lined up end to end would span over a mile in length itself. Four of the structures spanned not only spanned I-15 but also spnned the Union Pacific Rail Road Tracks and the new Commuter Rail Line. All of this had to be completed in twenty-two months. Our team came and we conquered! Qouting an article in the Deseret News on September 13th in regards to the naming of the interchange that was our project:

Davis now has the Wasatch Weave
By Joseph M. Dougherty
Deseret News
Published: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 12:31 a.m. MDT

It's the only officially named interchange in Utah selected through a public vote.

Clampitt and Flynn said they wanted the interchange to reflect more than just Farmington and its environs, such as Lagoon, and both wanted to make the name alliterative

But they both recognized that the interchange, which connects I-15, U.S. 89 and the new 14-mile Legacy Parkway, involves strategic bridge work to function correctly.

"It's a very complicated weave to put this together," said UDOT executive director John Njord before the unveiling. Nevertheless, he'd asked Clyde-Geneva Constructors to "lift heaven and earth" to get the bridge work done in 22 months

Both project ribbon cutting cermonies provide the opportunity to mingle with the Govenor Huntsman. Here is a picture of him leading the way as we open Legacy.

It has been challenging and amazing to be part of these project in the state and to see all of the publicity centered around the proposals, lawsuits, injunctions, agreements, construction and finally utilization. At the end of the day, I can hold my head high and say that our projects are indeed a betterment to the community that we live in and we were a part of it all.

Summer Time Count Down

Hard to believe that it is already the middle of September and fall is just around the corner. The mornings now are crisp and cool, the leave's colors are beginning to become visible on the mountain, and college football is here once again. Where did the summer time go?


MAY
Summer time actually started for us in May with the purchase of a camping trailer. Hm, I think that I towed it to Dutch John and Taylor lived in it all summer. Cheryl and I only used it for two weekends to go out to the Green River and do some fishing. Just might be something wrong with this picture.


JUNE










June came next with Art City Days and the balloon festival. We played all day that day, balloon rides, neighborhood carnival in the park and finally bowling topped the day. However, by the end of the day we were all a little bit crazy if you know what I mean.


Cheryl and I then braved all of my brothers and sisters and accompanied our parents for anniversary celebration in Hawaii







JULY










Don't let the partying stop with July now. July keeps us all moving with the celebration of the 4th of July at the Oakley Rodeo. Within a few days of the 4th, John, Rachel and Gabe arrived from Ohio for a short visit. If only we had known that 9 weeks later they would depart for home. It was grandchildren haven and soon Papa and Grammy were wandering around with eyes wide and glazed open. It was a party needless to say.

Time for a fishing trip to the Green for some R&R. Then it was a three day extravaganza. Ryan and Kellianne tied the knot. A family trip to Park City to play. Remember it was "go big or go home"









Finally the party of all parties, Cheryl's B-day. We all know that July belongs to Cheryl, one whole month of partying for her birthday. We can say for July that indeed we had been there and done that!




AUGUST

August starts out with our family tradition of the Highland Fling celebration. Can't forget about Adyson's birthday party. Another trip to the Green for fishing, well relaxation, don't think that I saw any fish this trip.













SEPTEMBER
Our final month of summer arrives and in the first week we made the most of it all. Labor day was a bit cloudy and rainy, hm, everybody to the bowling alley. How could Jenny out bowl Papa by only two pins, ugh!



Later it was a trip to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point for an adventure in pre-historic times and a 3-d movie.

Summer time is quickly coming to a close and we can't let Gabe leave without going on a tractor ride with Papa.










John, thanks for letting Rachel and Gabe stay with us this summer and play while you were in training. We wished you could have been here for all of the fun too. Maybe next time. We will all miss you guys!