2009 Adventure #2 - Water, Wildlife, Rocks and History

Cheryl and I ventured out again this last weekend on another adventure. This adventure however, was not as "dirty" as our first adventure. At least, I didn't have to wash the vehicle before bringing it back to home as I did last time. But like all of our adventures we found lots to explore and saw history in the past.

Our adventure took us to a place where neither one of us can recall going before and now we will be definitely going back. This place took us back into time, from the formations that we saw to the historical events that occur ed it was a lot like traveling back in time.


Let's see can anyone guess where Utah's oldest standing building on it's original foundation is located. Soon after the pioneers arrived in Salt Lake they began operations on this location and continued until the early 1900's. Even one of Cheryl's relatives, Israel Barlow broke wild horses here.

You could walk through the ranch house and see how times had changed. The laundry room had 4 different eras of washing machines. Wandering through the ranch house, bunkhouse, blacksmith shop, and barn; one could just imagine the activities and events of days gone by.









Not only did we take in a bit of history but the geology was also a amazingHere you can see some gneiss which is the oldest formation in history and we found areas scattered with beautiful scenic formations. The waving grain of this formation was memorising as one searched the formation.


Let's not forget about the wildlife. Hm, let's see we saw a coyote, two horned owls, a bald eagle, and a golden eagle.







Yes, there were ducks of all types of feathers about. We even saw a horse or two or three or a dozen even; but no not wild all being ridden by the animal known as humans.

The landscape was filled with trails to explore and signs of wildlife. Look over there is that a buffalo? Yup, we were on the plains of America, well not quite but this area has a herd of 300-500 buffalo. Even with all of the wildlife we saw, we still missed seeing the mule deer, the mountain goat, and the antelope.











Did I say Antelope? Yes, that is correct we traveled across the great causeway to Antelope Island this weekend. What a beautiful island and intriguing. In the short time that we were there, we had determined to return with our family more often to Antelope Island and explore some of the hikes into the canyons and mountains of the island. Re-visit the Fielding Garr Farm where relatives and others ranched the land. We even toyed with the idea of exploring some of the other six island on the Great Salt Lake.

2009 Adventure #1 - Breaking in the New Vehicle

This past week, Cheryl managed to persuade me into purchasing her a new vehicle. So a few calls to Joey, and a couple of trips to Heber and we came home on Wednesday with a new Ford Explorer.

As you can see our new vehicle is well equipped to take us to places never explored or seen by us.

Have new vehicle will break it in is my motto.



So this morning, after packing a few, a very few, staples we thought that we would take a leisurely roadside trip. Yea right! More like a safari if you ask Cheryl.

Now everyone knows that I insist that we see all of Utah before venturing to far out of the state. Well today, we will test everyones knowledge of places in Utah. Our route included places such as Santaquin, Eureka, and Vernon. Have I stumped anybody yet? How about Lookout Pass, Lookout Pass Station, Simpson Springs, Fish Springs, Overland Canyon Station, Gold Hill and Ibapah. Ah-ha, now I've got you thinking!

The adventure really begins at Lookout Pass where we have connected onto the Pony Express Route. Covered in snow but well traveled we venture forth.
Just below Lookout Pass, we stopped for a few moments and noted the location of the Pony Express Station and then test drove our vehicle through a snow field to the Pet Cemetery. We were able to drive through the snow and get back onto the road a successful demonstration of our pony's footing.


It was now time to put our pony into drive and giddy up down the road. We have a long ways to go and a short time to get there. Of course we slowed down long enough to take a few pictures of the wild horses.

Our pony, spent now, deserved a much needed rest at Simpson Springs Station. We had traveled over paved roads, graveled roads, snow packed roads, mud and rock now to arrive in the middle of no-where. About the only thing that we hadn't see that a Pony Express rider might have was a Indian or two.


Now this country that we are exploring is full of fantastic geological features. Jagged mountains that would thrust up off the desert floor in the middle of no-where such as Table Mountain here.


We even tried our hand at mining for Geodes. A side road took us down into an area full of Geode beds. Over and through drainage we discovered where the rock hounds come to mine for geodes.
Scattered excavated holes by "rock hounds" had been dug all over and we spent a moment or two studying the rocks and as you can see trying to break them to see if we could strike gold or Geode in this case.

Back on the road we carefully maneuvered our vehicle through the twisting, winding roads. Over one hill, across the plains, into the stream bed, and up the hill into a another canyon.

At Fish Springs we observed the marshlands in this desolate desert...marshlands? Yup, marshlands a wildlife refuge for water fowls. Finally, we discovered a paved road and found ourselves in Ibapah. Now only a skip and hop and we have crossed over into Nevada.

Hello.., Mom and Dad decided to go on a ride to Sanataquin this morning and well we are now in Wendover via the Pony Express Route. We'd love to have anyone joins us next time we go out for a safari. Our little pony performed well and is a bit tired and dirty but is well broken in now and ready for another adventure. I think that it is a keeper.

Happy Holiday Thoughts

Well the Holidays have come and gone and I have been so busy enjoying the family that I haven't even taken time to post a blog. Therefore, I need to post a least a brief recap of the Holidays.

First, Christmas Day was wonderful. Taylor stayed Christmas Eve and we finally rolled out of the sack and began the Christmas Day. This year was particularly awesome because we were able to spend time with each of our children and their families. We enjoyed the miracle of Webcams talking to Rachel on Christmas morning and seeing Gabe, and John in the background opening presents and playing. Rachel even was sharing her Christmas with Jan a good friend while her husband Jim is serving in Afghanistan.

Jan shared with us a story of what encourages Jim when he becomes discouraged with the war efforts in Afghanistan. Jim carries a picture of our grandson Gabe and looks at the picture and it helps him to understand why he is where he is and what he is fighting for. To all of our military service man thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Now back to Christmas Day, in the afternoon after we had talked with Rachel and opened our Christmas with Taylor, we went to the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons" and just enjoyed the afternoon together with Taylor.

Later that afternoon and evening, Jenny, Philip, Adyson and Lexi all came by and we had dinner and opened gifts. It was a wonderful Christmas spending time with my children and grandchildren. Couldn't have asked for anything more.

New Years Eve, Cheryl and I went to the movie, "Seven Pounds", an interesting movie and then came home and kinda of twiddled our thumbs waiting for the New Year to come. About 10:00 pm, I was hoping that it was later than I had thought, we heard some banging of pans from the neighbors home. Turned out to be a "practice run" from what we could ascertain. At midnight, Cheryl went out on the porch and banged a pan with the neighbors, a nice kiss to wish each other a Happy New Year and to sleep we went.

Let's not forget our football teams this past year. BYU struggled all year and hoping to prove their worth failed to perform in the .....Bowl. Arizona proved to be to tough for them. However, we won't forget about Utah playing in the Sugar Bowl and beating Alabama ranked #2 at the time. Now Utah is ranked #2 and is undefeated 13-0.

Okay, I'm now caught up for the time being. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and and Happy New Year.