Saturday, Panther playoff day!
I used to play flag football for a cool team called the Panthers.
It was super fun.
So I watched them play in the finals today. What a great weekend to come up! All those girls and their respective men and coaches are so great. They played like champs and team 1.0 just lost the final. 2nd overall but 1st in coolness and overall awesomeness in my books.
Post-playoffs, off to Langley to see my dear friends Jennifer Jacobson and Rika Nel plus others who happened to be up. We had dinner at the Fort Pub, headed off to a haunted corn maze in Abby, got chased by creepers with "chainsaws" (when I finally had been chased enough times to look at who was chasing me, I think they had leafblowers, but man those guys could sprint!!), won the acronym from letters hidden around the maze (Hog Handler...weirdest answer ever), ate our suckers that we got for winning, went to the petting zoo, slid down the crazy slides, went to Timmy Ho's, chatted with Jenny and Riks and Kraakmos and new friends, went back to Jen's in Walnut Grove and had a sleepover in her cozy big bed.
(I've never really liked sleeping with people next to me or near me; I always gravitated away from everyone during sleepovers as a kid. Breathing people keep me up I guess and it took MONTHS (like 6) after we got married to get used to sleeping with Bryan in my bed (the little children pitter pattering and crying above our heads on the 5'6" ceilings/their floor also may have contributed). Jen, however, was my roommate (small rooms) at TWU for 3 years, and is thus an exception to the rule. Plus, she always has a really comfy mattress, pillows and blankets.)
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Day 41: Burnaby, Vancouver, Richmond
Friday, woot woot.
I managed to change my follow up eye appointment to this Friday for a number of reasons, the main one being that my mom was teaching a writing seminar in Chilliwack so I would see her!
I parked at my old free parking spot (the road near 29th Avenue skytrain station), took the skytrain and used up a FareSaver that had been begging to be used, went to my eye appt. at Coal Harbour Eye Center. The verdict is that my vision is not perfect, but is close (20/25 or 20/30). Come back in 3 months and it should be perfect they said.
You've seen lots of people's eyes improve more from 3-6 months post surgery I asked?
Yes for sure they answered.
Oh phewf. I want my 20/20 money's worth. (Actually, already worth it...PRK=the bomb diggety. Camping and hiking contact free was amaaazing!)
Mom and I planned to meet in Van for dinner so I diddled around Metrotown, had sushi lunch with Su, mmmm, and then realized there's no way my mom will feel comfortable driving into Vancouver at rush hour. So I left for Richmond, stuck in a little bit of tunnel traffic. Then realized, my poor mother will be stuck in CRAZY tunnel traffic trying to come North.
So dinner was postponed. She sat there like a champ for 1.25 hours waiting to get through. I relaxed at the farm, picked Gem's hooves and brushed her, entreated everyone to please call the farrier and get her hooves done, and then Mom and I went to Old Spag Factory. I love my mom. She's the best.
I won't really mention my sleep tonight because there really wasn't much...something about a terrible mattress...I really can't wait to sleep in my own bed once we take it out of Bryan's parent's garage. Someday.
I managed to change my follow up eye appointment to this Friday for a number of reasons, the main one being that my mom was teaching a writing seminar in Chilliwack so I would see her!
I parked at my old free parking spot (the road near 29th Avenue skytrain station), took the skytrain and used up a FareSaver that had been begging to be used, went to my eye appt. at Coal Harbour Eye Center. The verdict is that my vision is not perfect, but is close (20/25 or 20/30). Come back in 3 months and it should be perfect they said.
You've seen lots of people's eyes improve more from 3-6 months post surgery I asked?
Yes for sure they answered.
Oh phewf. I want my 20/20 money's worth. (Actually, already worth it...PRK=the bomb diggety. Camping and hiking contact free was amaaazing!)
Mom and I planned to meet in Van for dinner so I diddled around Metrotown, had sushi lunch with Su, mmmm, and then realized there's no way my mom will feel comfortable driving into Vancouver at rush hour. So I left for Richmond, stuck in a little bit of tunnel traffic. Then realized, my poor mother will be stuck in CRAZY tunnel traffic trying to come North.
So dinner was postponed. She sat there like a champ for 1.25 hours waiting to get through. I relaxed at the farm, picked Gem's hooves and brushed her, entreated everyone to please call the farrier and get her hooves done, and then Mom and I went to Old Spag Factory. I love my mom. She's the best.
I won't really mention my sleep tonight because there really wasn't much...something about a terrible mattress...I really can't wait to sleep in my own bed once we take it out of Bryan's parent's garage. Someday.
Day 40: Kirkland, WA to Richmond, Abbotsford and Burnaby, BC
Day 40 = October 24th, just to keep current.
Woke up, made Bryan's lunch, ate breaky, ta da!
Packed a suitcase, loaded up cousin Carrie's car with grandma's stuff, cousin Sarah's boots, my stuff, and a massive rug and liner for Uncle Maurice that came on the UPS truck right when we were ready to go. I managed to slide it through the trunk and between the front seats. It fit with about an inch to spare.
Drove with Grandma to Richmond; beautiful day for a drive. Didn't have to pay duty on the rug ($1000) booyah!
Stayed briefly, left at about 230pm to go to Abbotsford.
Listened to Auntie Joanne to take 0 Ave because it is relaxing.
It is relaxing, so relaxing in fact that I ended up way past where I wanted to be in Abby.
Got very lost without data on my phone or a GPS, oy, way too dependent.
Stopped at a gas station, got directions to Raelene's.
Got close and stopped at another gas station to get directions to a grocery store.
Directed back the way I came, ugh.
Finally found a crummy little grocery store and got Oreos, sherbet and mango popsicles...thought I'd try a variety in case any appealed to my sickie pregnant friend for dessert.
Yay, finally arrived at Raelenes, dessert in tow, feeling less relaxed by now.(2 hours from Richmond to Abbotsford, whaaa?! I've been driving for about 5 hours today now)
Had a lovely time with my dear friend and her lovely kiddo and her very sweet hubby.
Dun dun dun, time to drive to Burnaby to stay with my lovely coworker Su.
So, I'm driving down the highway thinking "oh wow, my night vision is so much better after laser eye surgery, the halos are gone and I feel safe driving at night, oh lucky me...etc."
Then something flashed in the sky.
What was that? ...I stare at the sky.
A HUGE blue flash lights up the sky.
What on earth?
I drive cautiously around the corner where I see brake lights going on in an uncoordinated fashion, some people pulling off right, some left, I slow down.
And then I drive by a car that used to be going the other direction but is now near the inside lane, facing sideways, window totally smashed in, and the people are still in there.
I couldn't see them as I drove by but I knew it just happened (they hit a power pole), I saw that many cars had already pulled to the side and stopped, and given my very pathetic level of medical prowess, I didn't want to be in the way.
Shaken and slightly guilty for driving by a car with potentially dead or dying people in it, and also for avoiding the crazy traffic nightmare sure to follow behind me, I prayed my way to my dear friend Su's.
After a brief chat with Su who was suffering from a migraine, I headed downstairs to her cozy guestroom, on the way stopping to goof off with her two youngest kiddos watching iCarly on Netflix. Pillow fights and acrobatics on couches ensued between them which was very amusing.
And then I curled up in my cozy bed after 5+ hours of driving and many miles put on the car. Thank goodness for cheap American gas. And lovely friends of course. And God's protection on the road.
Did I mention I got free corn and pumpkins from grandma's farm? Gotta love free produce. Good night!
Woke up, made Bryan's lunch, ate breaky, ta da!
Packed a suitcase, loaded up cousin Carrie's car with grandma's stuff, cousin Sarah's boots, my stuff, and a massive rug and liner for Uncle Maurice that came on the UPS truck right when we were ready to go. I managed to slide it through the trunk and between the front seats. It fit with about an inch to spare.
Drove with Grandma to Richmond; beautiful day for a drive. Didn't have to pay duty on the rug ($1000) booyah!
Stayed briefly, left at about 230pm to go to Abbotsford.
Listened to Auntie Joanne to take 0 Ave because it is relaxing.
It is relaxing, so relaxing in fact that I ended up way past where I wanted to be in Abby.
Got very lost without data on my phone or a GPS, oy, way too dependent.
Stopped at a gas station, got directions to Raelene's.
Got close and stopped at another gas station to get directions to a grocery store.
Directed back the way I came, ugh.
Finally found a crummy little grocery store and got Oreos, sherbet and mango popsicles...thought I'd try a variety in case any appealed to my sickie pregnant friend for dessert.
Yay, finally arrived at Raelenes, dessert in tow, feeling less relaxed by now.(2 hours from Richmond to Abbotsford, whaaa?! I've been driving for about 5 hours today now)
Had a lovely time with my dear friend and her lovely kiddo and her very sweet hubby.
Dun dun dun, time to drive to Burnaby to stay with my lovely coworker Su.
So, I'm driving down the highway thinking "oh wow, my night vision is so much better after laser eye surgery, the halos are gone and I feel safe driving at night, oh lucky me...etc."
Then something flashed in the sky.
What was that? ...I stare at the sky.
A HUGE blue flash lights up the sky.
What on earth?
I drive cautiously around the corner where I see brake lights going on in an uncoordinated fashion, some people pulling off right, some left, I slow down.
And then I drive by a car that used to be going the other direction but is now near the inside lane, facing sideways, window totally smashed in, and the people are still in there.
I couldn't see them as I drove by but I knew it just happened (they hit a power pole), I saw that many cars had already pulled to the side and stopped, and given my very pathetic level of medical prowess, I didn't want to be in the way.
Shaken and slightly guilty for driving by a car with potentially dead or dying people in it, and also for avoiding the crazy traffic nightmare sure to follow behind me, I prayed my way to my dear friend Su's.
After a brief chat with Su who was suffering from a migraine, I headed downstairs to her cozy guestroom, on the way stopping to goof off with her two youngest kiddos watching iCarly on Netflix. Pillow fights and acrobatics on couches ensued between them which was very amusing.
And then I curled up in my cozy bed after 5+ hours of driving and many miles put on the car. Thank goodness for cheap American gas. And lovely friends of course. And God's protection on the road.
Did I mention I got free corn and pumpkins from grandma's farm? Gotta love free produce. Good night!
Day 38 & 39: Kirkland, WA
I went running with my Aunty Nelly. Just 2.5 miles or so she said. I can do that, I thought.
She didn't mention that she runs really fast...or maybe I just typically run really slowly. Maybe, what I consider "going for a run" is actually "going for a jog" or even "going for a jog at the pace of a walk." Am I a granny runner? Am I a prancerciser? Ok. Definitely not the latter. Ew yuck.
Back to the run. Aunty Nelly has a great route: a quick walk through the neighborhood and down the hill, pick up the pace and run through Juanita Park, over the boardwalk, through the Michael's parking lot to the other park, around the concrete walkway over the lake, sharp right along the path, back across the walkway, aaaand walk home.
I didn't know about the walk home part or I would have made it...I think...but I saw my grandma walking and that was a good excuse to ix nay the running and start walking, blaming it on a stitch in my side.
Moral of the story:
1. Hiking gives you muscles, not cardiovascular fitness.
2. Aunties who can swim 86 laps of a pool a few times a week no big deal, are flippin fit. (When I did a sprint triathlon a few years ago or more, I almost got disqualified because I'm such a terrible swimmer that my time for the 800 meters was almost too slow to count, what is that like 16 laps? Or maybe 32 depending on the pool size.)
3. I am not as fit as I think and better whoop myself into shape while I have time.
Other aspects of the days included applying for jobs, looking up jobs, stoking the fire, chopping kindling (cut myself with the axe, but it was too embarrassing to tell anyone)...and missing my hubby. I had him every day all day for 6 weeks! Back to reality.
She didn't mention that she runs really fast...or maybe I just typically run really slowly. Maybe, what I consider "going for a run" is actually "going for a jog" or even "going for a jog at the pace of a walk." Am I a granny runner? Am I a prancerciser? Ok. Definitely not the latter. Ew yuck.
Back to the run. Aunty Nelly has a great route: a quick walk through the neighborhood and down the hill, pick up the pace and run through Juanita Park, over the boardwalk, through the Michael's parking lot to the other park, around the concrete walkway over the lake, sharp right along the path, back across the walkway, aaaand walk home.
I didn't know about the walk home part or I would have made it...I think...but I saw my grandma walking and that was a good excuse to ix nay the running and start walking, blaming it on a stitch in my side.
Moral of the story:
1. Hiking gives you muscles, not cardiovascular fitness.
2. Aunties who can swim 86 laps of a pool a few times a week no big deal, are flippin fit. (When I did a sprint triathlon a few years ago or more, I almost got disqualified because I'm such a terrible swimmer that my time for the 800 meters was almost too slow to count, what is that like 16 laps? Or maybe 32 depending on the pool size.)
3. I am not as fit as I think and better whoop myself into shape while I have time.
Other aspects of the days included applying for jobs, looking up jobs, stoking the fire, chopping kindling (cut myself with the axe, but it was too embarrassing to tell anyone)...and missing my hubby. I had him every day all day for 6 weeks! Back to reality.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Day 37: Kirkland, WA & Lynnwood, WA
Ah, the cozy bed, delicious dinner and hospitality of my Aunty Nelly's house. Grandma has been visiting Kirkland after the wedding so she was here, knitting a vest at a tremendous pace while watching the Hallmark Channel.
Bry and I had a lazy day, but I did make an apple crispt to keep grandma happy and because apple crisp is delicious. The day topped off with dinner at his parents--delicious roast, veggies, sparkling apple cider, and apple pie crumble. We showed them the (short version!) photos of our trip and had nice chats before going back to Kirkland (kind of weird feeling for Bry to say "well we better get going" and leave his family home).
It's weird to live here and not just be visiting. I'm not sure if I'm used to it yet.
PS. I almost hate Halloween; seriously, bloody corpses rising out of lawns is too much for me. I like pumpkins, pumpkin spice lattes (half sweet), fall-colored leaves, cozy scarves, boots, thick socks, wood fireplaces, apple pie, etc. but these bloody ghouly nasties on every corner is yucky, it's just yucky guys. Ew.
Bry and I had a lazy day, but I did make an apple crispt to keep grandma happy and because apple crisp is delicious. The day topped off with dinner at his parents--delicious roast, veggies, sparkling apple cider, and apple pie crumble. We showed them the (short version!) photos of our trip and had nice chats before going back to Kirkland (kind of weird feeling for Bry to say "well we better get going" and leave his family home).
It's weird to live here and not just be visiting. I'm not sure if I'm used to it yet.
PS. I almost hate Halloween; seriously, bloody corpses rising out of lawns is too much for me. I like pumpkins, pumpkin spice lattes (half sweet), fall-colored leaves, cozy scarves, boots, thick socks, wood fireplaces, apple pie, etc. but these bloody ghouly nasties on every corner is yucky, it's just yucky guys. Ew.
Day 36: Ontario, Oregon to Kirkland, WA
Well folks, not much to say about today except that it was a long and beautiful drive through beautiful countryside with perfect weather. The closer we got to the west coast, the nicer the fall colors became...until we got past Ellensburg.
"Is that smoke in the distance?" Bry asked. "Is there a fire?" I questioned. Oh wait...that is a cloud. A very low cloud. An unending west coast cloud.
And into it we drove. For only the second time on the trip (the first was a few hours of pelting rain when we drove into San Fran) we were under a cloud, no sun to be seen. After 5 weeks of sunny vacationing, it was a bit sad.
PS. Anyone ever play the Farming Game? (board game of awesomeness). Well I found Toppenish Tom and Wapato Willie on the drive...couldn't find Satus Sam though :P
PPS. How flippin' Halloweeny is Seattle?!! Spiders EVERYWHERE! Fog EVERYWHERE! Misty chill, orange leaves, pumpkins, my word! It was like we drove into a different season in half an hour.
PPPS. (last one, sorry!) Wow Halloween decorations are getting creepy; poor kids, I'm getting nightmares myself!
"Is that smoke in the distance?" Bry asked. "Is there a fire?" I questioned. Oh wait...that is a cloud. A very low cloud. An unending west coast cloud.
And into it we drove. For only the second time on the trip (the first was a few hours of pelting rain when we drove into San Fran) we were under a cloud, no sun to be seen. After 5 weeks of sunny vacationing, it was a bit sad.
PS. Anyone ever play the Farming Game? (board game of awesomeness). Well I found Toppenish Tom and Wapato Willie on the drive...couldn't find Satus Sam though :P
PPS. How flippin' Halloweeny is Seattle?!! Spiders EVERYWHERE! Fog EVERYWHERE! Misty chill, orange leaves, pumpkins, my word! It was like we drove into a different season in half an hour.
PPPS. (last one, sorry!) Wow Halloween decorations are getting creepy; poor kids, I'm getting nightmares myself!
Monday, October 21, 2013
Day 35: Arches National Park to Ontario, Oregon
The last fun day of our trip dawned. Camp was slowly packed up, oatmeal eaten, sticky oatmeal bowls cleaned. and off we went. Just before Arches, Ben and clan went to Moab instead to find Kim some kind of baby-safe medication as she was feeling awful. Bry and I went ahead and hiked one of the longer hikes (just a mile each way) to Landscape Arch. Then we met up with them and did the shorter hikes to Tunnel and Pine Tree Arches.
By this time it was already past noon surprisingly and we needed to hit the road fairly early. We did a couple other little trips, one to Sand Dune Arch (such a cool spot for families; so much sand for the kids to play in and rocks to climb). Our final stop was the viewpoint for Delicate Arch, the famous free standing Utah-license-plate arch. We could see it quite well in the distance but next time we'll do the hike up to it.
It was crazy how busy this park is even mid October. The parking lots were totally full and we could see the people swarming up at Delicate Arch. I can't imagine this place in June or September, probably chaos.
Kim by this point, couldn't wait to get home and to a doctor and we both had 16 hours of driving ahead of us to get home. Micah really wanted to hike to the upper viewpoint so Bry and I made lunch, we all prayed together, and then we headed out. They planned to leave after Ben and Micah did the final viewpoint hike.
It was a long afternoon of driving but through gorgeous country. Utah was breathtaking; I could live there I think! Bry had begun to feel his throat tickling, which discouraged us from driving through the night. He really wanted to be healthy by Wednesday for starting his new job. Regrettably, we hadn't planned anywhere to stay for the night so we ended up at a Motel 6 in Ontario, Oregon, just past Boise.
By this time it was already past noon surprisingly and we needed to hit the road fairly early. We did a couple other little trips, one to Sand Dune Arch (such a cool spot for families; so much sand for the kids to play in and rocks to climb). Our final stop was the viewpoint for Delicate Arch, the famous free standing Utah-license-plate arch. We could see it quite well in the distance but next time we'll do the hike up to it.
It was crazy how busy this park is even mid October. The parking lots were totally full and we could see the people swarming up at Delicate Arch. I can't imagine this place in June or September, probably chaos.
Kim by this point, couldn't wait to get home and to a doctor and we both had 16 hours of driving ahead of us to get home. Micah really wanted to hike to the upper viewpoint so Bry and I made lunch, we all prayed together, and then we headed out. They planned to leave after Ben and Micah did the final viewpoint hike.
It was a long afternoon of driving but through gorgeous country. Utah was breathtaking; I could live there I think! Bry had begun to feel his throat tickling, which discouraged us from driving through the night. He really wanted to be healthy by Wednesday for starting his new job. Regrettably, we hadn't planned anywhere to stay for the night so we ended up at a Motel 6 in Ontario, Oregon, just past Boise.
Day 34: Canyonlands National Park
Camping right inbetween Canyonlands and Arches was super convenient and we decided to head to Canyonlands today (Friday Oct 25) and Arches for most of the day Saturday.
The day dawned crisp as can be at Horsethief campground, but sickie Kim, having a hard time sleeping, had made a fire by the time the rest of us woke up. Poor Nathanael woke up screaming. His eyes were glued shut and face covered in crusties from a sick night sleep. It took a lot of wipes and loving from daddy Ben to help him feel better. Even so, he sat like a cold little lump in a camp chair, not his perky cheerful self.
There were a few key sites in Canyonlands. First to the crater (meteorite or ancient salt lake?), then to Whale Rock, and finally to a lookout where the 4x4 road goes down into the canyon itself and around the White Rim Road. It was nice to have a relaxed, moseying pace to our hiking instead of trying to get to the farthest places possible. Kids have that effect :)
The day dawned crisp as can be at Horsethief campground, but sickie Kim, having a hard time sleeping, had made a fire by the time the rest of us woke up. Poor Nathanael woke up screaming. His eyes were glued shut and face covered in crusties from a sick night sleep. It took a lot of wipes and loving from daddy Ben to help him feel better. Even so, he sat like a cold little lump in a camp chair, not his perky cheerful self.
There were a few key sites in Canyonlands. First to the crater (meteorite or ancient salt lake?), then to Whale Rock, and finally to a lookout where the 4x4 road goes down into the canyon itself and around the White Rim Road. It was nice to have a relaxed, moseying pace to our hiking instead of trying to get to the farthest places possible. Kids have that effect :)
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Day 33: Lake Powell to Canyonlands Ntl. Park, Utah
How can children be so chipper in the morning? A question I asked myself this morning.
Micah has got to be the most cheerful kid I have ever met. Clothed in his favorite basketball shorts and jersey (he would wear them every day if allowed), he skipped out of his tent, was covered in goose bumps from the morning chill, laughing at the slightest things, biggest grin, refused offers for pants and a jacket, and just enthused about the rocks we were going to climb and the hiking we were going to do later in the day. What a kid! Just a champ.
We set off for another day of driving towards Canyonlands. Bry and I suggested we zip ahead to get a campsite...good idea except our GPS told us the wrong way to go (only 2 miles longer, but we missed driving through Monument Valley, boo). So we ended up getting to Moab at the same time. In Moab we learned, the Bureau of Land Management campsites opened this morning! Woot woot! There were a few inbetween Arches and Canyonlands. Horsethief was EMPTY! It was awesome. Due to our now-useful Annual National Parks pass, we got half price camping, $7.50 a night for all of us! Score!
With the afternoon we had left, we did a short hike to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands and then the Grand Viewpoint trail til sunset. The moon was incredible, Micah survived a pretty nasty fall off a rock inbetween other rocks with minimal crying and only a tiny bit of blood, and Nathanael (sick) fell asleep in the backpack.
Poor Kim had been really sick this whole trip, coughing her head off and enduring pregnancy and what turned out to be a sinus infection, with little to no medication for the baby's sake. It was sad to see her miss out on activities she loves and doesn't get to do often. We tried to make it easier by taking care of the boys, but she just looked in pain a lot of the time and often had to stay at the car.
Despite the sickies, the rest of us had a fun day.
.
Micah has got to be the most cheerful kid I have ever met. Clothed in his favorite basketball shorts and jersey (he would wear them every day if allowed), he skipped out of his tent, was covered in goose bumps from the morning chill, laughing at the slightest things, biggest grin, refused offers for pants and a jacket, and just enthused about the rocks we were going to climb and the hiking we were going to do later in the day. What a kid! Just a champ.
We set off for another day of driving towards Canyonlands. Bry and I suggested we zip ahead to get a campsite...good idea except our GPS told us the wrong way to go (only 2 miles longer, but we missed driving through Monument Valley, boo). So we ended up getting to Moab at the same time. In Moab we learned, the Bureau of Land Management campsites opened this morning! Woot woot! There were a few inbetween Arches and Canyonlands. Horsethief was EMPTY! It was awesome. Due to our now-useful Annual National Parks pass, we got half price camping, $7.50 a night for all of us! Score!
With the afternoon we had left, we did a short hike to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands and then the Grand Viewpoint trail til sunset. The moon was incredible, Micah survived a pretty nasty fall off a rock inbetween other rocks with minimal crying and only a tiny bit of blood, and Nathanael (sick) fell asleep in the backpack.
Poor Kim had been really sick this whole trip, coughing her head off and enduring pregnancy and what turned out to be a sinus infection, with little to no medication for the baby's sake. It was sad to see her miss out on activities she loves and doesn't get to do often. We tried to make it easier by taking care of the boys, but she just looked in pain a lot of the time and often had to stay at the car.
Despite the sickies, the rest of us had a fun day.
.
Day 32: Scottsdale, AZ to Lake Powell
The last leg of our trip arrived, a travel day, but thankfully with a few more days of camping and family ahead before really zipping home.
We had shopped for food the day before and made a plan to drive to Page/Lake Powell and camp for the night before heading to the National Parks of southeastern Utah the next day (Thank you Utah State for opening your national parks, we love you!!) We figured this would both to break up the drive for the kids' sakes and there were some cool slot canyons near Page that we wanted to check out.
The drive seemed really long and we got to Page fairly late in the afternoon. Ben was using Google Maps to navigate to Waterholes Canyon. The website of this canyon suggested that it was only open to commercial tours, or at least most of it, but given some ambiguity, we decided to go for it and access it by a back road. Some wrong turns later, we drove over a cattle guard and found the wash that leads into the canyon. The boys loved running around on the slickrock and the canyon took some really cool narrow twists and turns. We were also thankful for the aluminum ladders at all the drop down points given that we didn't bring a rope (hmm, tour company?).
Eventually we decided we better turn around given the approaching darkness; we also wanted to do the short hike to the Horseshoe Bend overlook on the Colorado. So, driving along back out, remember that cattle guard? There was now a padlocked chain over that thing, essentially trapping us in the native reserve where the canyon is. Surprisingly, neither Ben nor Bryan nor anyone panicked. Ben and Bry inspected the chain, padlock and fence, decided on the easiest way to tamper with it, and proceeded to use Ben's tools to take a bolt off the metal fence post, detach the supports and slide the chain up and over.
It would have been perfect, and mostly unnoticeable, but fences have a way of expanding once they're detached so they simply could not reattach the top strand of barb wire, nor one of the supporting metal beams back to the bolt. Oh well. It will be very obvious that someone tampered with the gate, but not likely traceable to us.
Unfortunately, the delay meant it was too late to hike to Horseshoe Bend so we set up camp at Powell, made burgers for dinner, and went to bed. Great day!
We had shopped for food the day before and made a plan to drive to Page/Lake Powell and camp for the night before heading to the National Parks of southeastern Utah the next day (Thank you Utah State for opening your national parks, we love you!!) We figured this would both to break up the drive for the kids' sakes and there were some cool slot canyons near Page that we wanted to check out.
The drive seemed really long and we got to Page fairly late in the afternoon. Ben was using Google Maps to navigate to Waterholes Canyon. The website of this canyon suggested that it was only open to commercial tours, or at least most of it, but given some ambiguity, we decided to go for it and access it by a back road. Some wrong turns later, we drove over a cattle guard and found the wash that leads into the canyon. The boys loved running around on the slickrock and the canyon took some really cool narrow twists and turns. We were also thankful for the aluminum ladders at all the drop down points given that we didn't bring a rope (hmm, tour company?).
Eventually we decided we better turn around given the approaching darkness; we also wanted to do the short hike to the Horseshoe Bend overlook on the Colorado. So, driving along back out, remember that cattle guard? There was now a padlocked chain over that thing, essentially trapping us in the native reserve where the canyon is. Surprisingly, neither Ben nor Bryan nor anyone panicked. Ben and Bry inspected the chain, padlock and fence, decided on the easiest way to tamper with it, and proceeded to use Ben's tools to take a bolt off the metal fence post, detach the supports and slide the chain up and over.
It would have been perfect, and mostly unnoticeable, but fences have a way of expanding once they're detached so they simply could not reattach the top strand of barb wire, nor one of the supporting metal beams back to the bolt. Oh well. It will be very obvious that someone tampered with the gate, but not likely traceable to us.
Unfortunately, the delay meant it was too late to hike to Horseshoe Bend so we set up camp at Powell, made burgers for dinner, and went to bed. Great day!
Day 31: Scottsdale, AZ
Post-wedding rest-day.
Someone had to drive Caleb to the airport at 4am...but that someone was not me (Thanks Ben!) Someone had to drive my parents to the airport at 10am...but that someone was not me (Thanks Ben!) Someone had to drive my sister-in-law to the airport...and that was me and Bryan. We did sleep in, drove her to Sky Harbour, and spent the rest of the day chillaxing with the nephews at the Millers. We watched Micah ride his older cousin's bike, played T-ball in the back yard, and took the nephews out for frozen yogurt with their Grandma Miller while Ben and Kim did some shopping.
(SLP note: My nephews already have fabulous early phonological awareness and love playing with words, especially Micah but little Nathanael tries (2.5 years old and already alliterating "Auntie Hannah Panna" and laughing at his own silliness. I think we can thank Raffi and Willaby Wallaby song for that.) Anyways, moral of this story is that it's easier to rhyme then combine...I'm not sure my explanation of "froyo" was very engaging.)
They were very enthralled with their "magic spoons"; when dipped into cold yogurt, Micah's turned from white to purple and Nathanael's from white to blue. Why, we wondered, did Nathanael's turn white so fast when he put it in his mouth? Wise Grandma felt his forehead...temperature? No, couldn't be. His spoon must just be more sensitive...Wrong! By late afternoon the poor little guy was complaining of a sore ear, burning up, and dozy as could be. Poor little mite.
Someone had to drive Caleb to the airport at 4am...but that someone was not me (Thanks Ben!) Someone had to drive my parents to the airport at 10am...but that someone was not me (Thanks Ben!) Someone had to drive my sister-in-law to the airport...and that was me and Bryan. We did sleep in, drove her to Sky Harbour, and spent the rest of the day chillaxing with the nephews at the Millers. We watched Micah ride his older cousin's bike, played T-ball in the back yard, and took the nephews out for frozen yogurt with their Grandma Miller while Ben and Kim did some shopping.
(SLP note: My nephews already have fabulous early phonological awareness and love playing with words, especially Micah but little Nathanael tries (2.5 years old and already alliterating "Auntie Hannah Panna" and laughing at his own silliness. I think we can thank Raffi and Willaby Wallaby song for that.) Anyways, moral of this story is that it's easier to rhyme then combine...I'm not sure my explanation of "froyo" was very engaging.)
They were very enthralled with their "magic spoons"; when dipped into cold yogurt, Micah's turned from white to purple and Nathanael's from white to blue. Why, we wondered, did Nathanael's turn white so fast when he put it in his mouth? Wise Grandma felt his forehead...temperature? No, couldn't be. His spoon must just be more sensitive...Wrong! By late afternoon the poor little guy was complaining of a sore ear, burning up, and dozy as could be. Poor little mite.
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