The Oregon Trail - Day 16

Great breakfast of Mike McMuffins.  One of his specialties.  Excellent. 

A woman's work is never done.  Rest time consisted of washing clothes, rubbing feet, cutting my sister's hair, rubbing tired feet, repacking clothes, rubbing hurting feet and catching up on sister talk.  What fun.  Oh, and there was the morning feeding of the deer.  This morning the girls and baby buck showed up for fresh veggies.  Note the scar on the doe on the right side just under her jaw.  Several weeks ago it looked like she was gored by a buck and it was very infected.  Kit and Mike nursed and feed her back to health.  Her name is Lulu.  Spoiled babies.  Good thing they live in this huge development where no hunting is allowed or they would be stew.

After the morning of fun and everyone was as rested and full of energy as you can be at our age, we decided that there were just a few things that we needed to see locally today.  Oh so many great things to do and see in the area and we didn't want to miss any of them.  The Crooked River Golf Course where Mike and Kit play is just beautiful and was the site of an old western movie starring Kirk Douglas called The Way West.  This was Sally Fields' first movie.   Nice claim to fame and pretty place.   We might have to watch it just to see how much the area has changed in the last 30 years or so.

The Rex T. Barber Memorial Bridge over Crooked Creek River was a beautiful place and was named for a fighter pilot in WWII who shot down Mozimoto.  He was the guy that planned the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Great history info that I had heard of but had forgotten.  Now it is personal for me and I know Mike is very interested because of his fighter pilot background.

We ate lunch at the cutest little place in the nearby community of Culver - Beetle Bailey's.  The flowers were absolutely beautiful and surprising at this late time of year.  My petunias have been gone for a long time and never were this full and lush.  Maybe it is all the volcanic ash that makes everything so green up here.  My brown thumb is jealous. 



  

The day was just beautiful, clear and moderately cold.  Perfect for a good mountain climb.  Someone else's, not ours.  When we got to Smith Rock State Park, it was covered with what looked like brightly clothed ants climbing up and down on the mountain walls.  Hundreds of them and if you look really hard at the picture of the whole mountain face, you can see the climbers all along the wall on the ground and some up on the top.  We were totally amused watching them.  The range has a rock shaped like a monkey's face and Snoopy.  There was a long fairly difficult hike to see Monkey Face so we decided to just cheer the climbers on and view Snoopy from afar.  Monkeys are not way up there on my list of favorite animals anyway.  

Right near Kit and Mike's house we walked the trail along the Deschutes River to Steelhead Falls.  Steep and many loose rocks and sandy soi!.  I learned to use hiking poles and they really do help you not slide or fall into some place you really don't want to be - like over the edge.  There was one of the locals down there with his dog and wife.  We just couldn't resist taking a pic.  Last time Kit and Mike were near the falls he was diving into the base of the falls and said that he had dived it many times for as long and deep as he could and could not find the bottom.  The place was beautiful, but not any prettier than the sunset from K&M's front porch.  They have a perfect view of Mt. Jefferson right out their front door. 

Marmalade's Side of the Story

When I get all grown up, I think I might be a mountain climber.  They were having so much fun and yelling back and forth to each other and just hanging around.  Nonnie and Aunt Kit were just gasping at how they were climbing straight, smooth rock walls.  How hard could that be?  Or I could be a river diver and wear a kilt.  Either one looked pretty cool.  I bet his legs were cold.  For now I am just happy to be hanging around looking at rocks. 



The Oregon Train - Day 15

This is day five or our RV odyssey and we are leaving Washington and headed back to Oregon looking for waterfalls and the Columbia River along the Lewis and Clark Scenic Highway 30.  We visited the Vista House which was made of marble and stained glass.  It was beautiful and a great view of the Columbia River.  The walk to several beautiful waterfalls made me realize just what poor shape I am in.  I was huffing and puffing like the Mexican train was last night. 

We drove the "Fruit Loop Drive" which was a section of Oregon where there are constant fruit orchards and grape vineyards for miles and miles.  Oregon is just full of wineries and wine tasting places.  No tasting for us.  We are on a mission to get to the mountain before dark.

The Bonneville Locks and Dam was interesting, but probably the most interesting thing I took away from the place was the lady whose job was counting the fish and record what type fish swim through the fish ladders.  Who could have even thought of a job like that.  She sits in a dark room looking at a glass window where all the fish going up the Columbia River at this point have to swim by her window.  She gets a ten minute break every hour and they average out the time with what she has already counted.  Talking about having to drink a power drink every day to stay awake at work.  They also had a fish hatchery and we fed the salmon.  Very cool. 

We left the Columbia River area and headed for Mt. Hood.  The Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood was very pretty.  Supper was very nice and relaxing while we watched as they groomed the ski slope on Mt. Hood and also got to see the sunset on the mountain.   They have skiing year round at Mt. Hood. 

And so our RV trip ended about 9:00p.m. and a total of 1,025 miles!  We saw so many beautiful, interesting things.  This truly is a gorgeous country!

Marmalade's Side of the Story

OK, it is final.  RV'ing is GREAT!!!  Those dogs are the best travel buddies and yes Bella likes me best!

I almost blew into the Bridal Veil Falls in the big wind.  Whee, what fun.  I got to sit on the wall and I felt like I was going to fly away.  That wind surely was messing up my fur.  Uncle Mike even let me ride on the RV dash part of the way.  I bet Rocky and Bella were jealous.

Boppie liked to carry me up the long trail and everybody we saw thought I was so cute.  I could tell because they all just looked and looked at me and didn't even notice that he was too old to be having a baby giraffe in his coat.  They thought he was the best grandpa ever because he was carrying his granddaughter's giraffe.

I surely did have a great time,  but I surely was glad to get back to Aunt Kit's house.  Oh yea, Sidney and Baker, I still like to play with you guys more than with Rocky and Bella.  Don't tell them I said that.  

The Oregon Trail - Day 14

What a beautiful day and wonderful view of the beach while we ate a big breakfast at Wayfarer Restaurant and then a long walk on the beach to Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach, Oregon.  The Sunrise was just gorgeous.  I needed more than that walk to help me get rid of the huge shrimp omelet and Marionberry jelly that I packed away.  I think my jeans shrank when we washed them at Kit's.  Maybe this arid, high desert air has made my thighs swell.  Yea, that is my story and I'm claiming it. 

The coast, rivers and beautiful flowers - especially petunias - that are still blooming everywhere made the trip north to Toutle, Washington to see Mt. St. Helens seem way too short.  We spent the whole afternoon at the Johnson Observatory, which overlooks Mr. St. Helens, some 19 miles across the valley.  It was awesome to see and think of the major eruption that took place just 30 years ago this May 18th.  The damage is still so very evident and just mind boggling to think that we were so close to that much power and recent history.  There is no way you could make me live within 50 miles of that mountain.  While we were there you could see a puff of steam escaping from the dome in the crater on Mt. St. Helens that officials say is growing by some 18,000 dump trucks of rock every day.  Not a comforting thought.  Thousands upon thousands of acres of land are still bare with only fallen skeletons of the scorched forest remaining.  Thirty years seems like a long time except when you are talking about replacing what a major volcanic eruption can destroy in just a matter of seconds.  So much human life lost and so much devastation.

Mount St.Helens and Spirit Lake (right)

The mountain poured out from the middle of the top causing the indention and missed filling up the lake to the right side.  The timber that was blown over and skinned around the lake still floats in the lake and we could see it with binoculars.  Unbelievable.

This picture is from a lookout high above a valley of thousands of acres of what looks like tiny match sticks.  Actually the sticks are huge logs that were skinned and blown over thirty years ago.  A few trees are coming back up voluntarily, but you can see there aren't many.  Weyerhauser has reforested most of the land that was scalped which is not in the national park.  The National Park Service has not reforested their lands.  It has pretty much been left as it was on that day in history.

On the way down the mountain to our camp site we just had to stop at this well known restaurant in the area "19 Mile Restaurant."  It is famous for their cobbler.  Kit and Mike said there was no way we could be this close and not try it.  So, we pulled down into the parking lot with the RV and attached vehicle before realizing that the end of the parking lot was blocked and we could not get in and turn the whole rig around.  In the rain the men had to unhook the truck and maneuver the RV around and back out on the road.  While they were stewing around and trying to get all that figured out, Kit and I went into the restaurant and ordered four servings of cobbler to go.  While we were waiting, Kit mentioned that she saw Johnny come in and then leave.  We could not think what he could be doing and just hoped that nothing serious was wrong with the vehicles.  We were just talking away and enjoying the strange looks we were getting from the locals when we noticed Johnny come back in.  This time we waved at him and he noticed us sitting over in the dining room.  He waved and walked the other way.  About the same time the waiter came over to our table with our order and said that the man up at the front desk had paid for our order.  When we walked up front to the desk, Johnny was standing there with about a three foot tall bag of cobbler.  Thus we went back to the RV with 12 orders of Marionberry and apple cobbler at the cost of $45.00!!  Gentlemen, we had a lack of communication.  We ate cobbler for days and days and more problems with the arid desert air and my clothes.  We still have not seen a Marionberry, but it surely does make good jelly and cobbler.

Marmalade's Side of the Story

OK, so this was a good day in the RV.  Haystack Rock was pretty good.  I don't get to play in the sand very much, but it was very cold.  I was glad to get back into Nonnie's warm backpack.   

I really liked Mt. St. Helens and hearing all those stories and thinking about that mountain just going boooooooom!!!  Looking at the puff of steam coming out of it made my tummy flip just a little bit. 

I got to sit on BigFoot's foot.  We saw him over 20 miles away from the volcano.  BigFoot was really big.  I don't really believe there is a BigFoot, but it made me feel brave anyway.  People put funny things in their yards sometimes.  Nonnie really likes to take pictures of those funny things. 

I look really little on BigFoot's foot, don't I? 

You know I think Uncle Mike and Aunt Kit's dogs are funny.  Rocky is very old, I think.  He moves very slow, but Bella is frisky and lets me sit on her sometimes.  When we went to see things and they stayed in the RV to guard it, they played like they were the bosses.  Can you see Bella trying to drive it and Rocky barking out the directions? 

I got to stay up really late because everybody was playing Mexican Train dominoes and the train kept making loud chugging noises and they kept laughing a lot.  Grown ups get to have a lot of fun late at night.

The Oregon Trail - Day 13

Bop and I got up early and walked down to the ocean.  The trail through the rainforest to the shore was like nothing I had ever seen before.  Absolutely eerie!  It almost looked like the trees should have faces on them or they had been decorated for Halloween. 

We stopped at Cape Perpetua - huge pounding waves in a very craggy, rocky type cove.  Scary place.  Bop was standing just feet from those huge waves.  I was afraid he was going to get washed over by a stray wave.  Oh yes, I am a worry wart! 

We met a young couple who now live in Salt Lake City, but both graduated from BHS in 1997.  I did not recognize their parents' names.  Small world.   They introduced themselves and asked us where we were from because they immediately recognized we must be from Mississippi.  You just can't disguise southern.

We spent most of the afternoon at the aquarium in Newport, Oregon.  We walked through tunnels under the water where we could just look up and on all sides and see the fish swimming around us.  Very interesting.  One of the prettiest things we photographed was the jellyfish.  It brought back horrible memories of a trip to Florida when I was much younger than I am now.  I got in a whole group of jellyfish and got stings all over my legs.  Pain, pain, pain.  That is about all I can say about that!! 

We visited the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse which was built in 1871 and was the first one in this area of the Pacific coast.  Next we moved away from the coast a bit and traveled through dairy/cheese country.  Very different area. 

We traveled all afternoon and listened to the radio broadcast of the rescue of the Chilean miners who had been trapped in the mine for 69 days.  Miraculously, they were everyone rescued safely.  Remarkable.

Marmalade's Side of the Story

Well, I am going to have to rethink what I said a few days earlier about liking this RV'ing.  Today was rough.  Nonnie made me sit on some really scary rocks by the rough water.  Then she carried me all over the aquarium in that backpack and didn't even let me see the fish.  I surely was glad to get to the camp and sit by the campfire again.  And wouldn't you know, I didn't even get any hot chocolate this time. 

I hear Mt. St. Helens is tomorrow.  I can't wait.

The Oregon Trail - Day 12

We were up early and on the road after covering 272 miles yesterday.  We traveled up the Pacific coast and made our first stop at Dunes National Park somewhere near Reedsport, Oregon.  The hike down through the dunes to the ocean was a real dilly of about a half mile.  Because of the mesh in the top of my shoes, I had to stop three times to dump about three tablespoons of sand out of each shoe.  There was little room in there for my toes.  But, the walk was well worth it.  The surf was almost deafening and very high.  The sand was beautiful and snow white. 

We were walking the beach and all of a sudden Mike picked up something on the beach and showed it to Kit.  She gave a squeal and fell flat backward on the sand.  Of course we all thought Mike was going to have to make a fast get away to the dunes to get away from Kit when she finally got herself together.  How would this make you feel?  Longest snake I have ever seen.  But was it really a dead snake? 

As we made our way back over the dunes Kit and I were talking about how nice it is that Oregon doesn't have many snakes.  At that very moment we came upon the following.

Needless to say, we were all doing some jitterbuggin in the sand.  I am sure it was not a bad snake, but definitely not a good one.  It was small, but it was also alive.

After lunch at Mo's in Florence we saw the sea lions on the rocks near the Hecta Light House.  They will winter in the Sea Lions Cave, but were all out in the nice warm sun while we were there.  The surf was just slamming into the rocks where dozens of the young sea lions were trying over and over again to jump up on the rocks to sun with the older ones.  If you look closely you can see them in the water right in the middle of the picture.  The noise from the sea lions barking even drowned out the noise from the big surf.  I would really hate to live near the coast where sea lions live.  It would be like living in a dog pound.  I think they were just barking to hear themselves bark - like a dog we once had.

I don't know if you can see all of them very well, but it really was an amazing sight.

Marmalade's Side of the Story

Today was just about the best yet.  First of all there was no rain since we got to Oregon.  I was beginning to mold from all the rain on the trip to Oregon.  Just look how great I look getting a tan on the Pacific beach. 

After we walked all the way up to the Hecta Light House (I get a free ride in Nonnie's backpack) we took mountains of sunset pictures on the beach.  I don't know who takes more pictures - Nonnie or Aunt Kit.  Anyway, it was lots of fun and I got to watch all the birds flying around looking for little fish, I guess.  Thank goodness they were not looking for little furry giraffes.   Baker and Sidney, can you see me on the driftwood at sunset? 

The best part of the day was camping at a park near the beach where we could hear the waves crashing and getting to sit by the fire and drink hot chocolate.  Nonnie even let me have my own chair and Aunt Kit let me snuggle in her moose blanket.  The only thing missing was my snuggy, buggy Sidney.  I don't think we are ever going to go home.  I miss you, Sidney.  More adventures tomorrow.

The Oregon Trail - Day 11

We all scurried around like crazy folks trying to get everything situated in Kit and Mike's new RV for the  road trip we are about to take up the Oregon Pacific coast.  They have made one trip in the new RV and we are the first guests to get to enjoy it.  It is Very Nice!!!  A bit smaller than the other one, because they wanted to travel so many places where it was almost impossible to maneuver the 40 footer.  This one is plenty big.  Who could ask for more?  Rocky and Bella, Rocky's new travel buddy, made a good foot rest for Kit and me while sitting in the living room/kitchen and cruising down the road.  Just kidding, they were in the best seats in the house. 

We headed to Newberry Caldera/Paulina Peak.  What a mountain goat friendly road up there.  We were not riding a mountain goat, so it was a bit scary looking over the edge into the great beyond!!!  Amazing to look at and think of volcanoes and lava and the next one!!!!   We walked Obsidian Flow (lava from the volcano which had so much silica in it that it turned to black glass and is sharp as a razor).  I was huffing and puffing - being out of shape and up thousands of feet in elevation.  More exciting than the thought of the volcano was riding down the scary, windy mountain road with Bop driving the RV, which he had never driven before.  I don't think he found it quite like driving a bob-cat or tractor.  After a few minutes he got the hang of it.  About half way down the mountain Mike told him to apply pressure on the top of the brake peddle so that it would respond quicker.  Good thing to know half way down!!  I must admit I was a bit nervous coming barreling down that little road ;{

Does this look desolate or what?  Obsidian Lava Flow as far as the eye could see in all directions.

Crater Lake National Park in Oregon was just beautiful.  The pumas fields were not pretty, but very interesting.  Then we saw Crater Lake - WOW!!  Just beautiful!!  This lake is about six miles wide in a caldera (that is like a bowl shaped indention in the earth from a vocano) formed by Mt. Mazama when it erupted some 6,700 years ago, or so.  In the second picture you can see a cone which is one of two active cones which are caused by pressure building up below the water.  Comforting!! 

We ate a late lunch at the Crater Lake Lodge and I do think they have the best hot chocolate in the world.  Of course we were about frozen stiff, starving and they had a huge dollop of real whipped cream on the top.  Yum.  Of course the Lodge was just beautiful with a fireplace about the size of our whole house. 

After the pretty drive along the Umpqua River we spent the night in Sutherlin, Oregon. 

Marmalade's Side of the Story

I think Nonnie likes me keeping up with her journaling while she and Aunt Kit just talk and talk and talk.  They oooh and ahhh about everything.  I even got to sit in the fancy swivel chair. 

The best part about today was getting to see a funny fuzzy thing they called a chipmunk.  Maybe his name is Alvin and he sings about Christmas.  Just kidding.  Ashley and Amber, have you ever heard of Alvin and The Chipmunks?  He could run so fast he looked like a streak.  Nonnie got really excited when she was able to get this picture of him. 

I thought climbing this tree was great after Rocky and Bella had to stay in the RV while we saw Crater Lake.
RV'ing is going to be OK, I think.

The Oregon Trail - Day 10

We woke this morning about 7:00 with Kit telling us that the deer were just outside her door for a little treat.  Wow, there were four big bucks with huge racks - they ranged from 13 to 10 points and ate right out of our hands.  This is what Kit does with the left overs from her garden. 

Then we went to the nearby Alpaca farm.  The Alpaca had the cutest faces and the farm was so beautiful and immaculately groomed.  I think they have over 500 Alpaca right now and they show them in competition.  We got to go out in the pasture and pet them and just loved how soft they were.  Then we went to the elk farm right up the road and got to hear them bellow at each other.  WOW!!  Handsome animals.

We went to McKenzie Pass to The Sea of Lava in the heavy rain.  Not exactly a pretty scene, but awesome at what a volcano thousands of years ago can do and still looks like today.  Unbelievable!  We stopped in Sisters for a short shopping spree and lunch at a Russian Deli.  Nice little town.  We walked up and down and up and down the trails to see Koosah and Sahalia Falls.  Great!!  In the mist we definitely walked off that lunch. 

We spent the rest of the evening and part of the night getting the RV packed and ready for our trip up the north Oregon coast. 


Marmalade's Side of the Story

Sight seeing was pretty good and getting to hang over the edge to see the waterfalls was - well my little heart was pounding again - fun.  Even if it was in the rain.  The Alpaca were OK, but I got really scared when that little baby one started trying to take my favorite red neck ribbon right off me.  It was a real tug of war and do you know they were all talking about how cute that little animal was while I was in a battle to save my neck.  People, what were they thinking?  One of those things even gave me sugar.  Sorry again, Sidney. 

They have been packing lots of stuff into the "RV" all night.  I know I am going to turn into a car seat.  Maybe I'll just stay at home with my Sidney, drama queen, next time Nonnie and Bop get a wild hair.

The Oregon Trail - Day 9

We had a great night's sleep and are on the trail again about 8:15 and of course overcast, but no rain yet.  Of course it did rain a bit later, all the way past Riley, Oregon.  We saw lots more crops along the road again today - huge onions, sugar beets and corn.  Horses look to be a very important part of almost every farm site we see along the way.  Sheep farms are very common and free range cattle ranches, too. 

We traveled 3,349 miles from home to Aunt Kit and Uncle Mike's house in Terrebonne, Oregon.  We arrived in Terrebonne at 2:30 p.m. and love the area they live in.  It is in the high desert area of Oregon.   Aunt Kit's garden is done for the season, but she still has a few strawberries about ready to pick.  It is really a pretty place.  The yard is almost surrounded with rocks they have dug out of the yard.  It is still a work in progress, but looking great and is very evident they have put many hours of work into it.  We could see Broken Top, The Three Sisters, Mt. Washington, Black Butte, Three Fingered Jack, and Mt. Jefferson from Aunt Kit's front porch.  Just beautiful view!


Marmalade's Side of the Story

Are we there yet?  Yea, we are!!!!!  We are!!!!!

Aunt Kit thought I was just the cutest thing.  She has always loved animals and gave me many hugs.  Sorry, Sidney.  I really needed a hug.  Aunt Kit and Uncle Mike have a really nice place, but it has two BIG dogs.  They didn't even mind me being there getting all their hugs.  I like Oregon.  I was glad to get out of the car, but I heard a rumor of another road trip in something they called an RV.  That sounds like something the doctor might order.  I may be in trouble!

Aunt Kit liked the wine bottle Wyne Chyme we brought them.  Go figure.  She seems alot like Nonnie.  She acts wild about flowers and animals and stuff like that, just like Nonnie.

The Oregon Trail - Day 8

What a wonderful morning!!!  We survived the night and it was soooooo exciting.  Great memories and funny stories. 

My hair was sticking up like a rooster comb after wallowing around in that anchored kite all night and getting wet several times and then having it blown dry by the hurricane force winds.  Hair gel does funny things when you wet it then twist around like a spinning top on it for ten hours!  I definitely was a peach this morning!!  I wanted to wear a paper bag over my head all day after seeing my reflection in a rest stop mirror.  Oh well, they did not know me and I was reallllllllly glad.

We got to see the buffalo up very close this morning and also the mule deer before leaving the island.  Our first stop was the local Syracuse, Utah Wal-Mart store.  Tent repair supplies were needed.  Of course I do not need to say that it rained off and on all day as it has for almost a week now.  We saw lots of agricultural crops along the roadside - sugar beets, fruit trees, raspberries.  Lots of wind turbines too.  They were really spinning in the heavy winds.  They must reallllllly be serious about alternative energy around these parts.

Another night in the motel for us at Ontario, Oregon.

Marmalade's Side of the Story

The buffalo were pretty impressive after all.  I felt very small when that thing just looked at me up close and personal.   I don't think buffalo like giraffes very much.  He gave me a loud snort.  My heart (the one in my foot) was just pounding.  Nonnie was excited as well.  She gets excited about most anything.  I am not so impressed with the rest of Utah.  I miss my snuggy, buggy Sidney, but not quite as much in the motel as in the car last night.  No pictures tonight.

The Oregon Train - Day 7

Day 7, Thursday, we woke to a mostly cloudy day yet again and 44 degrees.  Along the side of the road was a handmade sign advertising fresh curds and milk.  I do believe that is a first for me.  Made me want to stop and take them up on some of those curds!    The next sign was one warning us that it was a deer and elk crossing.  I surely was wanting to see one of those elk, but of course I did not.  More rain.

We were pretty disappointed in the Great Salt Lake when we saw the part along Hwy I15.  So we figured we would try to see about the Antelope Island State Park which is in the middle of the Lake.  We really wanted to camp this night and there were no other state or federal parks nearby.  When we drove across the long causeway connecting it to Syracuse, Utah we were sad at how much water had dried up and that the lake might not be around for our grand children's children to see.

We were favorably impressed as we viewed the Great Salt Lake from the Island and decided we definitely had to camp here.  We quickly set up the tent and everything inside and ate so we could spend some time just before dusk trying to see the wildlife. 

True to the pamphlets they gave us, we immediately spotted some buffalo, pronghorned antelope, coyote and huge jack rabbits. 

As we were about to return to the camp site, Bop made the statement that he hoped the tent had not blown away.  Of course, I looked at him like he had lost his mind.  As quicly as we rounded the bend, the tent was not where we left it!!!  It was frantically flapping in the wind with the rain flap flying high like a kite.  The whole tent was on the other side of the camp site.  As we drove up, the young couple across the way ran over and said they had chased it down and put our cooler and ground cover inside the tent in an effort to keep it from completely blowing away.  We wrestled to collapse the whole thing and spent the next hour in the car waiting the storm out.  Finally we got the pieces collected and repaired and put the thing up again.  We had only two choices - spend the night in the tent or the car.  The park gate to the mainland was locked at dark.  No way off the island.  If we did not stay in the tent, surely it would blow away and have water all over everything in it - all our clothes and bedding.  So, it was into the tent at 8:30 for one of the most frightening nights I think I have ever spent. 

Three major storms hit us during the night with heavy rain, 60 mph winds and close lightning and thunder.  The flap was just beating and making the most horrible sound almost all night, but it managed to stay attached.  If we had lost it, the whole top of the tent would have been open to the rain.   Lots of prayers were lifted up from that tent and with the help of the Lord, we both actually got lots of good, sound sleep between poundings.  I just want to add that it is really, really cold when you are in a tent in 40 degree weather and gale force winds.  We need to have our heads examined.  This was right up there with sky diving or something crazy like that.

Don't you think we would have known better, if we had just looked at this dark cloud?

Marmalade's Side of the Story

This was a stinky place at first.  When we first got to the Lake it had a stinky sour smell, but then on the Island it was just beautiful and no smell at all.  The animals were pretty impressive, but none of them had these beautiful spots like I do.  I liked the sound of the coyote's howling the best.  You can hear them on Bop's PlaySport recorder.  I got a little scared.

Then there is the storm thing.  That was really great!!!  How often do you get to sleep in a tent in the storming rain?  It just doesn't get any better than that.  I didn't even get a drop of water on me.  I was smart and stayed in the car and watched the flaps blow while Nonnie and Bop were all huddled up out there in the cold.  Pretty smart, huh?

Til later.  Need my travel rest.

The Oregon Trail - Day 6

We spent the night in Kanab, Utah and headed to Zion National Park early to try to beat the rain that we had been told was coming back in.  And they were right.  Zion was so beautiful and it was Bop's favorite place we have been.    We saw mountains that words cannot describe!

After seeing the whole Park we drove the 124 mile long Scenic Highway 12 that goes from Panguitch to Torrey, Utah.  Again, it was outstanding and so very different from the other places we have seen.  We walked right up to the edge of some cliffs that were 9,600 feet in elevation along the Devil's Backbone Mountain Range.  Baker, that is a very tall place to be looking off of.  Remember it was in the high 30 degrees and very windy and rainy lots of the time.  COLD!  We even got some snow pictures up there.  The first snow of this season fell that day.  When we got to the end of the Scenic Drive at Torrey we decided the weather was too cold and rainy to set up the tent, so again another warm night.  

This is Checkerboard Mesa which  is in Zion Park.  It really did look somewhat like a checkerboard.  Neat!

Not a great picture, but it shows just how much rain and fast rising water there was.  The camp grounds were on the other side and the campers could not get in or out until it went down.  This is along the Scenic Highway 12.  The water was rising before our very eyes just the few minutes we were there and gushing danagerously fast.  Glad we were not camping there!

Marmalade's Side of the Story

We all got out to see great stuff very early.  Nonnie put me out there in the cold to take a picture beside the Kanab sign and look at the pretty pink sunset we saw.  I like that and of course you know Nonnie did too!

Sidney, can you even find me?  Do you know where Utah is on the map?  It was very wet and cold out there.  But look at the next picture.  That was the sun shining on the clouds early in the morning.

Not only did I get to play in the rain, but I also got to act like I was snow skiing.  I hope it snows at mine and Sidney poo's house this winter.  Nonnie got all excited about the snow more than I did.  Time for us to go to bed and see if we can sleep all night.  We ate Mexican late.  Ugh!!!  It was a cool place, Nedra's Too, with pictures of movie stars and Nascar drivers all over the walls.  Aunt Tonya would have liked it because Tony was large on the wall.