Crazy Busy...But So MUCH Fun!

Me and Gary on the bike.

Okay, for those of you who don't know, I only see my husband every other weekend. Our work schedules conflict and blardy, blardy, blar... The long and short of it is that when we do have "our weekend", we like to go and do something fun. This weekend was a complete BLAST!!! We went with our cruising buddies on a long motorcycle ride over the river and through the woods. We didn't end up at Grandma's house but landed ourselves in the "Caribbean of the Rockies" (a.k.a Bear Lake).

Our BUDDIES, the Gardners'

As we left our house in Perry and rode to Smithfield to meet our friends we got talking about life and our future and other stuff. One of the best things about riding on the bike is that we get so philisophical and have such amazing heart-to-hearts.

Mink Creek Valley

Emigration Canyon

From Smithfield we rode to Preston and up through the ever-so-gorgeous Emigration Canyon. I was kind of ridiculous with the camera. I bet I looked funny with camera in hand snapping pictures at anything I wanted. I took several self-portraits at arms length and lots of our friends riding behind us.

The old school/church/house

We rode through some of the most scenic country. There were rolling hills and farms, mountainous terraine, and then finally we came to the spralling Bear Lake Valley. We stopped at this really cool old school/church/house that was all boarded up. {I would love to purchase it and remodel it into a beautiful home, but unfortunately its too far of a commute for Gary and I}.

The very FULL Bear Lake

Bear Lake was really full, only two feet from the top. I was really impressed with how close the water was to the beach-front properties. We rode into Garden City and had lunch at the famous Cafe Sabor. I had thier fish tacos and can I just say YUM!!! Then we were off to ride around the lake.

At Cafe Sabor waiting for YUMMY fish tacos...

After stopping in Laketown for gas and sunscreen {I was too late and now look like a racoon}, we stopped at a friend-of-our-friends' house. She has a little nursery where she sells flowers. Her yard was picturesque with the lake in the background and some of the most beautiful flowers in the foreground. We took a few pictures, but my camera certainly doesn't do it justice.

The Pretty Flower place...

More of the pretty flower place...

Our Mug Shots!

Just one of a million pictures I took on our way
 down the canyon.

It took about an hour to get around the lake, but was so gorgeous and way worth it.  As we made our way back to the main hwy to get us to the canyon, we stopped at the Old Jailhouse Antique store. Gary and I love antiques and it was cool to see some of the stuff they had. There was a "picture opportunity" that was pretty funny and then there was the guys' facination with the bear {don't ask}. Part of the store was housed in the actual jailhouse from the early settlements. It was cool.

Karen and I at First Dam

We got our jackets on and headed down the Logan canyon to head home. The canyon had yummy smells, green foilage, and cool air. We love riding through that canyon. It's truly one of God's greatest creations.

We said good-bye to our buddies at First Dam and decided that we are going to start a motorcycle gang {we've got a motto and everything...}. Gary and I stopped at the Cache County fair before heading home. We walked around the booths and got some ice cream and then headed home. We were tired and sore by the time we got home, but we were happy. Riding always makes us happy!  

GoodBye, BUDDIES!!!

Another Utah Hotspot...well, almost!

If any of you have ever driven to Evanston on I-84, you will have noticed a little hint of evil that lerks along the road. This freak-of-nature experience (much like the Brumuda Triangle without all the mystery) was formed many thousands of years ago. Know as Devil's Slide, this unique geologic formation is a sight to behold. According to my most valuable, reasonable source, Wikipedia, Devil's Slide consists of two parallel limestone rocks that have been tilted by earth movement making them vertical. These rocks protrude 40 feet out of the mountainside. Intervening layers have eroded more quickly, forming a channel some 25 feet wide running hundreds of feet down the mountain. The next time you take the East-bound I-84 past Morgan, take a couple of minutes and relish in the slightly warmer-than-normal sight known as Devil's Slide...

A Wind Cave Weekend...

If you are wondering what to do on the weekend, here is something thats not just economical, but SO MUCH FUN!!!! Just up Logan Canyon in Northern Utah lies one of the best hikes in the state. The Wind Cave trail is about 1.3 miles and is not very difficult. It ends at a large cave/arch/natural air conditioner with extrodinary views. The slope is gradual enough for beginning hikers, but challenging enough for the advanced hiker. This is a trail that you can take the whole family. I took my dogs and nieces who all did very well (although they got really hot on the way back; we had to throw them - the dogs - in the waterfall to cool off).

A couple of things to remember...

Bring extra water for the young'ns and doggies

Plan to be gone at least three hours

Take potty bags for the dogs and kids

"Slow and Steady wins the race."

This is us, ready to hike!

The official first hike of the "Hiking Club"

Jennie, Charly, Marissa, Dan, Kassie, Olivia

Evidently, there is a water leak at the trail head. Luckily, some naughty people made a detour through the weeds. 

Here is the gorgeous waterfall that the dogs played in on thier way back down.  

This is us taking one of many breaks in the shade.

Sorry its crooked.

This is a view of the Crimson trail across the canyon. Logan Canyon is SO picturesque.

Eeffy loves to hike. He kept running ahead and then he would stop to make sure I was following close behind. That's a good kittycat!

Marissa on the other side of a switch back. She and Dan were so good to wait for me.

Another crooked picture, but I made it to the top!!! Who would have thought?

The slow pokes...YOU ROCK!!!

 In the cave...

 Me and the girls

The girls...they had to wait a while for us.

Me and Kassie

Ha ha ha...

We made it! 

This Weekend...

My staycation this weekend...HIKING!!! Where? Windcaves in Logan Canyon. I will post pics on Monday but if you want to come, we are meeting at the trailhead at 9 AM. It should only take about 90 min up and back. You should be back in time for the rest of your day to be fun. Leave me a message if you want to come or if you need directions to get there. I'll take pictures and post on Monday!

Dinner with friends...

Let me preface this little article by saying, "I LOVE MY FRIENDS!!!".  Last night my two besties and I went to Wingers. We all got a form of thier "Sticky Fingers" with the AMAZING BBQ sauce which is, indeed, amazing. So after a couple hours and a ton of calories later I begin to realize that I have three more lunches/dinners this week.

I wish our culture could change socialization to revolve around something other than food. Its not helping my ever expanding waistline! Until that change comes, heres to many more lunches and dinners and a million billion calories.

Long live our GNO's!

A new blog and a new job...

Rub-a-dub-dub,

Three men in a tub,

and I can't seem to see

Why I am stuck

In the deepest rut,

I say "No, its not meant to be."

So here I am now,

Happy as a Cali Cow,

A new blog about me!

I'll write about travel,

and talk to unravel,

We'll just have to see.

A new job, taboot!

To earn more loot,

But not all you see.

For I get to write,

Nothing too light,

YES, t'was meant to be