Directional signs. 8-2020

I love directional signs!

This one was on our road trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I decided we needed one like it at our cabin.

We decided on cities where at least one of us has lived, except Cork, Ireland, and that one got on the list because we cried there.  (Another story, for another blog post.)

                                            The way we did it, was each destination had its own font, and out of the USA signs got their own flag on them.

  

Then the fun part...trying to get each sign to point the correct direction of the city.  It got complicated trying not to leave any gaps, or having two of  the same direction together.

Dean used the 4-wheeler as a ladder, and that worked great, until Miles came out and messed with the park break.  It's hard to get things done with all this help around, but it sure is fun!

  I

We are very happy with how this turned out!

We were so happy with it, that we decided that Bob and Mary needed one too!

Theirs has all the places their kids live, and the missions that Bob and Mary have served, and their birth places, and the couch, where Grandpa spends a considerable amount of time.  I hope they like it!

 

Road trip! 8-21-2020

 On August 19,  I flew out to Michigan.  Our plan...Amanda and I and the kids drive back to SLC, and spend the week at the cabin.  Mike's plan is to fly out Sept 4th, and drive back with Amanda on Sept 11.

One of  my favorite things is when the twins get up in the morning and come snuggle Grandma!

Hanging out in Ann Arbor is always awesome!

And we are off!

Traveling during a pandemic makes things interesting!

Our drive out was great.  Spent the first night in Des Monies, Iowa.  The second night in Laramie, Wy.24 hours of driving.

So here was the plan

 On Sept 4, Mike was to fly out to Utah for a wedding.  That would keep him busy for the 4th.  Then on Sept. 5th, Mike's birthday, we would have a party down at the cabin for our September birthdays, Mike and Livy.  Then on Sunday, Mike was to head up to Idaho to hike the Tetons with his brother Dave, then a fishing trip with his dad.  Meanwhile, Amanda and kids would stay at the cabin with us.  Then Mike and Amanda and kids would drive home around Sept 11.

...then things changed.  Mike found out he actually needed to be in SLC on Thursday instead of Friday.  So Mike bought a new flight.  Amanda would go up on Thursday and Friday, kids would stay at the cabin.....and then things changed...while out on a run, Mike broke his foot!  It was his left foot, and he has a car with a clutch, so things were quite difficult for Mike since Amanda was in Utah!  Mike went to a specialist, and luckily he didn't have to have surgery, but he was in a lot of pain.  He was on crutches, the hiking and fishing wasn't going to be happening.  They had to decide if it was worth it to have Mike come at all.  

Mike decided to come. 

This trip to Utah so far hasn't gone as planned, we will see how this week goes.

The Last Peak!!! 8-14-20 Mount Peale, San Juan county high point

 

There she is....Mount Peale!

The highest peak in the La Sal Mountains, and the highest point of San Juan County.

12,726 feet above sea level.

It is also the highest peak in Utah outside of the Uinta Mountains.

This is home sweet home for the night.  We get to share it with a herd of cows!

Getting all settled in, had our freeze dried dinner, and some hot chocolate.  No fires were allowed up here, so we sat and watched cows!

We started hiking at 7 a.m.  First we were on a steep trail that went through the pine trees.  After that, we were in a steep rocky gully that went on forever!

Eventually we were above where any vegetation was growing.

Finally Mount Peale comes into view. 

(the peak on the left)

Finally making our way up to the ridge.  The ridge was not for anyone with a fear of heights, or fear of falling to your death!

Yep, we climbed that!

Walking along this ridge made for some amazing views in all directions!

All over in the rocks are these little rodents called pikas.  They look like rabbits with no tails.

We made it to the top at 9:20 a.m.

 This is our last county high point to summit!

  It was a long slow hike back down to the car. 

 And just like that, our goal of hiking to the highest point in all 29 counties is complete.

One last look back at Mount Peale, in San Juan County, Utah.

Mount Waas, Grand County high point. 8-13-2020

 Our first view of Mount Waas, it is the far left peak in this picture below.

Moab has some beautiful scenery.

The road getting to the trail head was horrible!  It took forever to drive the 3 miles we needed to on this road.

This is our camp spot!  Unbelievable! I expected red rock, nothing like this!

Checking out the mountains around the area, trying to figure out which one was Mount Waas.

Turns out, Mount Waas was much higher, and much farther than either of the peaks in the picture above.

Our little lake was so beautiful!

(turns out that the peak in the center of this picture is much closer and much lower that Mount Waas.)

So we start our hike, and within the first quarter mile, we come upon this scat.  At this point, we are trying to decide if there is a bear or a mountain lion, so something else in our area.  Made us a little nervous starting out.

Looking up at this mountain, I assumed it was where we were headed.  Nope, not even close!  When we finally got to Waas, we looked DOWN on this peak!

A lot of this hike was on an old mining trail.

We came up over the ridge, and this is our first view of Waas!  It's crazy steep!

So you hike to the top of the peak  that has the weather station on it, and then you have to hike down a steep slope, and then hike up to Waas!  Doing the downhill was horrible!  In the picture below, Dean is tightening up his laces, so he doesn't lose toenails going down this steep downhill!

We made it!  I'm trying not to worry about how we are going to get down from here!

Amazing views.  You can see the city of Moab from this peak.

Remember the mountain I thought we were going to be hiking?  That is the second one in on the left side of the picture above!

We always bring a lunch, and sit at the top of the peak and have our picnic.  At the top of most peaks, there are these stacked rock walls.  Makes for a great shelter while we eat our lunch, because most of the peaks are really windy and cold on top.

Don't know why, but this peak had two survey markers on it.

It doesn't count unless we have taken our lovely posed pictures on the peak!

The peak in the back, towards the left side of this picture, is tomorrow's goal, Mount Peale.  That will be our last of the 29 county high points!

Coming back down, we pass the mountain that on the way up looked so tall.  It has trees growing on it, that should have been our first hint, the peak we were after was way above the tree line!

My shins took a beating!

After hiking for hours, and the temp reading 102 F in town, we took a dip in the Colorado River!  Now on to our last hike, Mount Peale.