Friday, June 12, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Mt. Rainier - Washington State - continued!
All day Friday was spent again on and around Mt. Rainier. We stayed just outside the Mt. Rainier National Park at the Alta Cyrstal Resort. Our first stop was a short hike to the grove of the Patriarchs. On a little island of a river, these 1000+ year old trees live. These trees have survived hundreds of years of forest fires because of the moat protection of the river surrounding the island. To get across to the island, we had to cross a cable bridge. Then we hiked what was reported as the "longer yet easier" trail to the Silver waterfalls. It was a good thing we took the "easy" hike, because we found the path to be steep and tough. The photo below is us before the Silver waterfall.
Our next stop was to go to Paradise (Paradise point to be exact, the best view of Mt. Rainier in the park). However, the road to paradise was blocked by a landslide from our side of the park. It is depressing to be told you can not go to paradise! However, in a non-spiritual context, we found we could get to Paradise by driving a long way around out side of the National Park. So we did! Just to find out that Paradise was literally in the clouds. About two miles from the visitor's center, we drove into the cloudy fog with below minimum visibility (we could not see anything!). Visibility was about 15 feet! However, Darlene and Ron made good use of the gift shops. With the approach of evening, we finally left Mt. Rainier National Park and drove to Seattle so that Ron could attend the meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine on Saturday and Sunday.
Our next stop was to go to Paradise (Paradise point to be exact, the best view of Mt. Rainier in the park). However, the road to paradise was blocked by a landslide from our side of the park. It is depressing to be told you can not go to paradise! However, in a non-spiritual context, we found we could get to Paradise by driving a long way around out side of the National Park. So we did! Just to find out that Paradise was literally in the clouds. About two miles from the visitor's center, we drove into the cloudy fog with below minimum visibility (we could not see anything!). Visibility was about 15 feet! However, Darlene and Ron made good use of the gift shops. With the approach of evening, we finally left Mt. Rainier National Park and drove to Seattle so that Ron could attend the meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine on Saturday and Sunday.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Mt. Rainier - Washington State
Well, Ron and Darlene are now off to the Pacific Northwest. We have two days of playing tourist prior to Ron's dental meeting (American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine) in Seattle. Our first day, Thursday June 4, consisted of driving around Mt. Rainier. Mt. Rainier is a 14000 foot plus semi-dormant volcano. We enjoyed the sights (forest and other assorted greenery with majestic mountain majesty), sounds(rushing water of rivers), and smell (like the little pine tree shaped car freshers). More tomorrow!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Visit to Pioche and Ely Nevada
Darlene and Ron got away for an early Memorial Day weekend to Eastern Nevada. Thursday morning, we flew Trinidad 25125 from the home airport in Glendale, AZ north to Nevada. Our first stop was in Mesquite Nevada for re-fueling. Then a quick hop up to the Lincoln County airport in Panaca, Nevada. We were met by Darlene's parents, Lee and Peggy Hone. Then we launched into our first adventure.
We enjoyed lunch together at a pizza/sandwich shop in Caliente, Nevada. We explored Kershaw-Ryan State Park followed by a drive into Rainbow canyon. Darlene got a lot of use of her digital camera. Ron mostly shot video (in HD!). In the evening, we arrived in Pioche, Nevada and we stayed in the home built by Darlene's grandfather. Lee was kind to provide us with the use of his 4x4 diesel truck.
For the next adventure on Friday morning, Ron and Darlene drove north to Ely, Nevada, where Darlene grew up. Our first stop was Cave Lake. Then we drove up the mountain behind the lake. We turned around at the turn off of the Success scout camp when it started to snow. We did spot some elk moving through the area. The photo below is of the stream that flowed by the road we were driving.
Surviving the storm, we drove into Ely. Darlene showed Ron the highlights of the town: where her home was (another structure there now), the church meetinghouse (still there), her grade school, her high school (now the middle school), the old post office (now a house), Pete' fast food drive-in (now closed), the train station, the airport, the fairgrounds, the whore houses (this is Nevada!), and the historic downtown area. We attempted to see the large open pit mine, but the road was closed due to construction activity. We spent an hour in the local museum. At the museum was a copy of the pre-historic bear skeleton found in a local cave. One of the team members that found and explored that cave was Darlene's brother, Dennis Hone. We drove back to Pioche.
The adventure for Saturday started by heading south down to Panaca, Nevada. We attempted to visit some of Darlene's relatives, but they were not home. Therefore, we explored Cathedral Gorge state park. Darlene played here as a child. She remembered it being a lot bigger then! She tried to ditch Ron in the caves, but he was wise to her. Darlene did buy a yellow cap in the park's gift shop. The photo below is from just outside the caves.
The rest of Saturday was the family picnic. All four of Peggy's daughters with their families were in town for the first time in a while. Originally planned for a picnic up in a canyon, the threat of thunderstorms moved the event to the local park. The children played on the grass, vast quantities of food consumed, Penny kept trying to take Darlene's camera (identical equipment), and plenty of conversation shared.
On Sunday, we were lazy until time for church. We attended the Pioche Ward along with Peggy and Lee (just sacrament meeting). It appeared that the majority of ward members took the opportunity of the holiday weekend to go away. For the adventure of the afternoon, the four of us with Lee driving, drove up a very curvy and steep mountain road to the top of Highland Peak where a lot of communication towers and similar equipment was located. Lee had worked on the site years before. A beautiful view at about 9500 feet. The same altitude we would be flying home the next day.
Monday, Memorial Day, was anti-climatic. We got up, drove to the airport, took off, and returned to Arizona. A fun trip.
We enjoyed lunch together at a pizza/sandwich shop in Caliente, Nevada. We explored Kershaw-Ryan State Park followed by a drive into Rainbow canyon. Darlene got a lot of use of her digital camera. Ron mostly shot video (in HD!). In the evening, we arrived in Pioche, Nevada and we stayed in the home built by Darlene's grandfather. Lee was kind to provide us with the use of his 4x4 diesel truck.
For the next adventure on Friday morning, Ron and Darlene drove north to Ely, Nevada, where Darlene grew up. Our first stop was Cave Lake. Then we drove up the mountain behind the lake. We turned around at the turn off of the Success scout camp when it started to snow. We did spot some elk moving through the area. The photo below is of the stream that flowed by the road we were driving.
Surviving the storm, we drove into Ely. Darlene showed Ron the highlights of the town: where her home was (another structure there now), the church meetinghouse (still there), her grade school, her high school (now the middle school), the old post office (now a house), Pete' fast food drive-in (now closed), the train station, the airport, the fairgrounds, the whore houses (this is Nevada!), and the historic downtown area. We attempted to see the large open pit mine, but the road was closed due to construction activity. We spent an hour in the local museum. At the museum was a copy of the pre-historic bear skeleton found in a local cave. One of the team members that found and explored that cave was Darlene's brother, Dennis Hone. We drove back to Pioche.
The adventure for Saturday started by heading south down to Panaca, Nevada. We attempted to visit some of Darlene's relatives, but they were not home. Therefore, we explored Cathedral Gorge state park. Darlene played here as a child. She remembered it being a lot bigger then! She tried to ditch Ron in the caves, but he was wise to her. Darlene did buy a yellow cap in the park's gift shop. The photo below is from just outside the caves.
The rest of Saturday was the family picnic. All four of Peggy's daughters with their families were in town for the first time in a while. Originally planned for a picnic up in a canyon, the threat of thunderstorms moved the event to the local park. The children played on the grass, vast quantities of food consumed, Penny kept trying to take Darlene's camera (identical equipment), and plenty of conversation shared.
On Sunday, we were lazy until time for church. We attended the Pioche Ward along with Peggy and Lee (just sacrament meeting). It appeared that the majority of ward members took the opportunity of the holiday weekend to go away. For the adventure of the afternoon, the four of us with Lee driving, drove up a very curvy and steep mountain road to the top of Highland Peak where a lot of communication towers and similar equipment was located. Lee had worked on the site years before. A beautiful view at about 9500 feet. The same altitude we would be flying home the next day.
Monday, Memorial Day, was anti-climatic. We got up, drove to the airport, took off, and returned to Arizona. A fun trip.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Weekend Visit to the Petrified Forest National Park
On a spur of the moment decision, we quickly packed our car and headed out to explore more of Arizona. Our goal is to find a road or location that we have not visited together. We took US 60 east thru Apache Junction, Superior, and into Globe. Then we headed north into and out of the Salt River Canyon into Show Low. We found a Hampton Inn for the evening stay and then had German food at the Munich Haus restaurant in Pinetop. The next morning, after discussing our options, we decided to explore the Petrified Forest. The Petrified Forest National Park is one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of over 200-million-year-old fossils. After a three hour drive back towards Phoenix, we stopped for chinese food at Sam and Son in Scottsdale. Let's add that up: mexican food Thursday with Jody and Jennifer, german food Friday, and chinese food Saturday -- the weigh-in on Monday is not going to look good.
Jimmy Buffett Concert in Phoenix
Jimmy Buffett returned to Phoenix for a concert for the first time in several years. Jody and Jennifer Johnson drove over here from California to attend the concert with Darlene and Ron. After a fine mexican meal at Crazy Carlos, we headed to Cricket Pavilion for the event. The seats were not the best, but we did have seats and did not have to sit in the lawn. We did enjoy the music and the usual craziness found at a gathering of Parrotheads.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
MOTHERS DAY
On Saturday, May 2nd, Theora and Darlene drove Theora to Phoenix for an appointment. After the appointment, Katie, Barbara, and Kaitlin joined us for a yummy lunch at Applebees. Then fast forward to Saturday, May 9th, Carol called -- Ron and Darlene had a fun chat with her. She was out shopping for a Tux for Anthony. David, Theora Mae, and Nola came to visit later that afternoon and we all traveled over to Grandma Shelley's house. Ron fixed Grandma's computer and we all headed to McDonalds (much to the joy of the two little girls). After eating their dinner, the two little girls enjoyed playing in the hamster trails. While we were there, Steven called and we each had a turn talking to him.
Thank you Steven, David, Carol, Katie, Barbara, Brett, Maury, Scott, Kaitlin, and Bart for wishing Darlene a happy Mother's Day. Darlene received beautiful cards from Theora, Brett & Erin, Barbara, Carol, Maury, Scott, Kaitlin, and of course, Ron. She was also spoiled with beautiful flowers from Ron, Katie, and Brett & Erin. Katie came over Sunday evening and joined us for a grilled chicken dinner (cooked by Ron -- and everyone lived to tell the tale). What a wonderful Mothers Day!
Thank you Steven, David, Carol, Katie, Barbara, Brett, Maury, Scott, Kaitlin, and Bart for wishing Darlene a happy Mother's Day. Darlene received beautiful cards from Theora, Brett & Erin, Barbara, Carol, Maury, Scott, Kaitlin, and of course, Ron. She was also spoiled with beautiful flowers from Ron, Katie, and Brett & Erin. Katie came over Sunday evening and joined us for a grilled chicken dinner (cooked by Ron -- and everyone lived to tell the tale). What a wonderful Mothers Day!
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