Goin' West

The last two weeks of October, Heidi and I took a trip out west. We went to pick-up Katie who was done with school at BYU in Provo, Utah, and to visit Sam and his family in northern California, and Brian and his family in eastern Idaho.

We took Katie along also, since she was preparing for her mission for our church (more on that in another blog) and it was an opportunity for her to visit family before leaving. Her mission is 18 months, so it was good for her to visit family before leaving.

We flew into Salt Lake City, Utah and then drove to California, up to Idaho and back to Utah. We put over 2,600 miles on a rental car! 

Disclaimer: Though this was a two week trip, we had a tight schedule, and aside from visiting only a few friends, this was pretty-much a 'family' trip. There are so many friends that we wanted to visit, but time just did not allow. So please don't get your panties in a wad if we came near where you live and didn't visit. 

Here are some photos of our trip:

Heidi, Katie and our friend Jen. We stayed our first night with Jen and her family. They used to live near us here in Delaware. They live in Utah now, near where Katie went to school at BYU. They really helped her out (and Heidi and I) many times. Katie hung-out with them several times while she was in school. 

 Kristina (14) and me (3 days older than dirt). I taught her in church when she was 5, 6, and 7 years old. She tells me that I am the only one allowed to call her Kristy- Jo, her full name is Kristina Josephine.

 Olivya, me and Elizabeth. I also taught Olivya, many years ago. Olivya's full name is Olivya Robin, and whenever I would say her middle name, she would say 'tweet-tweet'.

On our first full day, we crossed the salt flats in Utah and drove across Nevada to Lake Tahoe, California. Real scenic, huh?

 The speed limit is pretty high, but it really doesn't make this scenery pass very quickly, since there is so much of it!

 Ah, wonderful Wendover, Nevada. This town straddles the Nevada-Utah border. It's just here for the gambling.

 The sign says 'Beverly Hills'. Not the one I am used to in California!

 Ah, Battle Mountain, Nevada. When you see the big 'BM' on the hill, you know you are there.

We wanted to show Katie all around the area we used to live in northern California. She was only nine months old when we moved to southern California. So the next several pictures are from the places we visited with Katie so she could see where we lived and visited.

 Breakfast at Heidi's restaurant in South Lake Tahoe, California. Ah back to our old stompin' grounds. We have eaten here several times over the years. We stayed in Tahoe on our second night.

 Katie Carnivore showing us what she ate for breakfast. Katie loves meat, and during this trip, made up for having Ramen noodles and tortillas and cheese in college. I think one of the best parts of the trip for her was eating real food. 

 Group shot in front of Heidi's. Sam drove the 4 hours or so to come up and stay with us in Tahoe, and spend time with us the next day before we all headed to his home in the Bay Area. Sam's wife and kids were still visiting relatives in souther Utah, so it was convenient for Sam to come up.

 At 'Suzie's Beach' in Lake Tahoe. Sam photobombing. We call this Suzie's Beach or Lollipop Beach after our family coming here a lot when we lived in the area.

 Sam and I in the foreground shadow, and Heidi and Katie at the shore of the lake.

 The water is a little low, to be expected in October after a long dry summer. This isn't Delaware water... it's clear here!

 Group shot at the lake.

 On the road to the summit of the Sierras.

 Me in the photo this time. The weather was great here.

 Oops, almost lost Katie... just kidding.

 At Echo Summit I took the family over to Echo Lake.

 Katie sitting on the wall of the dam at Echo Lake.

 Katie and Heidi enjoying the view of the lake.

 Yep, low water here too.

 Heidi and I at Echo Lake.

 We drove down to the campground we used to have when we rafted on the South Fork of the American River. Our rafting company was named Gold Rush River Runners, and this was always know as 'Gold Rush Rock'.

 Another photo-op at the rock.

 Sam standing on Gold Rush Rock.

 Posing with the new owner's wife in the campground. We sold the campground to her and her husband in the early 1990's.

 The 'flower rock' on Lotus Road near our campground. When the kids were small, I would stop here and let the kids sit on the rock. It's behind a fence now, but still there, and still painted the same.

 This is James Marshall Hospital in Placerville, California. This is the hospital all five of our kids were born in. James Marshall is the one that discovered gold on the South Fork of the American River in 1848.

 We even showed Katie the house we lived at while living in Placerville. Of course it wasn't painted this ugly grey color.

 Close-up of the house and trees. We planted a lot of the trees. They sure are big now.

To get ready for her mission, Katie had to attend the  temple.  She can do this at any of the 141 temples in the world, but we chose the Sacramento Temple because it is very close to the area we lived in northern California. This temple was not here when we lived here. (There are 15 more temples under construction and 14 more announced)

 Kodak moment at the temple.

 The steeple of the temple.

 Group shot before going into the temple.

 Katie in the temple gardens.

 Family shot with fountains coming out of our heads. Thanks Sam.

 Katie by the fountains.

 More posing.

Brother and sister.

 Father and daughter.

 Mother and daughter.

 After the temple. These are some friends we lived near in Placerville. We haven't seen them for ages.  The one in the middle, is Yvette and her mom, Linda is on the right end. I used to tease Yvette a lot when she was a little girl.

 We left the Sacramento area around 11 p.m. and drove to Sam's home in San Jose and arrived in the wee hours of the morning.

We then went to Monterey on the coast to play tourists. We stopped here at a Mexican restaurant that was right on the ocean. Sam and his wife, Amber have eaten here before, so he knew right where to bring us.

 After lunch, we took a walk on the jetty to find the sea lions that we could hear from far away.

 Here are some.

 And here are a bunch more!

 Something nibbled on this guy a bit.

 The End...

... of looking at sea lions.

 All those dots out there in the bay are kayakers.

 A shot of the marina.

 Looking back at Monterey from the marina.

 A mural on the side of a building.

 We then drove down the coast to on famous Highway 1, the Pacific Coat Highway to Big Sur to see the redwoods and enjoy the coast.

 Ya don't find scenery like this in Delaware!

 Warming up at the fireplace in the lodge at Big Sur State Park.

 In driving around in San Jose, we passed Netflix headquarters.

 We also went to a park where Samber ( Sam & Amber) come with the kids.

 We were there early in the morning and the train wasn't running yet.

 They have a carousel too!

 They have lots of paths in the park too. I liked this bush so I took some photos of it.

 Here's a close-up of the flowers on the bush, I don't know what kind it is.

 I think this guy has been waiting for the train for quite awhile. Actually it is just before Halloween, so they had decorations all over.

 This is Los Gatos High School and is used for exterior shots in several TV shows like Glee and others.

Sam works at Apple, so he took us there for lunch and a tour of his office and the campus.

 In the cafeteria after lunch.

 Sam's office and desk set-up.

 Gotta pose at the sign in front of the main building like all the Asian tourists do.

 Another day we went across the Golden Gate Bridge to show Katie some of our favorite spots north of San Francisco.

 Here we go crossing the bridge.

 The view of the city from across the bridge.

 The bridge and city in the background.

 That's Alcatraz Island and prison.

 Bridge photo-op with Katie and Heidi.

 Another one with Katie and me.

 We went to Muir Woods National Monument, a redwood day-park.

In Muir Woods.

 Me in the redwoods.

 Tall, tall trees.

 Yep, they go clear up there.

 This one was falling down so I had to hold it up.

 Katie helped hold it up too.

Posing with the big trees.

 My turn to pose.

 Katie at a hollow log.

 Katie breaking the rules by being on the wrong side of the fence.

The End...

... of visiting Muir Woods.

We drove up famous Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway, to an overlook to see the ocean from the ridge top and came across these painters.

Katie on a WWII bunker on the ridge. Me in the foreground taking the photo. Hang loose.

The view looking south. San Francisco is in the far background.

Looking north along the coast. On that far point are some cabins we used to stay in when we lived in northern California.

Katie breaking the rules again.

Looks like the end of the world. Heidi and Katie taking in the view.

Heidi and I at the overlook.

Katie and me.

We almost lost Katie again.

Here are the cabins we used to stay in. They come with a broom and a wood stove. You just bring all your camping gear. There are plywood bunks in each cabin. There are about 10 cabins and they are part of Mt. Tamalpais State Park. There is a beach and tide pools. Also a hot spring at low tide. When there are big waves, the spray will reach the cabins. Also during big storms, you can feel the vibrations of the waves crashing on the rocks.

You have to take a private road to get down to the cabins.

No Parking, except Heidi. When you reserve a cabin, they give you the combination to the lock on the gate. It keeps the 'visitors' out.

Just north of the cabins is Stinson Beach. Famous for white sharks eating surfers.

Katie and me on the beach.

Those are the cabins in the background between Heidi and Katie.

See, the sign says 'please don't feed the great whites your surfers'.

We drove a little farther north to Point Reyes National Seashore. The Earthquake Trail is one of our favorite places here.

The San Andreas fault runs right through here and triggered the great San Francisco Earthquake.

This fence moved 20 feet during the earthquake.

We stopped in a little town named Point Reyes Station for gas. A little pricey.

Coming back down south to Samber's at night. The Golden Gate Bridge.

Hangin' out at Sambers.

Evelyn playing with her toys in the backyard.

One of the days we went to San Francisco. Katie is standing in front of the houses shown in the beginning of the TV show Full House. They are called the painted ladies.

Driving up a San Francisco hill. That's Samber's car in front of us.

Driving down a San Francisco hill.

We visited Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world.

The cable cars go right past here. Amber and Ev about to look at Lombard Street.

Pictures at Lombard Street.

With Amber and not me.

With me and not Amber.

A car driving down Lombard Street.

From the bottom looking back up.

Following Samber to Fisherman's Wharf area. That's Alcatraz Island there in the bay.

The End...

... of parking the cars so we can walk to Fisherman's Wharf.

Tanks full of Dungeness Crabs. These are a real meal. Not like the dozen of so Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs it takes to get your fill.

Sunny day + family + clam chowder + sourdough bread bowls = a great lunch.

Katie and Eleanor.

A photo-op with Alcatraz Island in the background.

A street vendor gave Ev this balloon animal.

Oh boy, more sea lions! These are the San Francisco variety.

A double-decker carousel on Pier 39.

Grandma Heidi bought Ev this knitted cap.

At Ghirradelli Chocolate Factory.

Yum! A Vat-O-Chocolate.

Taking a breather by the mermaid fountain.

An old ship docked at the wharf.

Samber's house.

Katie and Ev playing in the backyard.

Ev hot-doggin' on her trike.

Going for a loooong, slooow walk with Ev.

Checkin' out a bug.

All I need is my stroller and my bear.

Katie and El hangin' out.

Happy girl.

More hot-dogging' on the trike.

Heidi's brother, Gene lives near Sam. Gene, his wife Jeanette, and boy, Dylan came for lunch one day.

Time for chow!

Dylan folded a pair of pants from a dollar bill.

Dylan had fun sweeping the patio. We were'nt gonna stop him.

Heidi and Dylan playing finger games.

I'm getting Ev with candy-corn fangs.

One night Samber had a work masqurade party to go to, so we babysat.

Ev liked wearing the mask.

Another walk.

Yep, an orange tree in the front yard.

While we were visiting, Sam blessed Eleanor at church.

The Menasco Family.

Eleanor in her blessing dress.
Heidi made this blessing dress.

One of the things Katie definitely wanted to do on this trip was to go camping in the redwoods. When Gene came, he brought his camping gear so we could go camping. Yep, all this has to fit in the car.

We went camping at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, about an hour from Samber's house. This is California's oldest state park, established in 1902.

View of our camp. Comes with a table, fire ring and a critter box.

Another view of our camp.

Ev enjoying her camp chair.

Now she is checking out the critter box. You store all your stuff in here to keep the critters out- raccoons, mice, little girls, etc. No bears here.

Samber's tent.

Sam and El at the campfire.

More of the campfire.

Our tent. A nice big cabin tent. Thanks Gene!

Heidi and Amber made pulled pork and cut up vegetables at home for these foil dinners. They were yummy!

Sam and El.

Just hangin' out at the campfire.

Amber and El at the campfire.

The inside of our tent.

Hot water pot on on the fire for hot chocolate.

Amber getting things ready for the night.

Group campfire shot.

Making hot chocolate.

Looks like El ate too much.

Ev up on a redwood stump in the morning.

Grandma Heidi helping Ev off the stump.

Katie babysitting again... and I helped.

Ev eating her oatmeal for breakfast.

Ev filling her pockets with pinecones. Is she gonna be left-handed?

Packing up in the morning. Yep, it all fit.

We took a hike on the Redwood Trail before leaving.

Nice wide trail in the redwood grove.

Ev crawling through a hole in the redwood tree.

Picture by a fallen redwood.

This was a tall tree.

The tree goes on and on.

That is the Santa Clara tree in the back there. It is the largest tree in the forest at 17 feet across.

If there is a fence, ya gotta climb it.

Katie at the base of a burnt-out redwood. Redwood bark is fire-resistant, so if part of the tree burns, the bark tries to grow around the burn.

A wider shot of the burnt-out redwood.

Time to stop for a drink.

The Mother of the Forest tree. 329 feet tall.

Another picture of the Mother of the Forest. Diameter 15 feet, 3 inches. Circumference 70 feet.

The Father of the Forest. Diameter is 16 feet, 10 inches. Circumference is 66 feet, 9 inches. 250 feet tall.

So tall you can't even see the top.

Goodbye Big Basin.

While Samber headed home, we headed to Santa Cruz to show Katie around.

First, we stopped to walk on the Santa Cruz Wharf.

On the wharf with streamers on the light posts.

A Kodak moment in front of a little boat.

We ate lunch at one of the seafood restaurants on the wharf.

Yep, more sea lions. These are of the Santa Cruz variety.

Katie and a little birdie friend at the end of the wharf. Way in the distance on that point is the Surfing Museum.

That's the Santa Cruz Boardwalk along the shoreline in the background.

Ma and Pa.

This is picture #1 of a poor-man's panorama of the boardwalk.

Here is picture #2 of a poor-man's panorama of the boardwalk.

Near the boardwalk, with the wharf in the background.

The End...

... of walking around Santa Cruz.

This old lighthouse is the Surfing Museum. Lots of photos of famous surfers and some big surfboards too.

A natural bridge in the rock in the distance.

This picture is taken from the Surfing Museum with surfers, the wharf, the boardwalk and Santa Cruz in the background.

Surfing right off the point.

A little windy.

Ev eating and wearing chocolate on the driveway while we pack to leave.

I gave Ev a ring pop just before we left for our long two-day trip to eastern Idaho to see Brian and Brittany. I know Ev liked it, don't know if Amber did.

Ev and me, time to say goodbye.

We drove over the Sierra Nevada mountains and and ran into some snow.

We stopped at the rest area at Donner Summit.

I don't think anyone will be having picnics today.

Actually a low pass in the Sierras.

Snow sheds for the railroad. They use these so they don't have to continually plow the tracks in the winter.

Donner Lake. On the far side is Donner State Park, the site of where the California-bound pioneer Donner Party was snowbound the winter of 1846. This group had many members die of starvation here and some others resorted to cannibalism to survive. The snow at the time reached 15-20 feet deep.

We drove over Donner Summit, and east through most of Nevada and stayed overnight in the little town of Elko, Nevada.

Here is a picture of our room in Elko. The next day we drove north to Idaho and arrived at Brian and Brittany's in the afternoon.

Brian and Brittany both attend school here at BYU Idaho. They live across the street from the school in these apartments. We are going to campus to get the Menasco tour.

On the way to campus, we pass by a water tank. Signs? We don't need to obey any stinkin' signs!

Group shot on campus.

The father-son photo.

Heidi all bundled up. It was pretty cloudy and cold.

One of our first stops on campus was tour of the gardens.

Don't feed the students.

Family photo.

Katie posing on the porch at one of the little buildings in the gardens.

Brittany and me in an archway.

The campus apple orchard. They have tons of varieties of apple trees. The building there is the Apple Orchard Museum and has a chart of all the trees in the orchard.

This chart shows where all the variety of apples are in the orchard. When it is apple-pickin' time, you can buy the variety you want.

Another group picture on campus.

The temple is just down the street from campus.

Some of the landscaping in the gardens.

Nice grove of trees here.

Some newer landscaping around campus.

Yep, Cecilia is really in all the pictures of stroller.

They have this huge auditorium on campus.

The End...

... of the tour of campus.

We walked into town a few blocks to eat dinner. On the way Katie ran into one of her friends she met in New York a few years ago. She and her family live in the same area of Pennsylvania that Shelly does- and they know each other. Small world, Katie knows everybody.

Dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

A day or so before we arrived, the heater went out in the apartment. The maintenance people were switching-out heaters anyway, so came and installed a new one.

Brian standing next to his old heater.

The view from the front door.

While here, we went to the Rexburg Temple.

Just down the street from their apartment.

Temple and Brian.

Temple and me.

At the front door of the temple.

Me in the picture.

The spacious kitchen and dining area in the apartment.

They have two cats. This one is timid.

This one is curious. Yep, one eye. Arg!, a pirate cat!

Cecilia napping.

Staring at grandma.

Computer playtime.

She is awake!

One of the days we went to the movies. Cecilia slept through the whole thing.

We went out to eat at a pizza buffet on our last night in Idaho.

We all drove the four hours south from Idaho to the south Salt Lake City, Utah area to Brittany's familie's home. We all went to get Cecilia blessed.

No trip out west is complete without eating at In-N-Out Burger! We stopped here for lunch. We took two cars and that is Brittany's brother and his fiancé on the right. They live and school at BYU Idaho also.

Heidi and Katie having lunch.

Heidi and I at lunch.

Burger, check. Fries, check. Shake, check.
Life is good!

Brian looks full from lunch. This is the car Heidi's mom, Clara (Gaga) gave Brian.

Cecilia with her blessing dress on.

Cecilia in her blessing dress.
Heidi made this blessing dress too.

Brian having refreshments after the blessing.

Time for more family pictures.

Cheese.

Dad, mom and baby.

Grandma and Cecilia.

Most of Brittany's family

The last night of our trip we stayed at a hotel near the airport and woke up to snow.

Katie and Heidi on the long plane ride back to Delawhere.

Heidi and I on the plane.

We had a great time visiting family and showing Katie all around. We didn't get to go all the places we wanted too, or visit all our friends. But we did what we could with the time we had.

The End...

... Really.