MTB time trial

The biannual mountain bike time trial was set over a relatively short course this year, owing partially to the fact that the chain broke on the one and only mountain bike we had. When we replaced it (as you might expect from a chain worn enough to break) the chain slipped under pressure because of the extreme wear in the cogs. So climbing in anything but the largest (and thus rarely used) cog was impossible. Each rider was given two chances. In the initial round BAD led with 1:42, followed by SS at 1:46, and KJ in third at 2:03. But in the second round BAD and SS could not better their first round times, while KJ streak to 1:38 to finally claim the family title outright for the first time.

Amazing Race

We have our own family version of the Amazing Race. Three teams compete with a mixture of various families on each team to even up the adult to kid ratio. Team Superstar, which includes SS, AM, and ME dominates to win with at least a 10 minute margin. Could it be our superior GPS skills, our keen eyesight, our ability to unscramble words, our amazing handstands, or our sheer talent at baseball? Probably all of these and more, but clearly...WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!

Beach and Boat

The second day of the reunion is dominated by our time at the Pineview Reservior. We played at the beach and rented a boat for a half day. We use the board to pull a ski tube and wakeboard. Everyone who tries the wakeboard gets up finally, except me. My hands are cramping up just thinking about it again. Getting to be an old man I guess. But everyone has a great time.

Visit to a charmin' family

We had a small reunion of former Tennesseans now living back in Utah. The kids keep getting older...

Descent to Utah

After passing over the Continental divide we began the long slow descent into Utah and the high mountain desert turned more and more into mountains.



We broke from the quickest route to Salt Lake to take Emigration Canyon. A hundred memories come flooding back as we descend: of bike rides, of Ruth’s Diner, of Hogle Zoo and then we are home.





We stop at this is the place monument, now turned into a major tourist attraction. We get out and take pictures of the valley. We have completed the long journey.




We stop at the University Village to take pictures and time seems to have stood still. Only the faces in the playground are unfamiliar. They stare at us with curiosity as we take pictures on the steps in front of our old apartment. Its been nine years since we set out into the unknown from this very place.

Medicine Bow-Pole Mountain

After a long drive thru the Great Plains, slowly gaining altitude to reach the continental divide, we met up with my sister, between Laramie and Cheyenne to go hiking at Pole Mountain. The altitude here is above 7,000 feet and it definitely was giving us a bit of discomfort. We did the Turtle Rock loop, a 2.5 mile hike around a spectacular sandstone fins. ME and AM stayed near the trail head. The trail meadered past by numerous beaver ponds and through spectacular forest. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will let the picture speak for themselves. It was good to breathe the strong free air of the West.


We then stayed at S’s cramped apartment overnight. They are still looking for a house after their move from Rolla, MO. It s sort of like going back 20 years in their marriage to their student days.

Grand Island

We found the Motel 8 of Grand Island to be a far more accommodating place than the one in Liberty.



We pulled out a bit slowly of Grand Island, and we needed to stop to get gas. Apparently the price of gas has increased so much that they need tanks to guard the gas stations.



About 40 minutes from Grand Island we stopped at the Archway Museum, a museum that spans I-80 and uses dioramas along with a headset tour to tell the history of travel along the route. It is located precisely halfway between Boston and San Franscisco. ME got scared early on by some of the rooms that were dark with scary looking stuff, so we kind of hurried through. I think that adults would enjoy it more than kids, and those from the East more than those from the West who are more familiar with the history.



There was a bridge that spanned the Platte River from the Archway side over to the other, which is the side that was the Mormon Trail. I was pleased to find that the Mormon Trail is now a beautiful bike path.