Beginning Summer 2015

 

It’s been awhile, but it’s time to update you on our lives.  After Africa, we returned to Happy Trails to recover and get back to normal.  After a couple of weeks, we played pickleball, visited with friends, and just enjoyed the weather.  As people started leaving after a warm almost hot March, the weather became beautiful and we enjoyed all of April, just getting things done.  The flowers were glorious.

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The first week of May, we went up to Sedona for 3 nights.  It rained mostly, but we did get in one hike.  Of course, Sedona is always beautiful.IMG_8415  IMG_8416

 

 

 

 

Had good meals and visited a winery.  Then back to Happy Trails.  In mid May, we went to Broken Bow Oklahoma for our annual family get together.  My sister Gladys and her husband Denny, couldn’t make it because of illness, but my sister Anita and husband, Stan and brother Jim was there.  The condo was nice, but would really have been crowed if everyone had made it. P5170021

   I was really bad and didn’t take any family pictures.  It rained pretty consistently and we played lots of cards and dominoes.  It was fun with visits to Casino and winery, “Girls Gone Wine” Enjoyed the time with family.  Dee and her friend John, came up for one day.  It was great to meet John and see Dee. 

 

Returned from Broken Bow on Wednesday, May 20th, and left for Star Valley on Thursday.  Overnighted in Kanab, then to Ogden to visit our friends, Mike and Nadine. Also visited with Jeff and Lynn Gardener.  On to Star Valley Saturday morning with a stop at Brigham City for their Memorial Day Weekend Tournament.  It had to be moved to indoors. Arrived in Star Valley on Sunday before Memorial Day.

Earliest we’ve been here and it was still in high 30’s at night, but warm enough during the day.  Took the first couple of days to get the lot set up and redo the retaining wall since we had to take it down for the electricity to be input at the end of last season.  We off and on the lot for May and June, and now it’s complete, privacy fence in and hot tub running.

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   We’ve been hiking during this time also.  Our first hike was on May 31st.  Wanted to start short to acclimate us to the altitude, so we went over and redid a portion of the Cedar Creek Hike. Totally different this year since the snow was almost totally gone already.  We only went out about 2.5 miles and then came back for a total of 5.0 miles for the first hike.  Wild Flowers were great, but muddy and I had forgotten the climb.  Creek was really running since we were getting rain every afternoon.

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   Next hike was the Swift Creek hike on June 7th. It was beautiful with flowers. but right at 2.5 miles out the creek crossing wasn’t crossable, so we detoured up Rocky Peak trail for only .5 miles (it was really steep)  Wanted to increase our mileage some from the first hike.

 

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On June 10th, about 8 of us went on our first Kayak trip of the year.  We went to the marsh area of Palisades Reservoir.  Since the reservoir had been around 40% full last year and is at the time of the trip, 80% (now 100%) full, the marshes were not as marshy.  We had to park a lot closer to the road. But the number of Pelicans were unreal.  Pelicans? Yes Pelicans!  Must be lost, no coast here.

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On June14th we again ventured out to the North Fork of Strawberry Creek.  It’s right at 3.5 miles to the lake.  Last year, we couldn’t make it to the lake due to the snow.  We still had snow this year, but made it all the way.  A total of 1500 ft incline, but the last 1,000 ft. was from 2.5 miles out to the lake.  Really a climb.  DSCF0429

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Then on the 19th, we decided on a loop in Idaho. We started off of NF 156 at the trailhead of Deer Creek.  The mosquitoes were terrible, but we just covered ourselves in Off and proceeded on.  It was a challenge finding the trail but with the help of the gps and maps, we succeeded.  The flowers were absolutely gorgeous. But the best of all, at 7.5 miles out, we actually saw 3 beavers in the beaver ponds.  We sat for 15 minutes watching one eat and swim and play. On just the head sticking up out of the water, but the whole thing.  Also, no pictures, but one deer (big doe) and 2 Elk, both doe.  In all it was a great day and hike. 

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  And pickleball today.  I was too too tired, but Bob played for 3 or so hours.  So, tonight dinner with friends at Rocky Mountain Seafood in Afton. 

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