Utah Bound

 

Seems it’s time for the annual summer trip to Utah. To visit family, drop Marissa off at EFY, and have a Fam Reunion.

I decided to do some research on a particular spot in Nevada that everyone drives by and looks and says, “What is that junk yard?  What is it for? Why is it there?”  It’s between Reno and Winnemucca.  I knew there had to be a geocache there, so I looked and of course there was!  Along with more information about the place. And that it’s a historic site. And that you can walk the grounds. And that it’s free!

Story goes that a Creek Indian, who was 47 years old parked an old travel trailer in the sagebrush and covered it with concrete and lived in it. For the next 20 years, he continued to add onto it. He added onto the trailer and made many rooms, using old glass bottles to let in light, and using old car windshields as larger windows.  It was three stories, with a basement. He had 5 acres that he covered with “stuff” like fake rock walls built over scrap iron frames, rusted old wagon wheels, car hoods, typewriters and gas pumps. Junk cars were used as berms. Plastic baby doll heads on tree branches, (Our favorite).

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a very strange place, and definitely one that you should stop by and take a look when you’re in the area.

 

 

We went to the Balloon Fest in Provo this year. We always mean to go, but then 5:30 am comes around and the bed usually wins out. Not this year!  It was worth it and we were glad we went!  You get so up close to the balloons! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course the favorite is the Pig balloon and the Smokey balloon.

 

 

Coca Cola had a HUGE balloon there, and we were standing right next to it when they were blowing it up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the kids rolling on the Coca Cola balloon to get all the air out of it.

 

 

The balloons then came back over the field for some balloon games – they would have to either pop another balloon floating on a string, and/or drop a beanbag on a big X in the middle of the field. Whichever came closest won.

 

 

 

 

 

We went to Heritage Days at the Park in Orem. Jacob said he was glad we didn’t have to get water like this anymore, as he was too short and it would always drag on the ground and the water would spill out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course we watched the fireworks at the Stadium of Fire. We changed our spot this year as our normal spot got smaller due to construction on campus and we found a new spot for us.  Right next to the Stadium where you can actually hear what’s going on inside and see all the fireworks, and it’s next to an empty parking lot (cuz it’s the fallout zone) so all the kids play and run around and have fun.  This year we got to hear the Beach Boys concert.

 

 

 

We went to a few museums…….

 

 

 

 

 

Had yummy dinner at our favorite place………..

 

 

Jacob had fun mowing Grandpa’s lawn  (and riding the 4-wheelers around the newly mowed lawn afterwards)…….

 

 

 

Went to a great family reunion and it was fun seeing everyone and catching up…….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way home we stopped at a new museum-like rest stop information area in the middle of Nevada, right before (if you’re going West) the tunnel.  It’s where the two trails the emigrants took met up into one trail.  It was a VERY nice information center, that rivaled museums you would pay for, and this one’s free!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent time with Meghan, and family and had a great time!