Welcome Scouts!

The scouts from our home ward came to Island Park for their high adventure this year.  While they did not stay with us, we were able to support them a bit. They floated the river twice,

fished,

went into YNP, and ....

enjoyed cooking by their leaders Brad and Todd.

Visit from Brynne's family and a new road at the boat launch!

Brynne, Ivy, Spencer, and Livy, our neighbors from home, were up visiting their family and wanted to float the river.

Ivy is the one in the pink chair.  She was pulled along by one of the kayaks.  There was some question as to whether they would make it under the bridge okay, but as you can see they did.

On our way out of the boat launch we were thrilled to see that the road has been repaired!

I wish I had taken a picture of it last year.  It had worn down badly and had huge potholes that were two feet deep.  A car could lose a bumper on that short piece of road.  The truck and trailer had an awful time negotiating the holes.

There are even drainage pipes under the road.

Chad Bauer, owner of Mack's Inn got some volunteer help to rebuild the road and they just finished yesterday.

 What a great thing for everyone! Thank you, Chad!

Evening ATV Ride to Two Top

Tonight three of us went on an ATV trip to Two Top Mountain.  I had not been there in 35-ish years, and have been looking forward to this for a long while.  Brian and his friend Brent, drove and I rode on the back of Brian's.

 The smell and sight of the flowers in the meadows on the way up was amazing.  The views from the top were a little hazy from fires in Oregon, but breathtaking nonetheless.

  

Geocache under the rock

As I wandered around at the end of the trail, which actually ends before reaching either of the two tops, I stumbled upon a geocache.  When we opened it up there was a bit of history.



There was a nice picture of several people in their riding gear with someone who had since died.  There was a real nice monument to his memory not far from where the geocache was stowed.  His name was Brad Hill.

What a great place for a memorial.  Very thoughtful of people who miss him.  A few minutes of searching on google yielded nothing to tell me about this man.  He was 51.  A mystery for now.

Family Reunion of trees

 On the way back down we saw several groups of pine trees which appeared to be multi-generational.  The ones in the very center were the tallest and some were dead, with a circle around them of shorter trees, encircled around the bottom by little trees.  In between the circles there were trees of intermediate heights.  They looked like they were having a family reunion.

School's. Out. For. Summer!

After 4 days of sleeping, eating, resting, and reading, I am finally among the living again.  Tonight Scott and Brian wanted to fish in the Park, so I decided to go along and do a little hiking.  I was wishing I had brought my bike along but my hike was very nice, just the same.  Since I had not done a bit of exercise since last Saturday when I rode my bike 36 miles, my muscles were a bit off and it took a good half mile to loosen them up.

 While they fished on the Firehole River, I hiked to Fairy Falls along the trail that goes behind Grand Prismatic Spring.

It was a lovely evening.  I saw a few deer and some birds, but luckily no bears.

 

 The fishing was good, so I heard.

We left the river at dark and went in search of a den of fox kits, but it was too dark to get any pictures. We could barely see them in the dark, but it was fun to see what we could of them.

The Moosey Welcome sign is up!

Here is that beautiful Welcome sign that Brianna and Chris had made for the cabin.  We are still not sure of the placement, but at least you can see it now!  Isn't it wonderful?!?!  Thanks, you guys!

A Moosey Cabin Sign

Oh. My. Gosh!  Look at this beautiful sign our wonderful friends, Chris and Brianna had made for the cabin! We can't wait to hang it up.  Any votes on where???

I'm thinking beside the front door. Or on the deck side of the house.  Or beside the new french doors.  Or by the back door.  So many options!  We will post a picture as soon as it is hung.  Thank you so much!!!

Happy Birthday, Coleman!

Cole and his family came to the cabin to celebrate his third birthday and Oh, what a party we had!

His sisters are loaded and ready to go canoeing.

First we went canoeing.  

We even had a picnic lunch on an island in the middle of the river.












The next day we went to Yellowstone National Park.

Bad hair day for this old guy.

All tuckered out.

On the following day we walked on the nature trail and visited the Johnny Sack Cabin.

Cole and his siblings at the Johnny Sack Cabin.

 Along the trail we saw the cow and calf we have been watching for a few weeks now.  The calf was having fun splashing in the water while her mother looked on patiently.

Later, they rode ATVs

In his happy place....

before eating a wonderful cake and ice cream that his mother made for him, and opening presents, finally!

ATVs (four-wheelers) are Cole's favorite thing.

Happy Third Birthday to Coleman.