Crump Family Reunion 07 7/23-25/07

Granite Flats Campground
We gathered at Granite Flats up American Fork Canyon for our annual family Reunion. Many thanks to Dianne, Wayne and their family for setting us up in a great spot. Above is the dining spot, we had a ball field where a couple of tenacious Kickball games were played and many sore muscles were earned. In between was a nice creek that was home to a grand water fight. Fish stories were shared, not many caught. A broken camper window on Stan's truck, a great FHE on our pioneer ancestors was shared, about 30 Harry Potter books scattered and devoured by many was seen, and a nice rainstorm that failed to wake me from my nap as it flew by all happened in a wonderful 48 hours. The food was great and the company was better.

Timpanogos Cave Hike
On Tuesday morning, many of us got tickets to hike and tour Timpanogos Cave. Maureen and I huffed and puffed up the mountain trail to the cave entrance. It took us about 40 minutes to hike the mile and a half. Jen Christensen, my niece told us when she was a ranger taking tours there 10 years ago, she could hike it in 20 minutes. Maureen and I were pretty tired when we got up there.

Cooling off in Middle Cave
We seemed to get more out of the cave tour this time. Maybe it is because I didn't have a bunch of kids to herd around inside or my memories of the tour have been stored in dead brain cells. Anyway,it was nice and cool inside the caves. We got the full Martin Hansen treatment, legends and recognition as some of his ancestors. I still can't get over the bravery of Grandpa and the others to explore those caves with the primitive tools, candles and having to drop over 100 feet by rope and for Grandpa Martin to drop that 100 feet at 73 years old. This was really a fun activity and I got my cardio in for the next month!

Grandma EJ's Birthday 7/25/07
Wednesday morning we got up and said goodbye to the Crumps at our reunion and drove to Ogden to celebrate Maureen's mother's (Grandma EJ is what we call her) 77th birthday. After visiting JB and EJ at their home in Ogden, we drove up Ogden Canyon to a park in Huntsville to celebrate with the family. We had a great dinner at the park and many toured the David O McKay home there in town. Happy Birthday Mama, we love you!

The newest in the Dickson Clan!
Zion is growing! And never is it said more true than in JB and Elaine's family! Here are the two newest in the family. The baby on the left is Jada Herring, Camille's fifth child and the one on the right is Caleb Rasmussen (Sarah's first). These two kids are number 43 and 44 great grandchildren of JB and EJ. Oops, I forgot, number 45 was born last Sunday. Makel Gardner who is the daughter of Melinda (Witt, Karen's daughter) and Chad Gardner, see how fast they come....if you blink, you might miss one.

ABQ Trip, Cape Final Trip, Strawberry Days

THE 2007 STRAWBERRY DAYS GRAND MARSHALL!

On June 23rd, Maureen and I jumped in the car and drove to Pleasant Grove to see Mom and Dad ride in the parade as Grand Marshall. It was really great. We met Stan, Holly and their kids on 200 South to watch. It looks like the lady was as excited to take my picture as I was taking Mom and Dad. Dad said he needed a little more leg room in that rumble seat.

EDEN GETTING READY TO "JUMP"
Our trip to ABQ was alot of fun. We went down 7-13 thru 7-17 to help Dane and Emily and Eden with some house projects. We worked in their yard getting ready to lay Flagstone, put in a sink and fixtures in their bathroom, and Maureen and Emily sewed curtains for thier windows.

SEW LIKE THE WIND!!!

Flagstone already layed by Dane

HIKE TO CAPE FINAL, NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON
JULY 4, 2007

Maureen and I on the 3rd and 4th went out to the North Rim. On Tuesday the 3rd we drove out to Kanab in the afternoon and visited the Visitors Center. I had no idea there were so many movies made out there.....There were over 200 made in the hayday. We had dinner then drove up to Jacob's Lake and stayed in a cabin. The next morning we drove out to the North Rim and did the Cape Final Hike....again something we had never done before. Here is Maureen resting in her normal resting position. I think that Cape Final was the best views We have ever seen of the Grand Canyon, we could see all the way up to Lee's Ferry and the Vermillion Cliffs to the north and all the way around the elbow of the canyon to the South Rim. It was really great...too bad Maureen missed it looking into the orange bandana!!

Looking southwest toward the elbow of the canyon

We're Gonna try this Blogging stuff!

Our Trip to Calf Creek and Capital Reef

Our first stop on the way to Calf Creek was at Kodachrome State Park. Maureen and I have never been there so it was a new experience for us. Here is Maureen at Chimney Rock....How many "Chimney Rocks" are there around the world??

We then drove up to Calf Creek Canyon and found a spot to camp. We then hiked up Calf Creek Canyon toward Calf Creek falls. Here I am on the hike up the canyon.
When we made it to the falls, it was really beautiful and cool where the hike was quite hot. We were visited by a lone crow looking for a handout and no other hikers at the falls. Here is Maureen at the falls. We both waded in the water and had fun.

We took a nostalgia trip up to the Fremont River country and went fishing in the upper Fremont above Mill Meadow.....no fish, but we had a good time seeing that country again. Then we stopped over by Teasdale and I found some acreage near there that looked pretty interesting for down the road. Here is view from the acreage...wouldn't a house be cool on that spot!!
We then camped over in Capitol Reef for the night and did some other things we had never done before....even though we had been to Capitol Reef a million times. We drove the scenic-drive and hiked down to the "Water tanks" Here is Maureen resting at the "tanks" (Rock formations)
Any way, we had a great time! Maureen and I figured if we are going to be empty nester's, we better start doing stuff on our own.....More fun to post later.