Back to the Back-Country

I drove to Utah last weekend and, bam, jumped straight back into rough hiking.  EDO likes it steep.  At first, I wasn't sure my knees could take it.  But, after three days, they are feeling alright.

Drive All Day

The other day, EDO said to me, "Dad, all the songs we're writing are about driving or drinking."  I thought about it for a moment and realized it was true.  Because the two don't go together, let's stick with driving for now.  We'll have a drink later.  Listen here.

Wendel After the Rain

Last weekend it was snow; this weekend it was rain.  We got about two and a half inches (2.5 inches!) in 36 hours.  When it finally quit this afternoon, I went out to Wendel for a hike in the foothills of the Skedaddle Mountains.  On the way I noticed that most of the flats had turned to lakes—standing water everywhere.  I also noticed a vacant property in Wendel that I'll need to look up on Realtor.Com—looks like my kind of place.

California Tree; Utah Christmas

VSO has fond memories from high school of hunting for a Christmas tree in the Sierras after Thanksgiving.  This year, she didn't want to leave California without one.  So, on Friday, before she and EDO had to hit the road for Utah we went out to find a white fir.  We got distracted by this incense cedar (above) and almost took it:  It would have been the only incense cedar Christmas tree in Utah.  But, after looking around a little more, we settled on this little five-foot white fir that fit inside the bed of the truck (below).  The California tree is now decorating The Homestead.

Bad Day for Bad Weather

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is a major travel day, maybe the biggest travel day of the year.  At 420 Grand, it also turns out to be the day of the first major winter storm for 2019.  We are currently showing seven heavy sticky inches.  I would have stopped the girls—who were here for the holiday—from returning to The Homestead in this weather.  Fortunately, we took the forecast seriously and sent them yesterday. We lost a day together, but they made it safely, and without driving on snow-covered roads.