Lake Powell 2016

Nearly 30 years ago, Larry and I bought into a "timeshare" with friends on a houseboat in Page, AZ, on Lake Powell.  We used it well for many years but when we moved out-of-country, we changed our share to 1/4 which gives us one full week every two years.

We truly enjoy and look forward to that week.  For the past ten years, that every two year week has been spent with family and adopted family, Mike and Sue!  Nephew Jimmy, sister-in-law Liz (Scottsdale, AZ), niece Crystal and her husband Doug and children Kennedy and Kane (Kearney, NE), and friend Mike (Phoenix)  have all been with us for the last five trips. Larry's brother Wayne and his daughter Sophi (Portland, OR) have been with us for the last three trips. Niece Karyl and her husband Travis and their children Brady, Dawson and Kealy (Omaha, NE) have joined us for the past four trips.  Friend Sue (Phoenix) joins us for whatever time her work and family obligation schedule allows.  Mutual friend of Sue and me, Jackie (Phoenix), joined us for part of the week this year.  What a crew!!!  We've all been doing this trip for so long everyone now knows what is involved and completely participates in securing the boat once we've beached.  Securing the boat involves digging four big holes on the beach to plant the anchors which are tied to lines to the boat to keep it in place when the wind blows.  You never know when the wind might blow - a lot!  The lake level was rising daily while we were on the lake requiring daily tightening of those anchor lines.  Once again, we have a great crew who all work to keep the 52' houseboat secure - but especially the guys!

The picture below is the houseboat (Castaway Island) moving through "the cut".  The cut was dredged a few years ago allowing a short cut up the lake.  It has become wider and deeper than when first used a few years ago.  Nonetheless, I like it best when we move through it and there aren't other houseboats coming in the opposite direction - it can "feel" a tad tight!

We had lots of toys this trip:  a ski/tubing boat, three paddle boards (FYI: two of them inflatables and surprisingly stable) and five kayaks.  The toys are loaded up top on the houseboat while we travel and the ski boat is towed behind the houseboat.  That is great-nephew, Brady in the picture.

Niece Sophi and great-nieces and nephew Dawson, Kealy and Kane enjoying the view from on top as we cruise through the cut.

We cruised for several hours to arrive at our destination arm of the lake.  We then idled in the main channel of the lake while waiting for the scouting crew, using the ski boat, to find the perfect spot to beach the houseboat.

The picture below is of the kids jumping off the top of the boat while waiting for the ski boat to return to show us the way to where we'll beach the boat.  Great-niece, Kealy jumped for her first time!  Picture below is of Kane and Dawson.

The scout crew found us a great spot that met all our requirements of a great location.  What constitutes a perfect spot: deep, clear water off the back of the boat for using the slide and swimming off the back; good location for paddle boarding and kayaking; good hiking is a plus; and in this instance, high rock walls preventing too early of sun when the sun rises and elimination of sunlight as the day comes to an end.

Nephew Jim and great-nephew Brady had been left in this spot (so no other houseboat would be able to get the spot while the scout boat looked around just a bit more to make sure we had the perfect spot) for about an hour.  It was a warm day.  So, those two and the scout crew had been out in the sun for a while and then immediately go to work digging anchor holes and tightening lines.  Members of the crew were also busy helping pull on lines to tighten them and bringing water to anchor holes to further secure.  Stakes are also pounded into where the anchors are planted for keep them in place in the event of high winds.

Their work didn't end there though!!  Members of the crew began landscaping the beach area including a rock lined path from the boat to the landscaped horseshoe pit area!  This picture shows Doug and Wayne working.

Now, another unexpected plus to this spot was that two different herds of Mountain Sheep came down to the lake to water, just 75 ft. or so from our boat!  It was nearly a daily journey for them allowing us to watch their progress from the front deck of the boat while watching the guys play horseshoes.

So, following the efforts involved in beaching the houseboat, it was time to gather on top of the boat and just enjoy the view and visit.

We have a meal schedule where each family has assigned meals to prepare.  Liz and Jimmy had dinner that night.  Liz had appetizers along with her meal as well as her famous Double Black Diamond drink-of-the-day!!!  We eat well every day on the boat!

The following morning, I woke early, got my cup of coffee and walked up a ways to get a picture of the houseboat.  Beautiful!

There are four bedrooms on the boat along with two bathrooms and a shower.  The boat has a stove with oven and refrigerator/freezer as well as a freezer (for ice) on the front deck and two big coolers on the front deck.  As seen in the picture of Liz and Jimmy cooking, we have a big gas grill on the top deck.

Most of the crew sleep on airbeds or pads on the top deck.  It was always warm during the day (90s) and cooled down nicely at night (high 60s).

How do we survive being on the lake for a week??

Kayaking and paddle boarding...

Playing on the slide....

Horseshoes and those who watch those who play horseshoes....

Swimming....

 I had a hard time leaving any pictures out so I created a collage for some of these candid shots.

I may be editing this blog as I receive pictures from others in the group.  We did a sunset cruise that I don't have pictures of as well as our sunrise trip to Rainbow Bridge.  I'll end, though, with our group photo.

(l-r front row: Kane, Kealy, Dawson.  l-r middle row: Travis, Brady, Sophi, Karyl, Crystal, Jackie.  l-r back row: Jayne, Larry, Wayne, Jimmy, Liz, Kennedy Mike and Sue)

Great-niece Kennedy took this selfie!

Another great Lake Powell vacation!!

I just have to add these pictures.  Larry, Mike, Doug and Travis had nearly daily horseshoe "tournaments" with the younger guys against the older guys.  The younger guys wanted their pictures taken with the older guys when the older guys were caught...napping.

Nephew Jimmy's High School Graduation May 2016

Nephew Jim brought together the White Family in May to celebrate his high school graduation.  Sister Jackie came from Denver as did stepfather Marvin and wife Jennie.  We enjoyed a family gathering at the Jim and Liz White house on the afternoon of graduation.  We lucked out in the Phoenix summer temperature department in that highs that day stayed in the 90s and cooled down nicely for the 6:45 p.m. graduation ceremony.

Larry was the photographer for the picture below.

Huge changes are in store for nephew Jimmy (AKA: Jaime, Jim, James). He was accepted into West Point and leaves Sunday, June 26, to report for six weeks of West Point Cadet Basic Training.  His future includes four years at West Point; a 5th year of what I call leadership training internships; and then, four years in the Army, and who knows where that will take him?  He is excited for the experience to begin.  He is a wonderful nephew and we are all so blessed to have him in our lives - he brings us together!  We are looking forward to joining Jim and Liz and her sister and husband in October to travel to West Point for Parent's Weekend!  We look forward to all of the other opportunities to visit that part of the United States during his four years at West Point.

Next post will be our once every two year vacation on the houseboat at Lake Powell.

April in Nebraska/South Dakota

In April, Larry had business at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology so we flew into Rapid City.  We left our 80 degree Carefree temperatures arriving in Rapid City to temperatures in the low 40s...and wind.  I don't like wind.  I particularly don't like cold mixed with wind.  There is a reason I live in Carefree.  We arrived on April 16, so went out for supper that night in Rapid to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary the following day!  So, technically, we spent our anniversary in Harrison.

The past 34 years have had us living in Battle Mountain, NV; Yuma, AZ; Oroville, WA; La Paz, Bolivia; Cajamarca, Peru; Safford, AZ; Silver City, NM; Thatcher, AZ; Calama, Chile and finally...Carefree, AZ.

I'm so thankful Larry came into my life!!

(l-r: 4/17/1982) brother Jim, sister Jackie, best friend EVER Virginia and after us, best man Brad Munson and groomsman Brad Chase and Larry's brother Wayne.  The two little ones in front are niece Karyl and friend Virginia's son Michael.

We woke to snow on April 17, and headed for Harrison driving through Wind Cave Park hoping to see a buffalo or two.

This is a picture taken west of Ft. Robinson (mentioned later in the post) on our way to Harrison.  The snow melted within a couple of days.

We stayed a few days in Harrison and took one day to be tourists.  We drove 80 plus miles to Alliance to finally see...Carhenge!

Carhenge is described by some as perhaps the strangest attraction in Nebraska!  It is a full-scale replica of England's Stonehenge but is built entirely from old cars.  Carhenge came about after both Larry and I had left life in northwest Nebraska.  Evidently, a local resident, in the late 1980s, decided to build a tribute to his father.  It is built from 38 cars, painted gray and mimics the configuration of Stonehenge.  Needless to say, we can cross that off any bucket list!

From Alliance, we then headed north to Chadron State Park and enjoyed the view drive through the Park.  I have such memories of Chadron State Park.  We went there often when we were small children for picnics and stays at the rustic cabins and swimming at the pool there.  As young teenagers, friend Sue, and I road our buzz bikes the 9 miles from Chadron to the Park.  I bet our parents didn't know.  Good memories.  Chadron State Park was founded in 1921 and is Nebraska's oldest state park.  A trip isn't a trip back to Chadron without visit the Park!  This view is looking northwest towards Ft. Robinson, mentioned later in the post.

We headed for Chadron but not without a stop for a picture at the City Dam.  I remember coming here to fish as a young child and it had the reputation as a place to swim for older teens.  I never did that - serious...no way would I have gotten into that water!  Too scary for whatever reason.  I remember going to the City Dam for my first ice skating experience with friend, Jean, and members of her family.  Do believe I might have broke my tailbone on that experience.  I've never attempted ice skating again!

We then headed to Chadron and drove by the home we grew up in as well as Grandma White's home.  This was a picture from the alley of our home.  The yard had a pear, apple and crabapple tree when we were growing up as well as a clothes line.  Check out the rhubarb plant in the alley!  That was a three bedroom/one bath home.  Grandma's home was much smaller - maybe two bedroom/one bath?

I found this yard in bloom with Grape Hyacinths and Dandelions as we were driving through alleys looking for blooming Lilac bushes, which we found by the way!

The picture below is the view of Chadron looking east.  Chadron was a good small town to grow up in.  Population count has remained stable since I left in 1976 or was that 1977?  Anyway, population remains at around 6,000.

We headed west out of Chadron heading for Ft. Robinson but stopped for a picture of this natural landmark that seems as much a part of Chadron as Chadron does!

Upon arrival at Ft. Robinson, we took the Old Soldier Creek road - neither of us had been on this road before.  It was very scenic and allowed for great pictures of both buffalo and horse herds and pretty Pine Ridge scenery.  Ft. Robinson began in 1874 as a military camp.  Lakota warrior Crazy Horse surrendered here in 1877.  The Fort was also home to African American "Buffalo Soldiers" in the segregated military arriving in 1885 as the Ninth Cavalry.  The Buffalo Soldiers helped build the new post during the Fort's 1887 expansion.

Next stop was a drive through Smiley Canyon. This view is looking southeast towards the State Park.  The picture isn't the best quality but I like it...it almost looks painted?

And then, it was time to quit playing tourists and we headed back to Rapid City for the reason we had come - business.  But, we were able to meet up with Rapid City friends and family as well.

Happy Hour with friends Barb and Buster and Dwayne (the photographer).

Friends Brad and Ann hosted a gathering one evening of Larry's college buddies and their wives.

(l-r: Judy, Sparky, Brett, Miss, Larry, Ann, Brad, Diane and Dan)

We were also able to visit with Larry's father's sister, Aunt Co and his brother, Uncle Richard and wife Aunt Marj.

And then it was time to return home.  May has given us exceptionally mild temperatures allowing us to enjoy life in Carefree outdoors rather than inside with the air conditioner running!  We were sitting on the back porch one evening and noticed the birds were making an odd noise - noise we hadn't heard from them before.  And then, Larry heard a rattle so we slowly moved over towards the 4 ft. block fence separating our yard from the desert, and there was a rattlesnake coiled and rattling because the Curved Bill Thrashers were harassing him/her.  They had a nest nearby.  Soon, Larry was attacking the rattler with a high pressure hose and the Thrashers were joined by a Cactus Wren and a male and a female Cardinal in a team effort to keep the snake from getting into the Thrasher's nest.  Larry's high pressure water assault allowed time for the baby Thrasher in the nest to escape.  The snake, which had crawled up into the cactus, gave up and crawled away.  One of our more bizarre desert critter experiences!!

May takes us to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for a two night visit and nephew Jimmy's high school graduation!!

Larry continues to work hard and I continue to be doing well on the health front!  Yay - Life is Good!!

February Company and Travel/March Company and Events

Mother-in-law, Dorothy, arrived the 1st of February and we left the following weekend to stay at her timeshare in Carlsbad, CA, for a few days of ocean time.  We saw spectacular sunsets, enjoyed walks on the beach and time on the patio just looking.  Weather was perfect.

Family member, Linda, who lives a bit north of Carlsbad, came for an overnight visit while we were there.  It was so nice to see her again after several years!

Upon return from California, Larry's brother Wayne and his daughter Sophi, arrived for a long weekend visit from Portland, OR.

Wayne and Sophi left and Larry's sister Linda arrived visiting from Wichita, KS.

Linda and Dorothy left together in late February.

Friends, Scott and Pat, from our days of living in Battle Mountain, NV, (circa 1979) arrived in Arizona allowing us to meet for lunch and catch up.

We traveled down to see Jim, Liz and Jimmy to celebrate!  He received his official notification of his acceptance into West Point for fall 2016!  Oh my!  We are so proud of him.  His future is the four years at West Point, the fifth year is spent as internships in being an officer and then, another four years in the army.  It will be a joy to watch what happens in his life.

March brought Bruce Springsteen and Peter Frampton to town for a concert on the same night.  Friends, Mike, Pat, Barb and Buster met up with us at a restaurant in downtown Phoenix for food and drinks before the concerts.  They all headed off to Bruce and Larry and I to see Peter.  One of my favorite parts of living in the Phoenix area is all the concerts we've been able to see.

Virginia and Dennis came for a visit from Lake Havasu so the Phoenix friends came up to spend some time with them.

Jim and Jimmy came up to say hello before Virginia and Dennis returned to Havasu.

Larry left for a sudden business trip to Calama and returned in time for Easter.  We spent Easter here.  Easter Sunday we took a walk and the collage below is a collection of all of the pictures I took of flowering plants that day.

Travel plans for April include a trip to Rapid City/Harrison in the middle of the month.  On the health front, I am doing well - yea!  Life is good!