Almost Home---draft

Bar J Wranglers - I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE---draft

Mt. Owen?---draft

Nauvoo---draft

That Special Day---draft

Birthday Girl---draft

Boyd meets Owen---draft

Muddy River---draft

Beautiful Country---draft

With minimal stopping we crossed the great plains. We choose to go through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. I served my mission in Texas. piggy backing a needed Walmart run I grabbed a pint of Blue Bell Ice Cream in Amarillo. And yes, we made it there while it was still morning.

James served his mission in the Tulsa Oklahoma Mission. I took in parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. We drove through Oklahoma to stop in Hominy. We decided the trees have grown a lot over the last 13 years.

I borrowed this picture from: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/82269499

A war party on the northwest hill...in silhouette.

Which way...

It may not have been the middle of the trip. Or, even the point of no return. However, it is the continental divide. This is the line separating water as being bound for the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico.

I once heard a story that animals will instinctively stay to their side of the divide....what is poor Boyd to do?

Southwest Style---draft

Close your eyes. Okay, that may not work, unless you can read with your eyes shut. I'll start again.
In your minds eye picture what comes to mind when you think of "Southwest Style".

Do you see horizontal lines of varying red, brink, clay, blues, and greens? Maybe accented with sharp turns and parallel shapes? After a drive through the painted desert I am beginning to understand why.

Grand Canyon

Mom and Dad didn't hike down to the lookout.

Boyd was having difficulty sitting on James' shoulder due to the wind.

How do you describe something you can never see all of? Emily said, "It was a big hole with very many colors." "Mucho Grande" adds James. All agree, we would go back again. Actually, it was Boyd's second time to the Grand Canyon.

On they way back to the RV park from the North Rim a group of bison decided to cross the road in front of us to get to the watering hole. One of them stayed in the middle of the road acting like a crossing guard for the others.

Breakfast is served.

Our first official time someone was expecting us was breakfast with Aunt Mickey. We where late. Those hills aren't easy to climb in the motor home and trailer.

 Nevertheless breakfast was served with a side order of family time. What can get better than that,
 in addition to Mickey Jo and Jerry we got to meet Dan's children, Abby, Josh, and Emily. Dan was getting ready for Scout Camp.

And Emily...made a new Emily friend.

To See What He Could See

The mountains of West Wendover, NV allowed a brief glance of the white landscape ahead. Upon reaching the summit we received a view stretching out before us, The Bonneville Salt Flats.

 I found the view to be impressive.  What thoughts were had by members of the Donner-Reed Party taking their "short-cut" to California?

Thoughts emerge about the properties of salt, and analogies contained in the Scriptures. Did God use the salt to perserve this valley for His people to tempre, prosper and become the choosen of the final dispensation? 

What Does Salt Taste Like?

Boyd is day dreaming about becoming a speed cow.

Do you think the Salt Flats Speed Racing association will let him join?

Or, maybe he will just sit back with a salt lick and watch a movie.