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Pretty lazy start to the day as my easy bike ride doesn’t start until 10:00 now that the weathers a tad cooler.

Very easy ride just over an hour, followed by coffee at the Windy Ridge cafe.

Wendy’s at the CC so it’s a relaxing afternoon for me followed by a power walk to meet wendy at 16:00.

After dinner on the deck with the usual deer, Mike picks Wendy up and they go to see Thriller at the Egyptian, along with Carol and Angela, all courtesy of our good friends Ruth and Mark. I pass on it, musicals are not my cup of tea, rather stay home and watch the paint dry. Actually golden opportunity to catch up on “Comey Rules” and some other stuff Wendy detests.

Can’t believe Thriller lasts for 3 hours. Fortunately they all enjoy it. Thanks to Ruth and Mark yet again.

 

Off clay pigeon shooting with Mike. Wow, I finally seem to get it, 17 out of 25, my highest score yet.

After lunch Wendy and I meet up with Carol at the Deer Valley cafe for coffee and a chance to catch up.

In the evening Mike’s taking us out to dinner at the Blind Dog. We’re a tad sceptical but it turns out to be a great meal, awesome steak and they even have a Fonesca Bin 27 Port, along with great company. Would go there again.

 

Morning spent packing and loading final boxes to go into Mike’s garage lock up.

After lunch drive over to Mike’s for a short walk around his neighbourhood. Explore some of the local paths that Mike’s never been on. After coffee and Wendy pinching his chocolates we say our goodbyes until March next year.

Final Mexican takeaway from Chubasco’s. I have the Sopes but not as good as the ones in San Diego. Stick with the Burrito next year.

 

Joy, up at 04:00 for that awful drive down the mountain to SLC arirport. It’s bad enough in daylight but in the dark it’s even more daunting. Drop the Turo off at the economy parking lot. All seems to go very smoothly. Would definitely use Turo again but would go for a more luxurious model. This one was very basic and Wendy was uncomfortable on longer trips. Not impressed with a Honda Civic.

Manage to blag our way into the Delta lounge for free. I think she was overcome with the English accent and the cowboy hat.

TSA crap was fairly quick. You’d think after 21 years we would have got this crap sorted. Just think a 7th century barbaric rag head in a cave brings Western civilisation to this sorry state of affairs at airports.

Comfortable flight, exit row seats, to Atlanta. A few of the stewardess’s actually managed to crack an occasional smile.

Got delta lounge access in Atlanta. Great food and even managed to try a free Old Fashioned. Only had 40 minutes in there but next time I thinks we’ll have our dinner in there rather than airline food, even though the meal onboard wasn’t that bad.

Get settled into our Premium Economy seats. How do we know it’s a Virgin flight and not Delta” Simple the stewardess’s are all smiling, happy and obviously enjoy their job. Very comfortable flight. One sleeping tablet and a couple of wines do the trick, get a good 3 hours kip. Fall asleep with a glass of wine in my hand, thankfully rescued by Wendy, would hate to waste it.

Kurt picks us up. End of an awesome3 months in paradise. Just over 2 weeks and we’ll be back. This time Disney with the kids and grandkids.

 

 

 

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Up and out for 10:00 to lead an easy bike ride from Windy Ridge bakery, over Park Meadows – the killer hill – down Round Valley and Back along the Rail Trail.

Wendy’s at the CC.

A quiet afternoon in catching up on some reading – Hamilton.

Then it’s the final 3 episodes of 1883. An awesome cowboy series reminds me of my childhood when all that telly had to offer was black and white Western films or series. Makes you appreciate the American gun culture, where it came from and why it will never be eliminated. Great series looking forward to season 5 of Yellowstone and all that awesome scenery.

 

 

Up early for a hike with Mark. Finally crack how to do an easy hike up Skid Row and along Prospector in under 8 miles. Come back down Jeep Trail which turns it into a 3.2 mile / 450 foot elevation well shaded hike. Added to my repertoire.

In the afternoon Wendy and I volunteered for the Hike For Hunger CCPC event up at the Canyons. Wendy made people sign waivers before being allowed on the Gondola – it is America after all. Then she dished out tee shirts to the participants. I was stamping hands to confirm the person was over 21 and could buy alcohol – politics and religion are a lethal combination of stupidity, especially here in Utah. My badge of office for this onerous task was made out of balloons, grapes and a wine glass. Had I known I would have asked for danger money. A fun afternoon with free ice cream – the best coconut ice cream I’ve ever had – along with popcorn, hot dogs and burgers.

Mike joined us on the plaza, can you believe it was the first time he’d ever been up to the canyons. Then Wendy and Mike called for a CHinese takeaway and I had a Mexican from Cafe Rio – not as good as Chubasco’s, tasty but too sloppy.

A Paulaner, Zinfandel and cognac evening watching “The Good Fight” which has truly lost the plot.

 

 

A lazy day with nothing planned. Wendy has the squatters, probably from some dodgy shrimp from the Chinese.

I got up at the crack of sparrows to go and see the Hot Air Balloon fiesta. It was pretty good with even more balloons than the one in Santa Fe. Yet another amazing feature of the paradise known as Park City.

Wendy was still in bed so I made my own bacon and scrambled eggs. Now that’s a first.

Lunchtime I finally conquered PC Hill and down into Round Valley. Sunny but not too hot.

An alcohol-free evening.

 

Start the day off leading an Easy Hike. Fortunately, it’s cool enough now for a 10:00 start so time for coffee and fake news.

Wendy’s at the CC for the day.

Quiet afternoon. Catch up on my blogs and some reading. Still slogging my way through Hamilton and a Quick Review On American Government.

Pick Wendy up from the CC. Get a brand new black Spyder jumper ($99 in the shops) for $10, but as we had a $10 voucher from the Hike From Hunger it cost us nothing. Amazing.

After ribs for tea on the deck, we watch the Queens funeral from beginning to end.

 

 

An exciting morning as we get our 4th Covid / 3rd booster vaccination. This is the bivalent BA4 and BA5 shot that I’m not sure we are guaranteed in the UK so gone for it here. And yes, it’s free courtesy of our friend’s tax dollars.

It’s a painless experience.

After lunch I go for an easy bike ride with Howard, just 6 miles down the Rail Trail and back.

Watch Outlander in the evening. It’s very bloodthirsty and pornographic. Can’t believe the American Prude Censor has let it go uncensored. There’s hope for this country yet.

As usual, Wendy’s as hot as a depot stove overnight. The typical start of her usual reaction to Covid or Flu jabs.

 

 

Lazy start to the day, followed by a stroll with Wendy up to the library to return my books – Hamilton now on my Kindle, only a quarter way through it.and then around lunchtime Mike and I take two bikes and 4 boxes of our stuff over to his lockup. It’s massive.

Wendy’s feeling awful, very tired and sickly, courtesy of the booster jab. She spends the afternoon asleep on the settee and doesn’t come for dinner at Windy Ridge with H&N. I go on my own. Have my last Pastrami Reuben but no way is it up to Feldman’s standard.

Home for a pilsner and some awesome Ciroc VS brandy – need to buy a bottle to take home.

 

 

Lazy start. Then I take Mike down to Salt Lake to pick up the new Subaru he’s bought his granddaughter.

Lazy afternoon and then we follow Mike over to his garage to store his Corvette and run him back home.

Beef stroganoff for tea along with an alcohol-free evening.

 

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Thankfully a bit cooler today, mid 70’s, and there’s a breeze.

Off out for a bike ride with Howard up to Snowpark Lodge. The killer ride, it’s uphill all the way to Snowpark, I well remember when Bob led this ride 4 years ago. Will I survive? Miraculously I get to Snowpark and check my watch to see if I’m still alive. Fortunately it’s downhill all the way back and the good news is we’re off to the “No Name Saloon”. What a pair of boozers we must have seemed sat outside waiting for the pub to open.

Have a great Pastrami on rye at the “No Name Saloon”, too good to pass on.

On the way back I call in at the CC to see Wendy. Mike’s left us a present there and it turns out to be a giant Apple Fritter from the garage in Kamas, how awesome is that.

Then it’s a quiet afternoon in reading.

We’re off to TGIF and take Mike with us for his first TGIF. Lot’s of friends and acquaintances there but Wendy’s cold as the patio is in the shade.

Back home early, because it’s so cold, and we have the Moose family around our deck.

 

 

 

 

Off clay pigeon shooting with Mike and Maryann.

Then back home for a trip to Smiths.

Mark and Ruth come round for dinner on the patio, a very relaxing evening with ribs, wine and great company.

 

 

Early (09:30) hike with Mark around that trail off Morning Star Drive to see if it’s any good for a easy hike. Apart from trespass (miserable gets – needs a mass trespass) sign it’s a rough and over grown hike not up to easy hike standards.

After lunch we drive over Guardsmen Pass to Brighton, down Big Cottonwood Canyon and then up Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Oktober Fest at Snowbird. It’s packed and inundated with food stalls. I think we’ll give it a pass in further years.

Dinner on the deck with the Deer and then a quiet alcohol free night in binging out on The Good Fight on Paramount Plus.

 

 

Up early to lead a hike around Snowtop. My favourite hike, the views from the very top give an awesome 360 degree of PC and the mountains.

Wendy’s at the CC. Pick her up with the usual supply of food and cakes.

Mike pops round to drop off another of those awesome apple fritters. That’s my diet gone for a ball of chalk, I just can’t resist them.

An alcohol free night with the Good Fight and make a start on 1883.

 

 

 

Apple fritter for breakfast, a great way to start the day.

Rain is forecast and it’s a lot cooler so delay my bike ride with Mike until 10:30. We have a ride down to Cupola Cafe for a coffee, great down hill ride then it’s the long slog back up against the wind.

In the afternoon we pop round to Walgreens to book our free, 5th covid booster, courtesy of the American taxpayer. It’s the new bivalent one, whereas in England they are not using the bivalent vaccine yet.

Mike and Betti come round for dinner, complete with spätzle. Plenty of wine, some bourbon and finish the day off with that amazing baked cheesecake from Wholefoods, courtesy of the CC.

 

 

 

A rainy day. Nothing planned. We step out for a short walk around the neighbourhood and it immediately starts raining. Hunker down for the day with Kindle. Make some inroads into the 700+ pages of “Hamilton”.

An alcohol free night with “1883” and “The Good Fight”.

 

 

Lazy start then off bowling with Mike.

In the afternoon Wendy and I did a stroll down the rail trail.

Evening was more of 1883 and some Zinfandel and Bourbon to make up for all the alcohol free days.

 

 

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09:00 Mike picks me up to do the Silver Lake Mid Mountain hike over to the Town Lift in PC. We stop off at the Montage for coffee, not free this time, need to take Fiona with us to get it free. Nice to hike at a decent pace and have no bitching about the hike – “are we there yet”. It’s a lovely shaded hike, but wow is it hot, we seem to be going through a real hot spell this week and for the next 10 days. No sight of rain in the next 10 days.

Wendy’s at the CC and comes home loaded up with salad and not one but two Wholefoods baked cheesecakes, that were due to go to the pig far – those pigs must be the best fed ever, and yet American bacon is so fatty and you need to wear safety glasses as it shatters when cut. These cheesecakes are to die for.

A quiet night in with Carmenera and Netflix.

Lazy start. Then off clay pigeon shooting with Mike and Marianne.

Back home for a trip to Walmart and Whole Paypacket.

Could have gone to a TGIF Oktoberfest but passed and had an alcohol free night with Outlander. What a hot day and it’s due to get hotter next week.

 

Up early as Joe picks me up for a stroll with him and Mark. It’s a 5 mile marathon up the Rail Trail to the Silly Market, not that we stopped there, and back.

Lazy afternoon. Caught the bus up to PCMR. Plenty of crowds there, some long queues and very hot in the sun. Ideal training ground for Disney so tempted to join one of the 1 hour queues, who knows what for, in the blazing sun.

H&N came round for dinner. A great evening, good food and good company.

 

 

It’s Labour Day which in PC becomes Miners Day. And yes, you guessed it, there’s a parade.

We go with Mike on the bus up to the parade. Can you believe Mike’s lived here all these years and never been to it. The parades bigger and better than Coalville’s but they don’t throw out sweets and goodies like at Coalville, our grandkids would have been a tad disappointed.

Had a walk down to the park for the rest of the activities but it was just too hot.

Lazy night in with dinner on the deck. Awesome.

 

 

Led an easy hike up Dubois and dow Colin’s trail – one of my harder hikes with 600 feet elevation. It’s in the 90’s again. Maximum temperature for PC in September is supposed to be 71 F. There’s just no let up.

After lunch we caught the bus up to Main Street and had a search for a decent PC Tee short. Finally found one and then to top it off saw another in the High West store. Bought both. Called in at the library to take Rigged back and picked up Hamilton’s biography, the one the musicals based on, and Rage by Bob Woodward about life in the White House under Trump.

Tea (AKA dinner) out on the deck and then had a leisurely read. Another no alcohol night.

 

Up not quite so early, 10:00 start to give me time for coffee and newspapers, ready to lead an easy bike ride.

Wow, it’s another scorcher. Stop off for coffee at 5 Seeds and I get my coffee free – how neat is that. For me having to go down to Willow Creek to start and finish it’s an 18 mile ride – good for you.

Carol and Angela come round for lunch.

Then like mad dogs, in the scorching sun, Wendy and I go for a stroll along the Willow Creek trail and stop by the stream for a rest.

 

 

Yet another scorcher.

Off up to Mirror lake for a short stroll around. A really pleasant place and then Wendy has lunch by the Provo River waterfalls.

On our way back into Kamas we learn of the sad news of the queens death from Kurt. I pop into the garage there to see if they have any of their famous Apple fritters left. Alas none left. Apparently you have to order them the day before and pick them up at 06:00, might be some left by 08:00 but unlikely. They inform me our Queen is dead.

https://apple.news/AxcJUCpeESneYUBXb-yTA8w

Call into freshies for a lobster roll – $27 can you believe it – but I’m worth it. Wendy picks up some sushi from Fresh market. Then it’s a quiet afternoon in reading and watching tributes to the Queen.

Tea out on the balcony and as usual the Deer come to visit.

We fly our small Union flag at half mast. A very sad day.

 

 

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Started my day with a hike around Masonic Hill, one of my favourite hikes, with N&H.

Kids played with their friends in the afternoon.

For dinner we all, yes, kids included went around to Mikes for dinner. He’s a brave guy. Had a lovely pot roast and the kids had their dinosaur chicken nuggets and of course ice cream. Kids were pretty well behaved.

 

 

They’re going home today. How will we cope. No noise. No screaming. Just penetrating silence. We will miss them and it’s been great having them.

Fiona goes for a last minute walk and then takes the kids to the park for an hour to burn off some energy.

Sadly the flights been delayed 2 hours but you still have to turn up on time. It finally sets off 3.5 hours late and they miss their connecting flight in Amsterdam. On top of which the entertainment systems not working. They finally get to Manchester 22 hours after leaving here. Whilst I know it must have been the journey from hell with 3 kids but looking on the bright side it was only 22 hours. It normally takes 24 hours to get here.
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I drop the Hertz mobile off and pick up my Howard Accord from Turo. It’s a 2021 model in immaculate condition; pickup was easy although he was 15 minutes late; sadly no apple car play; only very basic; comfortable; easy to drive.

Back home to the deafening silence.

 

 

First full day of the peace and quiet, the silence is deafening. Wot no daughter-in-law, wot no grandkids. I’m sure we’ll start to miss them.

Have a grand tidy up and then a much cheaper shopping trip to Smiths.

Wow it’s hot.

R&M pick us up to take us to the Egyptian Theatre to see the heavy rock band Ambrosia. First we go down to a reception for the Pharoe members. Free drinks always good news. Can you believe there’s even a tunnel under Main Street to the theatre. Great to see Sheree there it must be over 3 years since we saw her. Will always remember her kindness to us when I broke my femur she’d come round with dinners for us – only in America.

Then we’re off to the theatre. We’d never been to a heavy rock concert and it was a tad worrying when we sat down that Ruth handed out earplugs. Anyway we survived although my Apple watch did get distressed at the noise level – turned my hearing aids down. A great evening with awesome company, always a great time with R&M and a whole new experience.

 

 

Set off on an exploratory hike with Joe up to the two lakes above Jeremy Ranch – Flying Dog trail – having finally found the start point. Turns out to be 5.5 miles, all up and then all back down. Lovely hike, plenty of shade but too far for an Easy Hike on top of which the lakes are no more, more like two sad depleted ponds. Not even a duck would be seen dead in it. Not a patch on my memory of it nor my 2017 photo. No doubt it’ll be blamed on climate change. Joe survives and we finally get back to the car.

Lazy evening in watching Purple Heart. Quiet a good chick lit happy ending film, best of all is the music and the singing from Sofia Carson – really liked it so download all he albums. E

 

Start off leading an early morning Easy Hike around Masonic Hill by way of a change I go anti-clockwise.

Lazy afternoon and then Wendy and I drive Mike down to Salt lake to pick up his Corvette which has just had a nose job done on it.

Then we’re all off to Manila’s Greek Restaurant for dinner. Great food. An alcohol free evening.

 

Lead an easy bike ride from PC Marc down to the White Barn, then to the canyons and up that long grind to the cabriolet car park, back up to the Rail Trail and then back to the PC Marc. A great varied ride.

Wednesday night we’ve been invited out to dinner at Betti’s with Mike, Joanne, Buzz, Tom and Karen. Great food, wine and company. Really enjoyed it.

 

It’s moving day as we leave 130 Yonex Court where we’ve been for 4 months and onto 167 Dunlop Court, back to our old resting place. We’re renting Tina and Neils – many fond memories of them – home via Tina’s son. Sadly Neils passed away so Tina rents the home out. We’re also staying there April, May, July, August and September next year. It’s a lovely comfortable home.

Mike comes over to give me a hand with the removal, so glad he did as lugging all our stuff in boxes was pretty exhausting and an extra pair of hands was a blessing.

We all had a Chubasco takeaway for tea. Then was a Paulaner and Carmenera evening in our new abode. Fortunately we’d got most things unpacked and organised. Just two suitcases left to unpack tomorrow.

 

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Wendy’s off to the CC. I set off for an exploratory walk up Dubois and down Collins Trail. Not a bad walk, plenty of shade with 500+ feet uphill.

Weather’s not too good a tad cool, grey and some afternoon rain so Jasper dips out on a bike road yet again. Quiet afternoon in with the grandkids and then pick Wendy up. Can you believe the CC has no cakes. Mind you we’ve enough in the freezer.

An alcohol free night. No wonder I hardly slept.

 

 

Lazy start.

Then it’s clay pigeon shooting with Mike. Got a tad wet.

After lunch Wendy and Fiona go shopping to Walmart, with Esther, whole I look after the remaining two rug rats.

Fiona and I take Jasper for a short bike ride.

Mike comes round for dinner. He’s delighted with the birthday photo we’ve framed for him. Of course he can’t come without some food, this time it’s enough homemade peanut butter cookies to feed the neighbourhood.

 

Early start to the day as we’re off to Hoggle Zoo. By the time we’ve herded the kids it’s a 09:30 start.

It’s a lovely little zoo, we’ll laid out and just enough of the important animals to keep the kids happy. At least during the morning most of the animals were active, it was only after lunch that you got to see less of them. Hardly saw anything of my favourite the Red Panda. All in all a good day the kids loved the splash park and play area as well and were well behaved, although like us they got a bit hot and tired towards the end. 4 hours in that heat is more than enough.

In the evening we go out for dinner with N&H to the brew pub. Burger was good but a poor choice on the menu, very trendy and noisy.

 

 

 

Joe and I go for an early morning hike around Round Valley.

Lazy afternoon and some of Mikes great ribs for tea. Along with a great Pilsner and some red wine.

 

 

Up at the crack of Sparrows to lead an easy hike around the RTS trail.

After lunch we all catch the free bus up to Silver Lake to give the kids a free ride down on the ski lift. The kids love it.

Take Jasper for a short bike ride.

 

 

Up early to lead a bike ride from Maxwells to the White barn with Fiona. Not exactly an exciting ride but a healthy turnout.

Wendy and Fiona take the kids to the library.

After lunch we take Jasper for a short bike ride down the Rail Trail.

Then it’s off to the Kamas Lions gun club with Mike. Fiona’s going to give clay pigeon shooting a try. Mainly because it’s a reason to escape the warring kids. Mike’s got a 20 gauge shotgun that’s slightly lighter and with less kick for Fiona. On her first round she get’s a bit dejected as she only gets one. But, the tuition and a blacked out pair of glasses to deal with her left eye dominance pays off, in round 2 and she gets 10, including everyone of the last 5. She loves it and will no doubt come next time she’s here. Even singing the praise of it to Kurt and Wendy. Tells her she needs to try it.

 

 

Lazy start. Finally get all the kids ready, like herding cats, and then we’re off to bowling at Heber with Mike and Joe. All 3. Kids love it. I can see when I get back home I’ll have to start taking Beatrix with Jasper and I.

After bowling we’re off to Chicks for lunch. Fiona’s heard about it and is looking forward to trying it. Utah scone and coffee for me, everyone else has a great meal too and no one knows where the kids manage to scoff it all. Beatrix even tries a burger and woofs it down.

Drop everyone off at Silver Lake so they can take the kids a ride down on the free lift. Then Fiona and I take Jasper a ride down to the White barn in the blistering afternoon heat – must be mad.

An alcohol free night for me.

 

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Wendy went off to the CC for the day.

Our walk up to Stuart falls never materialised so I explored RTS Trail for an easy hike. Not too hot and quite an easy stroll.

Wendy gets Jasper a great bike from the CC, we take it back along with the girls bikes when they leave. Sadly the weather means he doesn’t get much chance to ride it.

 

 

Up early for a trip out to the parade at Coalville. Easy to park up and we get our usual spot outside the petrol station – regulars. Kids just love it. Bags and bags of sweets, as the kids scurry everywhere to retrieve the copious sweets thrown, including a beach ball and Fiona even gets another tee shirt. As Jasper says “the best day ever”.

Then we drive to the Park City library for a water fun day with water slides and other amusements. Free food, free drinks, free books and free beach balls. Amazing. Just one of the many reasons why we love Park City.

Then it’s back home for Fiona to share the stash of sweets the kids got at the Coalville parade.

What a fun filled day we have had.

Lazy afternoon and get into the book “Rigged”. Difficult to assess the independence and truth of it but if even a fraction of the conspiracy against Trump by the democrats, press and big tech is true then it’s truly worrying.

Mike comes round for dinner, complete with his giant awesome tiramisu and a bottle of limoncello he’s made. It take ate least a month to mature and tastes awesome, what a bite it has. Fiona loves it to. He must be mad to come to the war zone, but just loves being with the kids.

 

 

 

A rainy sort of day.

Take the kids down to Walmart for a treat as a reward for good school report and gold star.

 

Wendy’s off to the CC. I go on a walk with Howard. It’s another one of his bucket list items, a walk from Sundance up to Stewart Falls. It’s a pretty tough walk due to the trail being so rough. Uphill all the way to the falls and then thankfully downhill all the way back. Still searching for that circular walk that’s down hill all the way.

Take Jasper on a bike ride down to the White Barn and back on the great bike he’s borrowed from the CC. He’s so excited.

In the evening we go out for dinner with Mark and Ruth to Squatters. Then after dinner we go round to their place. The girls watch some chick lit film downstairs whilst Mark and I put the World to rights upstairs. One way of escaping the rug rats. Another great evening.

 

Up early again to lead an easy hike around trailside. That pain in the ass women, who shall remain nameless, but we all know who she is, turns up on the walk. And yes, she’s still a pain in the ass. And what’s more she’s threatening to come on tomorrows bike ride. Sadly Fiona gets the benefit of her inane diatribe.

After the walk Mike and I drive down to Feldmans for an awesome pastrami / corn beef on rye lunch, AKA a Rachel.

Mike is determined to give me 6 bottles of wine from his stock of over a hundred, which considering he doesn’t drink hardly ever goes down. I finally get him to agree to me paying him $10 a bottle. He’s not happy but it’s a great deal for me and hopefully he’s not out of pocket.

Up at the crack of sparrows yet again to lead an easy bike ride around the Swanner Reserve. Thankfully for both Fiona and I the pain in the ass doesn’t show. Afterwards we stop for a well deserved coffee, while Fiona rides back to relieve Wendy of rug rat duties.

For Mike and I its a long 18 mile ride as we had to ride down to Maxwells, do the ride and then it’s the long slog back up to home.

Mike tootles off to the bike shop to get a speedometer and odometer fitted to his 50 year old bike. I’m sure it’s so he can bitch about my speed on these rides.

Wendy and the kids come back from the library but no sign of Mike. Wendy saw an ambulance and police cars tending to someone who had fell off his bike at the crossroads. I drive up to the bike shop to check where Mike his and sure enough it’s Mike who has fell off his bike and been taken to ER.

Wendy and I dash up to ER to see Mike. Sure enough he’s fell off. The eBike he’s borrowed had a flat as he went around the corner and he fell off. Fortunately he was on a bike path and not the road. He ends up with some bruises, stitches in his lip, inside his lip and fingers. Shaken up but not too bad. His sense of humour is intact and he’s as argumentative as always. He was lucky. They discharge him and we take him to our place. Marie Ann pops round to see him, and then despite much protest we talk him into me driving him home and leave his car on Yonex rather than risk driving.

I go shooting with Joe in the evening.

 

Well deserved lazy start to the day after all those early activities.

Jasper and I pick Mike and Joe up to go bowling at Heber. Jaspers on form on his first game. Lunch at the bowling alley, Jasper manages to scoff 4 chicken strips and chips, hollow legs, takes after his mum.

In the afternoon, Fiona and Wendy skive off to the shops so I’m on rug rat duty. Mike hangs around for a while and plays bingo with the kids. Later on Esther decides to have a serious meltdown. Over a hour of ear shattering screaming. Even my watch is warning of danger to my hearing. Then Beatrix manages to tare Jaspers nail off, resulting in more screams from Jasper. Finally get to put a plaster on his finger. I surrender and recall Fiona and Wendy to deal with the trauma.

Wendy and I troop off down to Papa Murphy’s for pizza. What a waste of time they are. After giving my “I keep thinking I’m a customer” speech to a scruffy 10 year old yeti from the kitchen who is allegedly the manager we storm out. Of to Walmart.

Carol and Angela come round for dinner.

 

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Howard picks Fiona and I up for a walk to Blood Lake. It’s quite an arduous walk, we go counter clockwise and at least it’s a scramble up a rock face, better than having to come down it. Certainly not an easy hike.

Took the kids to the fair. What a rip off but the kids enjoyed it. Esther got to ride on a horse, as promised. Beatrix rode the Ferris wheel, but didn’t look too happy about it at first. Jasper won a toy playing basket ball and went on the Tornado, after which he felt sick for half an hour.

Dropped kids off and Kurt and I went to Best Buy for his Wyze cameras and then to Smiths for Pizza’s. Of course I got the wrong one for Wendy, which she bitched about. Can’t ever do anything right.

Pizza’s, Paulaner and Zin for tea. Early to bed after plenty of wine.

 

 

 

Lazy start then take Kurt down to the airport, he’s going home, 3 weeks peace and quiet. How will he cope.

In the afternoon Wendy and Fiona don their slippers and pyjamas and head off to shopping at Walmart. I get to look after the 3 rug rats. No problem, they’re very well behaved.

 

Set of for a exploratory hike with Joe and Fiona. It’s a gorgeous blue sky morning with some low lying mist adding to the beauty.

Plan A fails because hike start point is on a gated community and gates are locked. Plan B fails because start point is difficult to locate on an industrial estate. Plan C is Kimble to Willow Creek and back – 5 mile round trip.

In the afternoon we go for a picnic down at the Deer Valley lakes. Kids get to paddle and try and catch fish; picnic; short walk around the lakes.

In the evening Wendy and I go out for a Chinese dinner with Nancy and Howard. Another awesome evening good food and great company.

 

Off to explore a new hike, Fink Again. Finally find the trail head and it’s an ok 3.2 mile hike all uphill to mid point and then all downhill, but no shade. Considering I didn’t start to 12:00 and it was a blistering hot day again it wasn’t too bad, nice breeze.

Lazy afternoon and a pleasant evening with Paulaner and Zin. A sure way to snooze through Virgin River – such chick flicks.

Up early to lead an easy hike from Silver Lake on mid-mountain to the top of Town Lift and back down on the lift. I’ve been on slow hikes before but this had to be the tortoise special. Sadly one of the guys fell so minor cuts to deal with.

Back late much to Wendy disdain, she had a real strop on. Quick turn around, tidy house and then we’re off to This Is The Place – a Mormon Heritage Village. Great place for the kids, lots of simple amusements including trains and pony rides to keep them amused. But hotter than the hinges of hell. Had a stroll around the museum but not a scrap of evidence on the Meadows Massacre – always a touchy subject for them.

You have to admire the Mormon trek, 1,400 miles pulling a hand cart with all your belongings on. We tried pulling an empty hand cart for 100 yard in the gruelling sun and it was exhausting. Men and women of steel in those days.

 

Up early again to lead an easy bike ride. 16 hard mile undulating ride. Done it many times but forgot how hard it was – may be something to do with being 3 years older.

Lazy afternoon for me as everyone else goes to musical movement at our amazing library. It’s got some fantastic facilities, including Mac’s, 3D printers, pets for the kids, play room with toys lego etc. They spend 2 hours there. Oh and they also have great books and DVD’s. You can even stream videos, audio books or eBooks online even from the UK. I wanted a book called Rigged by Mollie Hemingway, they didn’t have it so they bought a new copy for me, no cost – can you believe that, my American friends tax dollars at work, thank you. Then it’s Burger King, a more cost effective favourite than MacDonalds. The kids love it.

Fiona Oakley, Joe and I then go down to the Kamas Lions Gun Range for some target practice. Fiona’s nervous but does great with a 9mm automatic. Some great groupings.

Lazy start, my only lie in this week.

Jasper and I go bowling with Mike down at Heber. Then for my real treat, I’ve found a highly recommended diner (Chicks on Heber City Main Street) that allegedly does a Utah Scone. One of the delights on my junk food bucket list. Delicious with honey and butter on. Well worth the search and trek. Take one home for Wendy and Fiona along with a doggy bag of Jaspers Chicken strip. As well as a Utah Scone being standard with every meal they also do some of the best Chips. Some great food.

Just need to get Wendy the recipe For a Utah scone and a deep fat fryer – expensive.

Wendy and Fiona set off for the weekly shop at Walmart whilst I tend to the 3 rug rats.

Thursday evening we’re off out for dinner with Joe and Donna at Windy Ridge. Discover a new junk food delicacy, an onion ring stack.

 

For those snowflakes, wokes and libtards who may not be able to cope with some of my Rants etc., then select here:

Cancelled my Easy Bike ride. Go for a walk around Snowtop with Fiona. Wendy’s still not feeling so good but testing negative for covid.

Nip to the supermarket with Fiona. She’s way quicker than Wendy.

Chris and Landen arrive. Boozy evening in. Bloody hell 3 grandkids is mayhem, add one more and the noise level is worse than Concorde and the mayhem is unbelievable, enough to turn you into a hermit.

 

Wendy’s feeling much better and still testing negative for covid. The rest of us are feeling fine.

I go pistol shooting all on my own. Billy no mates. Find a coke tin to target shoot, a most satisfying way.

After lunch Wendy and Fiona don their pyjamas and I take them down to walmart. Never again will we go shopping at Walmart or Whole Pay Packet at the weekend. Just gridlocked.

A booze free evening for me but Fiona manages some Sailor Jerry and coke. Not surprising as we all try and cope with 4 kids.

 

Fiona and I nip out for a bike ride down to the White Barn before it gets too hot.

Wendy’s feeling fine and still testing negative.

Chris and Landen arrive and we all watch the Womens Euro final. Everyone’s orgasmic as England wins 2:1 in extra time. Kurt and CHris give a good demonstration of football hooligans every time a goal is scored. I’m not normally a soccer fan but have to say the women seem to play much faster and more exciting game. Really enjoyed it.

Wendy and I nip over to Mikes to pick up a tiramisu he’s made for us all – we cancelled the “Goodbye Boris Party” to be on the safe side. He’s made one big enough to feed a cast of thousands.

Then Wendy and I get some peace and quiet as everyone else goes down to the Silly market.

 

Short bike ride with Fiona first thing.

Chris and Landen came in the morning and left at dinner to catch their flight back to San Diego. He dropped Kurt and Fiona off at the outlets centre whilst Wendy and I looked after the grandkids. Took them round to the park by the school. They loved it.

6 hours later K&F emerge from the outlets centre. How can anyone shop for that long. Bizarre.

A quiet night in with Paulaner and wine.

 

 

Good job I’d cancelled my walk as it was raining on and off all morning.

We all went bowling at Heber City followed by a great junk food lunch. Grandkids really enjoyed it.

Shopping again this time at Freshmarket. Wendy has vowed never again. Poorly stocked and I’ve seen sparrows with more meat on then than the cooked chicken she bought. She wouldn’t even serve the legs they were so scrawny and uncooked. I wanted to go and dump it on the managers desk, but alas Wendy had already binned the legs.

I pop into liqueur store for some wine and Pimms. Try a box of Zinfandel.

Then in the afternoon Laurie and Michael popped by for a drink on the patio to say goodbye. Sadly they leave on Thursday.

 

Lead a bike ride, with Fiona, up over park meadows, down round valley and back along the rail trail.
Then it’s a lazy day minding the grandkids whilst K&F go to the outlet stores yet again.

Jaspers recovered about 20 golf balls and is enthusiastically trying to sell them to passing golfers.

Quiet night in with Paulaner and Zinfandel. This box of Zin is awesome and only $20 for the equivalent of 4 bottles.

Kurt, Jasper, Mike and I go kayaking with the club. Can’t believe how long it takes to check in and pay – a complete SNAFU. Once we get our kayaks its all fun. Jasper really enjoys it.

Lazy afternoon.
In the evening Kurt, Fiona, Jasper and I go to the Heber rodeo. It’s a lovely evening, great rodeo and it’s K&F first rodeo. All enjoy it, but sadly miss the bull riding, mind you at least we don’t have to cope with gridlock leaving. Sadly Jasper has a meltdown because we miss the fair. Promise to take him tomorrow.

Back home for a Zin nightcap.

 

For those snowflakes, wokes and libtards who may not be able to cope with some of my Rants etc., then select here:

A busy day.

Starts with me leading an Easy Bike Ride from Willow Creek park up to Silver Star and back. By the time we’ve rode down to the start point and back it’s 14 miles.

Then Mike and I drive down to Salt Lake to the German Deli (Sigfreids) I’ve been raving about. Both have a superb lunch.

In the evening I drive down to SLC airport. Swap the car for a top of the range 7 seater and then head over to International arrival to pick the kids up. They’re cream crackered after 24 hours travelling with 3 kids pewking.

 

 

Kids and grandkids are up early, body clock all awry.

Went clay pigeon shooting with Mike in the morning.

In the afternoon everyone, except me, goes shopping – Walmart then Smiths. Yeah, 5 weeks with no need for me to go to a supermarket.

Nip to the liquor store for some more wine and Double Rye, then we get some burritos from Chubasco. A nice family night in with Paulaner, Zinfandell, Double Rye and Sailor Jerry for Fiona.

 

Up and out early with Kurt and Fiona to try out a walk for my Easy Hikes. Went up Armstrong then down Dawns, too much uphill for an Easy hike. Fairly strenuous with 2 miles uphill. At least the weather was coolish.

In the afternoon Wendy and I go and get some coffee, beer and other essential vitals. Grandkids have a whale of a time in the Jacuzzi. Just noise and sheer mayhem.

Fiona’s not so well. She does a covid test, thankfully it’s negative. I think the alcohol of last night combined with a hard walk up to 7,500 feet has given her a touch of altitude sickness, similar to what Wendy had when we arrived in April.

Sunday evening we escape the mayhem and go out to dinner at the Boneyard with Howard and Nancy. Great evening but food not that good. They even forgot my meal.

 

Kurt’s up at 05:00 with all the kids. Fiona’s still not so well, but didn’t get much sleep last night – exhausted. Thankfully covid test still negative.

I’m leading an easy hike from Silver Lake along mid-mountain down to Snow Park Lodge. 9 women and 3 fellas. Boy can women talk, but at least I don’t have to keep looking back to see if they’re keeping up, I can hear them.. Almost tempting to quit and go back to the mayhem at home.

Grandkids play in the jacuzzi all afternoon. Have a great but noisy time.

I sort the mountain bike brakes ready for tomorrows ride.

Up early ready for our Coalville ride. Lead Howard and Mike’s truck down to Coalville and then ferry them back to Yonex court. Mike, Howard, Kurt and I set off to start the ride. Pick up Micael and Dianne. Then pick up Ruth on her electric chariot and we’re all off for a easy 22 mile ride down to Coalville. Down being the operative word. Over half of it is down hill, that’s what is so great about it, and then along the flat. Get to Coalville, load the bikes into the trucks and then it’s back home. Ruth rides her electric chariot back home.

Lazy afternoon with just a quick trip to the supermarket with Wendy. No day would be complete without a super market fix.

Fiona’s better and still testing negative. Mike comes round for a chaotic dinner with the kids.

Leisurely evening in with the kids and Paulaner.

Lazy start to the day. Then a 90 minute hard bike ride with Howard around Swanner, a real good workout.

Then home for a quick change and some earache off Wendy for never being in.

Off to the NAC as water sport volunteer. 4 kids for some canoeing and kayaking despite being in wheelchairs and hardly able to walk. The NAC does a fantastic job. My role is just helping set up, tare down and out in a kayak as support in case of problems. Unfortunately I forget my hat so have a bucket load of suncream and my tee shirt on my head like a modern day Lawrence of Arabia.

Get back home. Fiona is perfectly well now but after 3 days of feeling ill, no covid, has now tested positive for covid – how bizarre is that. Wendy is not feeling so good.

Cancel clay pigeon shooting with Kurt.

Wendy stays in bed all day with fatigue, headache and sweats.

I have a lazy morning, cancel Fridays bike ride, Mondays hike, kayaking, concert and dinner with L&M.

After lunch catch the bus round to the park with the kids and grandkids. Nice park but oh so hot and the metal on the apparatus is boiling – no shade, complete lack of common sense. Walk back with Fiona and Esther. Kurt takes jasper and Beatrix swimming at the PCMarc.

Fiona’s fully recovered but Wendy’s spent the day in bed despite testing negative for Covid. Fiona’s still testing positive but is perfectly well, I’m feeling fine and testing negative, everyone else is fine.

A beer and wine evening.