We're now at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, affectionately known in the NPS as TICA. The AO and Supervisor graciously made available a park housing unit that is currently empty, but will be rented to the new maintenance chief week after next, by which time we'll be on our way to Lakewood, CO. We've been here a week, more or less camped out with minimum supplies and furniture. Rather than getting lots of exercise walking/hiking around the park as I had planned, I've put about 50 miles a day on the car just getting errands done. I think I'll be able to stay put most of next week, though.
This house is a far cry from the little duplex apartment we had at Canyon de Chelly. A three-bedroom, bath and a half rambler with actual carpet and linoleum tiles that aren't white make it quite a liveable space. Add the spectacular views and the American Fork river running along the front yard about 15 feet below us, and it could be quite idyllic if we could only stay! I think I've mentioned before that the AO here is one of Budd's strongest supporters, and we had become friends with him and his wife before we left last winter. Last night they brought a Dutch oven dinner and their patio set to make us more comfortable, and we had a great time getting re-acquainted.
I promised an account of last Saturday's surprise birthday party for Budd's mom, one of the sweetest ladies ever. Various family members had been planning and preparing for this party for over three months, and it was a huge success, with all of Mom's surviving siblings and their spouses in attendance. Also some nieces, nephews, my sister-in-law Gaylene, most of Mom's grandkids and great-grandkids and all of the great-great-grandkids (two). Instead of being one huge surprise, it was a series of little ones as Mom saw one or two people she didn't expect to see between the parking lot and the park pavilion. When she realized the true extent of the party, with about 50 in attendance, she couldn't stop saying how surprised and pleased she was. It was a beautiful day, the wind and rain having stopped for the duration of the party. I was proud that we had all four of our kids and most of theirs in attendance. Missing only three of our eight grandkids, one at football camp, one on a previously-planned visit to relatives back East and one that we couldn't arrange transportation for. We saw relatives we hadn't seen in years, and our kids were even more happy to see cousins they hadn't seen in quite a while. Mom was still giddy the next day when we called to say 'bye' as we left town for the rest of the trip to Salt Lake. Budd's friend Doug said we should do it again in ten years, but I want a party just like it in 3 and a half when I turn 65.
The trip from Grand Junction to Salt Lake was relatively uneventful. We returned to Thompson to find our pickup and trailer just where we'd left it and none the worse for wear. I had asked one of the kids to ride with me and Matt volunteered, so we had a good visit on the way. Just one glitch held us up in Price when we stopped for gas in the pickup...we sat too long and the pickup refused to start again. An hour of jumper cable battery charging and a quarter of a tank of my gas later, and it finally did. Our hurried purchase in Arizona is coming back to haunt us as we're certain there's a problem with either the starter or battery, maybe both, and afraid there's a compression problem as well. The pickup is at the mechanic's now for a checkup, and I guess we'll find out Monday what the bottom line will be.
It's a little odd being up here in the American Fork canyon as far as communication goes. We have to drive about three miles to the mouth of the canyon to get cell phone signal. We had a park visitor knock on our door at almost 10 pm night before last, hoping to find a phone because he had locked his keys in his car. Luckily, I had insisted Budd get a key to the admin building which is just across the wide driveway, just in case we had an emergency and needed to phone out. Because we're only here for a short time we couldn't get internet service either. I'm lucky that my Blackberry acts as a modem, but only when we can get cell phone service. However, it is limited service, so I can't use the data service to get to Facebook. I'll have to wait until we're in Denver to post pictures.
Only one other happening of note this week. Budd looked up from the 'dinner table' (which at the time consisted of two tv trays pushed together) and noticed a doe in our back yard. When the picture through the window didn't turn out well, I slipped as carefully as I could out the back door and got within probably 10-15 feet of her for more pictures. Finally she looked up and just stared at me for maybe close to a minute, and then spooked and ran up to the back fence, just a few yards laterally and up maybe 10 feet. There she stopped and looked again, so I went inside to give her some peace to finish grazing. Unfortunately, there was nothing to rest my arms on and the light was going, so none of the pictures did the experience justice. I'll post the best one, anyway. What a beautiful creature! The next day someone from the maintenance department came with a weed-whacker and chopped down all the grass, so I don't know if she'll be back.
Maybe I'll see her on my walks next week if I get up early enough. There is a rough road that runs just behind our yard and then up the hill quite steeply for maybe a quarter of a mile up to a utility building and water tank. I've made the walk twice, stopping for breath every few yards and turning to take in the view across the canyon, then mincing my way down. The grade is so steep that if I don't watch where I place my feet the rocks roll out from under and I end up sitting, rather abruptly. That's happened twice, so I'm being more careful now. The last thing I want to do is wait until Budd discovers I'm missing before someone comes to help me with a broken hip.
The sun seems to be hiding, maybe we'll get some rain this afternoon. I had no idea how much I missed rain in Arizona, until we got some in Grand Junction. I'm ready for more!
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