An Adventure Out West - Part 4: The Weekend

Saturday morning, Peter, Paul and Rex (their father) all wanted to go golfing. (Brent says the Cedar City golf course is a great place to get a hole in one because of all the prairie dog holes in it. Sure enough, Peter landed in one.)  Julie and Kylie wanted to go for a hike, but Kira didn't bring any hiking shoes. So Kira, Jessi and I decided to go over to Hatch for the morning. Dad was going over there to spend the week. We would go help him open up the house and visit for a while. Dad texted us that he was leaving at about 0845. We didn't get out until nearly 0910. We tried calling him to see if he was still getting groceries. The call rolled to voicemail, so we figured he was already on his way over the mountain and was in one of the several cell phone black holes. So we started over the mountain ourselves.  Even though the leaves were out in Cedar, we didn't get very far up the mountain to the point they were not. Up on top, at the meadows at the Cedar Breaks turn off, there was still a little snow. (A week later there would be a lot of snow with a storm that dumped about 4-5 inches on Cedar City while Kira was there.) We stopped to take a couple of pictures. (Temps in Cedar during the day were in the 80s)

Meadows on Cedar Mountain - Over 9000 feet elevation

We continued our drive to Hatch, noting that things were pretty dry.

When we got to Hatch, Dad wasn't there!  Jessi was bummed because she brought her cross stitch project to work on and forgot the pattern. So we drove over to the church where we could get a  wi-fi connection so she could download it to her tablet. Then we went back to the house, planning on taking a short walk to the river. About that time, Dad drove up. His cell phone had accidentally gotten turned off which is why we could not reach him. We took his stuff in, and helped turn on the water and get him settled in. Then we just sat around and listened to him tell stories about family and stuff. Jessi had the presence of mind to get her phone out and record part of that conversation. That changed the tone for the rest of the trip. Kira took a bunch of pictures of the inside of the house at Hatch. It is pretty much the way it was when Grandma lived there.

"TV" room

Kitchen

Kitchen

There is something familiar here!

Christmas ca.1958

May 3 2014

We had to leave Hatch in time to meet Peter, Rex and Julie (and company) for a BBQ in Cedar City. But Elijah made us make one stop on the way (Malachi 4:5-6). We stopped to take some pictures at the Cedar City Cemetery on the way out of town. (These pictures will or have already been added to familysearch.org)

Grandma and Grandpa Turek

Aunt Eileen and Uncle Vince

Aunt Kay

Cemetery view

Great-great Grandma and Grandpa Barnhurst

Great Aunt Lucille and Uncle Wiley

Kira plans on going back to Hatch to get some stories and histories from Grandpa as a project we came up with on this trip.

Meanwhile, back in Cedar, Peter's family was preparing a picnic for us all. We met them at the mouth of Cedar Canyon, at Canyon Park.

We ate hamburgers and hot dogs, and had a good time. We played bocce. Peter calls it Italian field curling. So I didn't know the proper terms, so I will make them up (then give you a web site where you can get the official version - mine is more entertaining.) One team take a small yellow ball I call the snitch and tosses it out a piece. Then they take the first of their larger balls (the quaffle) to see how close they can get to the snitch. Then the other team throws their first quaffle. Which ever team is not closest to the snitch continues to throw their quaffles until all are thrown. (You can use your quaffle as a bludger to knock the opposing teams balls away from the snitch.) The team closest to the snitch at the end scores points. (For real rules, go here.)

That evening we went (singing the soundtrack to Frozen at the top of our lungs) to Paul and Kylie's house for pizza, then went to our new favorite ice cream place, The Fix. The ice cream was really good, but the service was terrific. When we went in, Paul and Rex wanted banana cream ice cream, but they didn't have any out. When they asked, the manager said, "Let me look" and went back into the back. When we came out, he told us he had the stuff to make if and would whip up a batch for us. Everyone got what they wanted, but Kira didn't see a flavor that she wanted. When the manager saw everyone had ice cream except her he asked her what was wrong. She told him. He then asked what flavor she wanted so he would have it next time. She said peanut butter. He said, "Oh! We have that!" and went and got it for her AND DIDN'T CHARGE HER FOR IT! On the way out, I asked if by chance he carried pistachio (I was perfectly happy with the chocolate chip mint I had) and he said, "Sure" and went and brought me out a small cup of it.  So if you are in Cedar City and want ice cream, go to:

The Fix

1760 North Main

Again that evening we stayed up too late talking.

Sunday, we went to church at PB&J's ward. Even though it was fast Sunday, Jessi and Peter sang a special muscial number. I actually took the time to bare my testimony. We got to meet a couple that had just moved there from Greenville. After church and lunch of leftovers, it was time for Jessi and Peter to pack up to go to Salt Lake for the summer. Peter will be working as a manager trainee at Cafe Zupas, and Jessi is an intern at the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints data center. Rex and Julie took some of their stuff in their car, and we packed up the rest in the Accord. Mid afternoon, Kira and I were on our way back to Vegas, and PB&J were on their way to SLC. I was sad to go, but with everyone leaving there was no reason to stay, plus I don't think Renee would pay me for ever long if I stayed! 

On our way home, I took Kira down to Moapa Valley (Logandale and Overton, Nevada). We stopped at the cemetery where my Grandpa and Grandma Leavitt are buried. I don't think I had been to the cemetery since the mid-60s. The valley has grown so much that I was having a hard time finding it. We drove past the old high school and the house Mom, Mike, Sherri and I lived in while waiting to go to the Philippines to join Dad in 1970-71. We also drove past Grandma Leavitt's old house.

Grandma and Grandpa Leavitt

Aunt Verna and Uncle Grant
(Uncle Grant sealed JoAnne and me at St George Temple)

Monday, Kira went back to work and I hung out with Aunt Kelly. I joined Kira for lunch at Cafe Rio (last of my pick list of places to eat along with Cafe Zupas and All American Classic Diner). I picked her up after work and we went to Krispy Kreme for donuts. 

Kira's School

Tuesday morning about 0500, Kira dropped me off at the airport for my trip home. The trip was exactly like it was supposed to be, which was a nice change from the trip out. I was pre-checked with TSA so I didn't have to get computer out or take off shoes. Flights all left on time and arrived on time. USO was open in Houston so I didn't even have to buy anything to eat. Only remarkable thing on the trip home was the plane that took me from Houston to GSP, was one of Southwest's special livery airplanes - Maryland One.

Maryland One - my ride home

Arrived at GSP on time, picked up my bag, and the Passport and headed home. Only glitch was traffic on I-85 was a parking lot right at GSP, but it opened up after about 2 miles. (Have I ever mentioned I hate I-85?)

GSP from the air

Trip started off "not so good" but ended up great. Only regret was the JoAnne couldn't go with me. I really enjoyed my time with Peter and his family, and especially with my girls.