Trains!

He finished his schoolwork early Monday and we got to see some trains.

Waving to the Frontrunner.

Lunch by the Great Salt Lake on our way back.

I was trying to see if there's a way to access the south causeway to Antelope Island to no avail.  We ate our sandwiches quickly since the bugs were eating us alive!

Clear pool near the parking area.

Not so clear water.

View to the north.  There was some serious chop on the water.

Looking west across the mud flats.

More hiking pics.

Pictures today courtesy of Mommy.

Skyler and Mommy spotted this horny toad!

View from the top.  I didn't make it because the dog was getting too hot.  We stayed below in some shade.  She was still too hot.

Remnants of the mine.

Foundation.

Large, open mine shaft!  (She didn't get close enough to see if it was actually open.)

Yikes!

Change of plans.

We were originally going to take the truck up this road to "large open vertical mine shaft" but it proved to be way too technical and tight for a large pickup.  Instead, we hiked it!  STEEP!  2,440 feet of elevation in 3 miles roundtrip.

Gorgeous.

Climbing.

Hot dog.

Scrub oak greening up.

Hard to see, but there's a wrecked Chevrolet Suburban in the draw.

Blow snake.  We saw 3 snakes, blow, gopher and rattle(!).

View looking back toward the Tooele valley where our hike originated.

Juniper trees.

Scary mine hole!

Indian paintbrush.

More from Mommy's phone tomorrow including the mine shaft and rattlesnake!

Teacher appreciation drive by.

We headed out to his school Friday afternoon to show our appreciation to his teachers and school.  It was rather emotional knowing that he's not going to go to that school ever again.  :(

Everyone was spaced out to avoid close contact.  Our new normal I'm afraid.

Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's day to Altair!  I never realized how hard she works until she started working from home due to the quarantine.  She really needs an assistant!

Thank you for everything you do!  We're lucky to have you in our lives.

Greenhouse update.

It's working!  It's like a supercharger for plants.  Mommy goes out several times a day to "warm up" in it since she's permanently cold.  Skyler has been enjoying watching his plants grow and watering them.

Getting ready to fill up his watering cans, "would you mind opening the door?" he said.

Ophir part 2.

Incredible!

We might have to come back once this all greens up.

Downtown Ophir still has a working telephone booth!

Hiking last weekend near Ophir.

Ophir, Utah is a historic mining town.  No more mining, but there's still a handful of people living there.  We drove through the town and hiked a trail with no name.

Neurotic, geriatric, dog came along.

Snow!

Gorgeous aspen trees!

What a view!

Headed  back out.

More tomorrow.

Train time!

Skyler finished his school early enough yesterday that we got to watch some trains.

Checking the color of the signal on the other side.  Flashing yellow, we got a train coming!

Two trains!


He even got a honk from the Frontrunner operator.


Frontrunner is down one car due to the virus.

A parade!?

We were surprised to see a parade of teachers from the local elementary school yesterday.  They even had a police escort!

Motorcycle patrol.

Police truck.

Return trip.

It was kind of emotional, the teacher's cars were all decorated with "we miss you" signs.

Waving to all the cars from his room.  :(

New locomotive for the layout.

Skyler got his very own locomotive for his birthday last week.  He finished his schoolwork early Friday and got to go to Grandpa's and run it.

A year he will never forget.  Masks on while model railroading.

Hot dog!

I filled up this livestock tank so the dog can "cool" when it's hot.  We got back from a walk on Wednesday and she hopped right in!  The Border Collie gene comes out!

She didn't lay down this time like she does in the summer, the water must have been too cold!

How do you work on your locomotive?

Skyler uses his skateboard as a creeper!

Looks incredibly uncomfortable!

Post birthday.

He had a GREAT day!

F-35 flyover in support of the first responders.

Social distancing with Aunt Karen.

His friend Abby dropped off a gift on the porch.

And just like that, he's nine!

Happy Birthday Skyler!!!

This year is a birthday unlike none other I'm afraid.  Mommy had a party all planned and shopped for.  Maybe it will happen later in the year.

Hiking final.

Gate to the Anaconda mine.  Cameras everywhere, don't even think of trying to explore any further.

Slag pile.

Former road on the slag pile.

Bottom of the slag pile.  People are terrible.  There's a car down there!

Wildflowers were starting to bloom.