Sightseeing in SLC

We had a great day of sightseeing in SLC yesterday. Started the day off with a nice run around the city and then headed out to see the Great Salt Lake. Stinky!! Rhett said the smell reminded him of the salt marshes back home. We drove out to the south end of the lake to this place called Saltair. It's this huge historic mosque-inspired building that was a gathering place where people used to come in the early 1900's. Back then, the shoreline of the lake was much closer than it is now. The building used to actually sit on the water. Now it's probably a couple hundred yards from it. The building has gone through many renovations over the years. It was a theme park at one time with roller coasters and such, and then a dance hall...now it houses a small gift shop. It's still very cool to see.

About a mile west of there is the Saltair boat ramp. We got out of the car and then quickly got back in the car after noticing the hundred, yes, HUNDREDS of orb-weaving spiders. Apparently the spiders come out in hordes like that from time to time when the salinity in the lake is high and/or the gnats are in great numbers, and they were. We still got great shots of the lake, but we did it quick and hit it.

Then it was on to the 2002 Olympic Site up at the University of Utah. It was cool to see the Olympic cauldron, and of course Rhett had to get pics of another football stadium :) Afterwards we drove a little further up on the hill and visited the "This Is The Place" monument. This site commemorates the Mormon's entrance into the Salt Lake valley. It was a really neat place to visit. Lots of historical monuments and statues, as well as some great views of the valley.

Next it was off to Temple Square. We noticed on our drive there that the crosswalks in Utah all have these bright orange flags in buckets on each side of the street. Apparently, you're supposed to grab a couple flags a walk with them when you cross the street. Only in Utah lol. Rhett was really amused by this (see video). Rhett really wanted to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing, but the weren't practicing yesterday :( However, we were able to listen to an organ recital in the Conference Center which was very impressive. The organ is amazing.

About 4:00 we met up with Joe's friend Elizabeth and her two sons at this large outdoor mall. The thunderstorm had passed at this point so the sun was shining again and it was hot! We had some frozen yogurt and caught up on the past 11 years since we'd last seen each other.

After that we had had enough sightseeing for awhile and headed back to the hotel for a nap. Then it was off to check out the hoppin' nightlife of SLC. Went to this club called Jam and met a few locals. Had some good conversation and laughs and then drove up on this bluff for some incredible nighttime views of the valley.

Today we got up, hit the gym, and now it's off for the 9ish hour drive to Denver!

Here we are Salt Lake!

Well we're almost 1,000 miles from Portland. The drive from Boise was great. Saw some cool things. Left Boise during a crazy thunderstorm so the first few miles were through pouring rain. Stopped at the Malad Gorge State Park and then took a little detour and had lunch in Twin Falls. Entering Twin Falls, you cross over the Snake River that's meandering through this amazingly wide, deep gorge that's right on the edge of the city. Pretty cool sight!

Cruised into Salt Lake about 5:30 and had dinner at the Red Rock Brewing Company with an old friend of Rhett's from high school who he hadn't seen in like 18 years. It was great fun for them to catch up. Afterwards we found the local 24 Hour Fitness and had a great workout. Felt sooooo good to do some lifting after all that time in the car.

Tomorrow it's a day of sight-seeing. Probably head out to see the Great Salt Lake and then tour around Temple Square and afterwards we're meeting up with my friend Liz! Excited to see her!

Leaving Boise-Day 3

Well here we go again leaving Boise. So Rhett being the sports nut decided this morning we were gonna get on the blue field of the Boise St Broncos so he talked his way out and got some pics. It was like a kid in the candy store. We got our postcards and mailed them to the parents and got free potato pins to wear....fun times.


The bagels we had at the Blue Sky bagel place were soooo good that we got one additional one for the road and then came the morning adventure! WHEATGRASS shots!! Yeah too early for alcoholic shots so this was our answer. It's like 2.5 lbs of veggies in 1oz and yes it tastes like smashed pea pods right Joe??(can't insert movie til later)

So with all that we are on the road in some crazy weather.



Next destination mormon nation or as Rhett refers to it the land of the khaki pants(really it's gotta be highest per capita) :) Salt Lake City.

Stay tuned

-J&R
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Location:Mountain Home,United States

Boise, ID

We're in Boise! State #2. And I tell ya that drive from Bend to Boise is lonnnnnnng and barren! Who knew Oregon had so much of nothing?? I mean it's beautiful in its own way but, man, that was the one place I didn't want anything to go wrong. We were praying extra hard for Sasha to hold it together. And she did beautifully :) Rolled into Boise around 6:00, and then went for a nice run in the 93 degree heat. And can I say, for a body that's accustomed to exercising at basically sea level, even at 3000 feet there's a lot less oxygen. We were like "Why can't we run farther?!" Anyway, the we worked out a bit in the hotel gym. Felt good after two days in the car. Then ate dinner at the Brick Oven Bistro in downtown Boise and afterwards met up with Joe's friend Loree Young who he hasn't seen in like 10 years. Was so much fun to catch up! Tomorrow: SLC!

End of our Oregon Trail

Well it's 5 pm and we just crossed the border from Oregon into the land of Potatos or potatoes depending on if u r country. We've spent the last 5 hours in the central and eastern portions of Oregon where it's like a weird desert. Really hot since we are at 4k feet but windows down and singing songs as the iPod plays em(yeah like Thelma and Louise ...hmmmm dunno which of us is which). We can put money on the two of us being the ONLY guys in these parts listening to Lady Gaga. Beautiful mountains and valleys here. Stopped and put our feet in a freezing river and let Sasha (our car) take a break.


Rhett was able to find a cool hat to wear and for the low bargain price of $3.




Well next stop is BOISE. Stay tuned for more.

-J&R
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Caldwell,United States

Morning post -day 2

So finally a night of 8 hrs sleep and we feel refreshed. Thanks holiday inn!! So a quick alignment at Les Schwab just cause we forgot it. Hmmmm growly bear stomach so a quick bagel at Daves Rockin bagels(a NY guy in Bend..hmm). Weird to think we will spend our last hours in Oregon today!!!! I mean we are only 250 miles from Portland but no turning back. This is a mobile post so pics will come later.

We are driving through the Oregon high dessert which I didn't know existed. Nice and sunny though. Boise here we come!



R

Well we made it to Bend!

Well here we are in Bend. Day 1 got off to a rocky start but we finally got everything packed, shipped, thrown out, and/or donated and we hit the road. Maybe we should explain why it was such a rocky start...sooo, we just knew there were still quite a few things to get done this morning and so we got up early to get going but we didn't eat anything (mistake) and we were rushing to get done (mistake) and Joe was trying to transport too much at once (mistake) and dropped a can of primer on the carpet in the hall right outside our door (big mistake!). Any of you who know about the recent drama we've had with the homeowners association at The Avenue know this is the last thing we needed...uggggghhh. Luckily, it was a water-based primer, so water mixed with Dawn plus lots and lots of scrubbing got the carpet clean. Once finally on the road, however, things improved greatly. The drive to Bend was amazing. Gorgeous weather and great views. Rhett had never been anywhere east of Salem so it was fun for him to see Detroit Lake and all of the mountains the central Oregon has to offer.

We met up in Redmond with Joe's cousin Tiffanie and her husband Bryan and their three boys for dinner, which was such a good time. Now we're finally relaxing in our hotel after one crazy week of painting, packing, and socializing with all our great friends.

Keep in mind this is our first attempt at a blog so bear with us as we figure things out...

J&R