We've done it, we've moved to Midway just like we've always wanted to. We've been here about two weeks and love it in this little, no stoplight town located on the back of the Wasatch mountains. Here is the view, looking south, from our front door. Deer Creek Reservoir is covered with misty low clouds, Soldier Hollow Resort is tucked into the hills in the middle of the picture and Mount Timpanogos is the tall mountain on the right. Fall is such a gorgeous time of year in Northern Utah.
Midway is a hotspot of geothermal activity. Craters pock the ground, lots of buildings are built or accented with "pot rock". The Homestead Resort boasts a hot spring in a crater with about 100° F /37° C water temperature- for soaking, snorkeling or practicing your scuba diving. Zermatt Resort also has hot springs for swimming, the temperature of the water is about 90-96° F /32-35° C.
Then there is this hot spring... right in Midway (at the end of Pine Canyon Road), it is free, used by everyone (even though it's on private property), now get ready for the crazy part... the water temperature is about 110° F /43° C all of the time. It's a serious mind-over-matter situation. It takes some stamina to go underwater to your knees, torso, shoulders- but all the way under, swimming laps underwater? It takes a real water lover to get to this level of super hot water enjoyment.
I can't wait to get in after a day of skiing...
This is a TV spot that I directed, a fun trip too, without the kids (sorry kids). We traveled for 7 days going through Capital Reef National Park, Zion National Park, Big Sur and many places in between. It is very nice to get out and look around. Music by Deer Tick.
It occurred to me the other day that I have lived in Utah for 20 years and I have never been to the Great Salt Lake. Deciding to fix this oversight- we packed for a day trip and headed out. From what I could find out from google searching, Antelope Island is a great place to venture into the water, so we gave it a shot.
I'd heard and read all sorts of nasty reviews of the Great Salt Lake, but, let's face it folks and recollect what the Great Salt Lakeis- the 2nd saltiest lake in the world (only the Dead Sea is saltier). Of course it's going to be a barren wasteland full of bugs, bad smells, mud and a salty residue on everything...
Being warned (and warned again) of the unpleasantness our adventure would entail- this is what we found as we arrived on Antelope Island. A gorgeous view of expansive water and desert, well-kept covered picnic areas, clean sand, showers and bathrooms. Not too smelly, and a breeze keeping the bugs at bay.
Getting to the water was a bit gross, depending on how you feel about gnats. The sand on the edge of the water was covered with thousands of gnats that moved in waves when you stepped forward. Kind of funny- kind of disgusting. The gnats weren't really interested in you (they didn't bite) as long as you kept moving. So into the water we went... very floaty, surreal feeling. You just bob effortlessly near the surface, this picture was taken with both hands on the camera. No need to expend any effort to stay afloat.
Little dude did some serious shrimpin'. Tiny pinkish brine shrimp are all over in the water, easily caught in a water bottle.
I couldn't head south, back home, without seeing Saltair and the surrounding area. So we headed west on I-80, past the airport, just as the sun was getting low in the sky. We went for a glimpse of Saltair but found ourselves enjoying the extremely photogenic Temple of the Birds and it's neighbor- 'burned-out-train-car' (for lack of a better name), just to the east. We just couldn't stop with the pictures. Oh the evening sunlight and colorful graffiti combined for some clever pics.
We weren't the only ones talking pictures, we counted 3 engagement and 1 bridal photo sessions going on as we wandered about. Here is the rare picture of the train car without any random strangers (oh wait, there is just one...).
Time to head home as the sun set, what an unforgettable day. To see a ton more pictures of the day- look here.
Here's a little video from out day at the Great Salt Lake. All I can say is thank goodness they are gnats and not bees.
Lots of pots to choose from- in the end we picked out a cereal bowl (we tend to be a little hard on those at our house). I wanted a medium-sized mug, for sipping tea, but there were only small and XL ones available (hint there, Country Joe).
I have always been a big fan of this stained glass window in the shop, I don't know who made it, (friend of the Bennions?) but it intrigues me.
Love the wild nature of the front flower beds.
We got stuck behind a sheep drive heading out of town. We were taking it easy, hanging back to keep the cowboys and the animals happy, when two trucks manned by locals went busting through- scattering sheep here and there. Man and beast drove on, so we did too.
I kept daring the kids to get out of the car, run along with the sheep, get some hands-on interaction, but no one would take me up on it. Cute little wooly fellers.
birch creek service ranch (rough cut #1 march 23, 2010) from Solpin Films on Vimeo.
Last summer our 12 year old daughter went to Birch Creek Service Ranch, a camp in San Pete County Utah for making good kids even better. She loved everything about it and heads back this summer, her brother as well (for the boys session). As a parent I cannot say enough about this camp, it is in my experience just as important for kids as traveling the world. For more information about the Birch Creek Service Ranch visit their website here.
We could not agree more. I worked on this campaign, but did not do this spot, anyway, good advice and I love this dude Donavon Frankenreiter, he is the kind person you might meet on the streets of Byron Bay in Australia.
By popular demand, we bring you a day at the Cooberrie Animal Sanctuary. Highly recommended by locals and receiving a brief mention with a "but it's nothing fancy" attachment by the tourist information people, we knew it was the place for us.
All of the animals here had been rescued, some get rehabilitated and re-released into the wild or if necessary are able to permanently reside in the sanctuary. Each animal had a name and a story posted by their homes making the whole day welcoming and personal. When F called from across the clearing, "It's hot and fuzzy inside Gloria's (the kangaroo) pouch!", we knew just what was going on and with which animal friend.
We must also mention the important (but slightly weird) fact that there was a swimming pool- right smack dab in the middle of kangaroo land. (At this point in the trip we were keenly aware that wet kids are happy kids, making their parents lives much much easier after a daily dip.)
We've seen skinks in books (and a few days later on a hike), but to see and hold one was really cool. They are fat- like a snake, but with four tiny legs- like a lizard and skinks have a blue tongue. Look closely and you can see Bill's blue tongue in the picture.
We could never get enough of the koalas. I personally wanted to climb into each koala habitat cuddle up, have a nap too. Getting to spend a few minutes cheek-to-cheek with Teddy was the best!
Koala facts we learned:
They sleep 18-22 hours a day, eat only eucalyptus leaves (which make them sleepy) and are solitary animals (no BFF needed near my tree- thank you. P.S. touch my tree and I might beat you up...). Koalas are designed for hot weather. The day we were there was about 85 degrees and overcast, quite cold to a koala. So, Teddy preferred to be in someone's arms and not the tree.
Another fun fact we learned- there are over 700 different types of eucalyptus trees. It's like not having to eat just M&M's your whole life but 700 different kinds of candy... not so bad eh?
By the way koalas are not 'bears', like they were first called when the white people set foot on the Australian continent. They are marsupials, like the kangaroo, wombat, tasmanian devil and most of the mammals in Australia. So wipe that word 'bear' right off your lips...
Pete the Python was constantly on the move, wrapping himself around your warm body when ever he got the chance.
Two little cuties, I just want to cuddle, pet, tickle and pinch cheeks all around.
Click on any picture to make it bigger.
For more photos of the day look here.
It was raining when we left Sydney, making it a tiny bit easier (super teeny tiny) to pile into the taxi to the airport.
With a 12 hour flight from Sydney to LA (it was 15 hrs. on the way over) the kids made use of the personal TV and extensive movie menu by each watching about 5 movies. But, every now and again, you just gotta crash- glasses and all...
F anticipating the cold...
Almost home. Here is the Wasatch Mountain range coming into view and the massive inversion over the Salt Lake Valley. We later found out that January 14th (the day we returned home) recorded Salt Lake City as having the the worst air quality in the United States- in the hazardous-to-breathe range. Happy to be home? hmm...I'll have to think about that.
On the ground before we left- crossing the international date line has given us January 14- twice. Bring on the jet lag.
We spent our last day wandering around Sydney, picking up souvenirs, taking plenty of pictures, people watching. When we came to this monument in Hyde Park we felt moved to take some parting shots.
Everyone held up their treats and smiled...
then made sad faces... when a little note taped to the stone caught our eye.
Ladies, I feel the same way.
When I am here I want to throw my arms out like Mary Tyler Moore and spin around. We'll miss you Sydney, heck, we'll miss this whole darn country.
Driving through the town of Nambucca Heads we were stopped in our tracks by the mosiac street art/ bus stop in the center of this sleepy coastal town. We all piled out of the RV in amazement and started exploring.
The best part was that the mosaic wasn't haphazardly constructed- it tells a story all the way through. We learned later that the mosaic is called "Fish & Chips" and was constructed by local artist Guy Crosley and a team of volunteers, school children and art students, started in 1996 and completed in 2000.
Every piece of "Fish & Chips" was constructed from ceramics and objects donated or specifically made by artists locally and from around the world.
Here is the story: Starting from the serpentine deep sea: sharks, whales, rays and schools of fish begin their journey to the shore, through exotic waves of tile and rock into the Smokey Cape Bay, passing the headlands, through the river mouth onto the break-wall and along the river passing the ugly brick suburbs and pastureland to Macksville, over the hills and forests to the fertile earth beyond. All types of earthly and airborne characters adorn these landscapes. Beneath the colourful and glossy facade there is a dark undercurrent that surfaces including a large drunken octopus with three pigs in the clutch of his tentacles, monsters that dwell within the waves that wait offshore and a rainbow serpent wrapped around a gold topped mushroom where people await a magic bus to arrive.
C's favorite part- the windy roads of the suburbs- perfectly sized for his cars.
One of our last beach days was spent at One Mile Beach in Anna Bay, Port Stephens. The surf was flat everywhere else, but on this beach the waves were perfect, tiny kid-style waves. We've seen some stormy, choppy surf on this trip, so- we all fell in love- surfing and boogie boarding until the sun went down. The boards we had were 5'5" soft boards (borrowed from the RV rental company) and not easy to surf. The kids were all used to at least a 9' board (what they learned on in California). I was very impressed when they were all able to surf the shorter boards.
We finally picked up a boogie board in Noosa- over halfway through the trip, but then made good use of the fun little "sled".
M got good at the catching the wave herself, without any push whatsoever.
C started sporting the goggles to keep the salt water from burning his eyes, very effective, he could stay in the water for hours at a time with his eyes covered. He and F would "share" the boogie board...
Method- Steve O would push him into the wave, he would give a little cheer then look back at his feet and kick as hard as he could for the whole ride. He takes his fun very seriously.
Everyone we've asked for advice has recommended Byron Bay, looking at this picture you can see why. The beaches are beautiful, the town is cute, Steve O calls it "Moab of the Sea" because it's trendy, hip, lots of funky surf shops and art galleries, dreadlocks and backpacks.
The kids are disturbed that "Australien" is spelled wrong, I keep telling them, I didn't make it- it's poached art, I just came across it while walking. I'm not quite sure what language spells it this way...
The water was so clear. Not as warm as Queensland but refreshingly delicious.
Steve O having a special 'breaking the law' moment.
The Aussies sure do like to leave their Christmas decor up just as long as possible.
Not nearly as many bikes as you might think in this country. The climate is perfect, so- what's up with that? There are two possible conclusions we've come up with after discussing it with folks.
1. It's mandatory to wear a helmet. No helmet= big ticket.
2. Motorist don't give a crap about cyclists, (or pedestrians for that matter) so you are taking your life in your hands riding around town. Some spots are trying to change attitudes and streets for cyclists (Sydney) hopefully this is a countrywide trend- wait, make that worldwide.
(Hope this is not disrespectful but...)
Sometimes is fun to pretend your baby brother is dead when you are at the beach at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Amen.
One of the things we love about this place is the openness with which they refer to the possible consequences of playing in a specific area, usually, but not always, having to do with water.
This giant sign is posted at the trailhead of Cedar Creek Falls in Mount Tamborine.
This guy must be illiterate, poor fella. Dude, BTW, there are eels in that water. We learned about the eel situation after we went for a swim. (Cedar Creek Falls, Mount Tamborine) Oh yes, of course we stayed to watch him jump (just to make sure he surfaced safely).
Just about every beach has some sort of warning, referring to all the ways you may be injured or die, don't say we never warned you...
Of course a picture always helps the illiterate or the youngsters get the 411. We love this one.
It's true, I was tempted to climb around on the cliff rocks, then I read the sign, AND remembered I'm a mother of four...
