Midway Utah

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...

Lady Musgrave Island, Great Barrier Reef

Here we all are on Lady Musgrave Island, 90 miles off the coast of Australia. The island is completely surrounded by reef and lagoon and is extraordinarily beautiful. The beach we landed on is big chunks of coral and sounded like glasses being clinked together when you walked across it. The other side of the island is where about 30 sea turtles lay their eggs every night.

The entire island is a marine sanctuary. You can't even pick up bird poop much less coral as a souvenir. This is perhaps to make up for many years of wackiness on this island even- in particular. It's tiny, (15 hectare) but in the 1930's a resort was built on the island until WWII when it was abandoned and pilaged during the following years. Goats were left behind (to feed shipwrecked sailors) that picked the island clean until they were eradicated in the 1970's. Very interesting history... today you can camp on the island with a permit, for 3 weeks in a stretch. Hello- why wouldn't ya?
Actually, we walked past a group that had been camping since Christmas and they looked a bit shipwrecked. Still, I think I would suck on coral and drink rain water to spend a week living here (let's just start with a week...)

Fabulous snorkeling for everyone...

I kid you not, the water inside the reef is really this blue. It was one of the most surreal, exquisitely beautiful sights I have ever seen.

C, hanging on the dive/snorkel platform. Later on the kids said one of their favorite things from the trip was this platform. Go figure.

Reef markers.

Monkey Beach, Great Keppel Island

The rain let up a little today so we jumped on a ferry to Great Keppel Island to do some snorkeling. Away from the mainland and the murky crashing waves, the water calmed and underwater visibility improved.

We hiked to Monkey Beach a few beaches over from the main beach and were rewarded by having the beach almost to ourselves. Sorry neighbors- we are pretty loud. We run up and down the beach drawing pictures with sticks in the pristine sand and having sand throwing wars.
The dingy here belongs to a Aussie couple who came ashore from their yacht. They live on their yacht and sail all around the world. Sounds like a dream come true, until you factor in the true nature of the open sea and the misery that is feeling seasick (experienced firsthand by most of us on the rough ferry ride today). Not all sandy beaches folks...(but still awesome I'm sure)

The reward for our effort came when you put on your mask and stuck you face in the water. The underwater camera worked it's magic, capturing the events.

We found Nemo...

And the grand finale- swimming with a sea turtle. The kids followed this guy around for about 5 minutes, until he turned around to see who was following him and really freaked Steve O out- do sea turtles bite?

By the way... Happy New Years from Down Under, a little before the rest of you. As I write this I can hear the fireworks on the beach and my family snoring around me- what can I say- exhausting fun day! Happy 2010!

Fingal Bay, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia

Baby Jesus and family, enjoying the view of Fingal Bay

Tim, this beetle photo is for you.

C has become quite a snorkeler since receiving and early Christmas present (thanks Grandma and Grandpa!) Here he is practicing in the pool, just biding his time-ready for the big water.

The sand spit, Fingal Bay

Q, getting ready for bed in the RV- our cozy dwelling place, (depending on how clean it is at any given moment). It can be trashed in 2 minutes flat, it's that small. But also cleaned up pretty quickly too. Gotta go make some supper for my people...

For more photos look HERE.