June 2, 2013 Part Two - Visiting Friends in Evanston

A few weeks ago when we we decided to head north to the Grand Tetons and I was plotting our directions, I noticed the town of Evanston on our way.  HMMMMM, I think that is where Katy and Gary are for the summer.  So I emailed Katy and we were able to make things work out for today.

So once we got parked, I gave them a call and they came here.  We had a nice chat and off we went to tour Evanston.

Here we are: Gary, Katy, Diane, Andy

Evanston Courthouse - New and Old.  The new courthouse is on both sides of the old - very nicely done:

The clock memorial tower is to the right of the Court House.  It honors fallen peace officers and fallen firefighters.  One of the plaques is for Katy and Gary’s son who was killed in a fire in 2005 along with another young firefighter.

To the left of the Court House are memorials to the service men and women.

This is the last remaining Round House on the old Union Pacific line between Omaha and Sacramento.  It has 28 stalls and was built in 1912 to service steam locomotives running between Green River, Wyoming and Ogden, Utah.  The community is currently restoring this building.  Part of it is done and we were able to look thru the windows - WOW!

Other buildings in the Rail Yard.  From 1926 until 1971 items for the entire Union Pacific system were repaired or manufactured at the railyards here.  The locomotives were repaired only thru 1925.

The volunteer fire station and the memorial to their fallen comrades:

The original library building that is now a museum - this was an original Carnegie Library:

From the World Trade Center:

Like in many railroad towns, the Chinese played an important part.  Although there is nothing left of Evanston’s Chinatown, an archaeological dig is underway.  Some of the artifacts found are in the museum (but it was not open today - )

This Joss House is a reproduction of the Chinese temple that once stood near this spot.

The gardens:

This is part of the Bear River Project.  The area along the Bear River in Evanston was a “dumpy” place and over the last few years, it has been revitalized to include a park, picnic areas, walking trails, memorial gardens - it is just beautiful!

This is the Bear River.  It is the main tributary to the Great Salt Lake and is the longest stream in the western hemisphere that does not empty into an ocean.  It has a 500 mile path thru Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho and the watershed is entirely enclosed by mountains, which form a huge basin with no drainage outlets.

The Lincoln Highway passed thru here:

There is a state park nearby that has a buffalo herd and two elk.  Their were six adult and four baby buffalo - :

The Elk:

And the view from the airport was - AWESOME!  This is the Unita Mountain Range:

It is so nice to see small towns that are keeping their history - what a credit to Evanston’s people.

We did have lunch earlier in the day at a local brew- pub - YUMMY.   And along with all the touring we just kept chatting away and getting caught up with each other.

Thank you Katy and Gary for a WONDERFUL visit.  Travel safe and we will see you in the fall.

We are so blessed with the friends we have met along our travels - .

I will leave you with one last picture - we saw this mom and baby on our way down the hill from the airport.

Tomorrow we are heading north to the Grand Teton National Park so stay tuned and enjoy today.

June 2, 2013 Part One - Travel to Evanston

After we said our goodbyes this morning we went north east on US-189 thru Provo Canyon:

Past the Provo River with lots of fisherman:

Past Deer Creek Reservoir:

And cool looking barns:

The Jordanelle Reservoir:

Homes in high places - there was a ski area here:

Snow fences - haven’t seen them in a long time:

This motorcycle is just for me - :

Echo Reservoir:

Trains and trucks on I-80:

Horses and cows - even little calves:

I just liked this picture:

Here is one of the reasons I enjoy traveling in the western states.  This is a real exit sign:

The Ranch:

The actual exit - and it only goes to the ranch:

Wyoming!

We pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot and called our friends, Katy and Gary.  And we spent a wonderful afternoon with them - see Part Two!

Stats for today:

Miles Traveled: 102 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Utah: US-189; US-189/US-40; I-80

Wyoming: I-80; SR-150; Beckers Drive

June 1, 2013 Rib Contest at the Elks

Today was our last full day in Provo.  I have to confess that I did not do much research about this area.  They have so much to offer and so much to do that we will be back.

This morning I did some errands and this afternoon, we went to the Elks Lodge for their Rib Cook-off.  Yummy!  Lots to eat and wonderful ribs.

Sorry this is a little blurring but from left to right: Roy, Ray, Diane, Diane, Ann, Andy.  It is always good to meet folks along the way and hopefully we will see them again.

We may see Ann and Roy at the Grand Tetons next week and all of them are going to the Escapade at the end of the month.

Tomorrow we are heading to Evanston Wyoming so stay tuned and enjoy today.

May 31, 2013 The Heber Creeper and New Friends

We both love railroads and train rides so when I found out that there was one close by, we had to check it out.  Today and tomorrow they were running a special train to Depot Bay - $10.00 so we made reservations for the 1:00PM ride.

From Provo to Heber City is the scenic Provo Canyon and it was beautiful.  Sorry no pictures - I was driving -

We arrived in Heber City, had lunch at Subway, and went to the train station.

A little history on the railroad and trains in this area.

During the late 1800’s, the only way to ship products from the Heber Valley was by wagon on the Provo Canyon Toll road.  This journey often took three days in good weather and sometimes much longer in winter weather.  The citizens of Heber pushed to have a railroad and in 1899, the first Rio Grande Western train arrived.   At that time, Heber was one of the largest sheep producing regions in the world and more sheep often rode the train than anything else.

In 1938, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation came to Heber to build Deer Creek Dam which would create the waters of Deer Creek Reservoir.   However the tracks ran right in the center of the construction. Tracks were removed and new tracks took two years to build to accommodate the new body of water.  In 1940 trains started using the “new line” but by 1968, the last Rio Grande freight train went out of Heber City.  In 1971 the railroad was purchased by UDOT and from then until 1990 it became a tourist attraction.  In 1990 it went out of business and after much ado by the citizens of Heber and railroad enthusiasts, the Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority was created and in 1993 the Railroad began running again as a tourist and historic attraction. 

And yes I have pictures:

Our train - engine, passenger car, snack car, and passenger car.  We were in the car directly behind the engine.  The very last car was purchased from the Lackawanna Railroad in Pennsylvania.

The train took us through parts of Heber City past homes and farms:

Along side the Deer Creek Reservoir:

At Depot Bay, we stopped, enjoyed the scenery, and were entertained by a fiddler player and then Crazy Annie (who was wonderful) while the engine went to the front of the train to take us back to the station.

It was a nice little train ride.  I think the next time we are here, we will take the lunch ride into the canyon.

On our way back we stopped at Deer Creek State Park:

And then Bridal Veil Falls:

Back at the lodge, we met up with our neighbors, who are all Escapees, and had a great dinner while getting to know each other.

Another wonderful day!