The Party Ends

The California gang had a great time. They spent time each day exploring the countryside around Escalante, piling everyone into the 15 passenger van that Guy rented in Las Vegas to get them all here.  After lots of good meals and expeditions, we all had a great time. On Sunday morning, they loaded themselves and their luggage back into the van to return to Vegas and catch the plane back to San Jose. Here is the group (plus Howard and Phil) ready to load up for their departure from Escalante.

Escalante (and surrounds) Scenery

The scenery in and around Escalante never fails to amaze me, and I am always trying to capture some of its grandeur and stunning colors with my camera. Here are a couple of those attempts. The first photo is of the slick rock through which Highway 12 winds between Escalante and Boulder, Utah, 30 miles to the east. The dripping contours of this slick rock fascinate me. The second picture is of the valley just behind Howard's house, to the north. This is a scene I see several times a day as I walk from the Bell House, where we ate all our meals and gathered, to Howard's house. The final scene is of a tall slot canyon I noticed high up on the cliffs on the north side of that valley, often hidden to the eye but the light was just right late one afternoon for me to see it. You become very aware of light and shadows here, because the light changes the scenery so much.

Highway 12 twists through the slick rock

View to the north down the street by Howard's house

Slot canyon, hidden high up in the cliffs

Luc has a good time

Grandson Luc had a wonderful time exploring his new surroundings, meeting local dogs, horses, goats, cats, chickens and even some domesticated pigeons. Most of all he loves the many trucks that rolled by him or were parked by the streets. He enjoyed "playing" the electronic piano in Uncle Howard's house, with his sister Siren joining in.  He thought the small adobe houses in the Anasazi Museum in Boulder, Utah were just the right size and spent lots of time running in and out of them. And Grandma Kae's gloves were just the right thing to warm up his cold hands after a morning walk.

at the Anasazi Museum

Walking Tour of Old Escalante Homes

As part of the Arts Festival, we went on a walking tour of Escalante homes, learning about the Mormon layout of the town and the kinds of homes that were constructed. the tour was conducted by Larry Barnes, a friend and neighbor of Howard's and also his partner in ownership of one of the older mercantile buildings, The People's Exchange. Larry, his wife Louise, and Howard have been working on restoring the building, and this year got it into sufficient shape that the fair was able to put a quilt exhibition inside. Larry is a retired museum curator and has made himself a local expert on the towns buildings, and provided lots of interesting information about the different house styles and construction methods. Here are pictures of Larry starting the tour in front of the People's Exchange building, and then two of the houses that still have their original brick exposed (many of them have been covered over with various kinds of siding). 

The Gang in Escalante

The treat this year during our visit to Howard, Phil's brother, and the Escalante Canyons Arts Festival is that we have been joined by son Guy, his wife Joahnna, and our two grandchildren, along with Joahnnas parents and four of her aunts and uncles, none of we whom have been in the southwest (they all live in the Bay Area). Bless Howard, he has cornered enough beds to shove the into the bedrooms of his main house, plus using the living quarters available in the huge Bell house that he owns, that we have accommodations for all. Guy, Joahnna and the kids are at the Bell house, along with Howard, and his main house is serving as the senior center for this visit. The big kitchen and table are at the Bell house, so that's where all the cooking and eating takes place. The California gang arrived last night, after Howard and I spent the day cleaning up the Bell house, and we all settled into a happy dinner last evening. Here is Phil cooking his spaghetti sauce for our dinner, and the second picture shows the entire group around the long dining table. This gives you an idea of how Howard entertains 30 or so guests at Thanksgiving!

Red Cliffs Again

Leaving Ely on Tuesday morning, we drove further south, turning east at Panaca to head into Utah. we stopped at Cedar City for groceries, then headed east over Highway 14, where  enjoyed the aspens turning many colors of yellow and orange. Then as we headed up Highway 12, I finally grabbed my camera and took a couple of shots. Despite the fact that I have hundreds of pictures from my different trips through these mountains and canyons, they astound me anew each time I am here and I can't help taking some pictures. These are shot through the windshield of the moving car, so not great, but a reminder for all of you of the beautiful country we are in.

Charming B&B in Ely, Nevada

On Monday morning we headed south to Utah. Because we like to avoid driving through Salt Lake City, we usually drive through Nevada. From Hailey we just headed south, down the Eastern side of Nevada. There aren't many choices of where to stay--Ely is about it. In looking on the internet for a place that might be interesting, I tried for B&Bs in Ely. There's only one, so I decided to take a chance. a good decision. The "All Aboard Cafe and Inn" is so named because it sits two blocks away from the old railway station, once the center of life in Ely. Now there is a railroad museum there, and the inn is on a very quiet street, a nice bonus for a good nights sleep. It originally was a store, with a butcher shop along side, and rooms to let on the second story. Now the owners operate a restaurant out of the first floor and the B&B on the second floor. The rooms are cozy but ample sized, newly refurbished, with a toilet in each room (yeah!), Plus a balcony where you can enjoy a territorial view. Unfortunately the restaurant is not open on Monday nights, so we ate a very dull meal at the Prospector Inn. But our breakfast the next morning at the B&B was very good. We will make it a point to stop here again, hopefully on a night when the bistro they operate is open.

Here's a picture of the street with the B&B on the right (white and pale green trim) and the railroad station at the end of the street. The second picture is a closer shot of the B&B with its charming side yard--nice shady trees that make a nice place to sit in the hot sun.