Old Rock Church in Providence

This morning we visited Old Rock Church in Providence just across the valley from Mendon. The Church was built by the early Pioneer families who came to Providence by Wagon Train in the mid 1800s. Its use was changed to various things from 1969 but it is now a Bed and Breakfast and Wedding and Event Centre. It is owned by a friend of Carlo's from his College days when they were room mates. It is one of the oldest buildings in the valley.

Completed in 1871 it is only 2 years older than our house back in Langholm

After visiting this building we lunched at Chuckarama which was one of the best we have been to in USA. You pay $12 and there is a buffet you can just help yourself too and return as many times as you like.

It is much cooler this morning and the mountains in the distance have their first snow of the season. The leaves are starting to fall and soon it will be much colder with the skiing season commencing in November. 

This Memorial celebrates the early Settlers that came by Wagon Train in the 1860s

Sidne and Gaye 

An early Wagon which brought the first settlers. How times and transportation have changed in the 160 years since this area was settled by the pioneers. It would take them a year to make the journey from the east to the west.

The Logan Canyon and Bear Lake

After my morning walk we were taken by Carlo and Sidne to Bear Lake about 40 miles away via Logan Canyon. Bear Lake is on the border of Utah and Idaho and covers about 109 sq. miles with an average depth of about 90ft. It was very quiet as the tourist industry almost closes down after Labor Day holiday the first weekend of September. It will pick up again in the winter when skiing and snowmobiling starts. 

Bear Lake is a unique turquoise-blue colour due to the refraction of limestone suspended in the lake. It is a very attractive place but has a lethal hill (8%) from where this photo was taken down to the lakeside 

Sidne and a lady with a big hat bought for a dollar in a Cancer Charity Shop in Los Gatos. 

Gaye minus that hat with our wonderful hosts Carlo and Sidne. We first met them 15 years ago when Fraser and Leslie got engaged and since then we have seen them many times as they have been to Scotland 3 times and we have visited them in Mendon, Utah about 8 times. We have travelled Highway 1 in California with them and also northern California plus a holiday in Hawaii with them and Fraser and Leslie in 2007. They love Scotland and hope to come again sometime soon when Graham Travel service will try and plan something special for them.

A Great Morning Walk and a Freight Train

Another beautiful morning in Utah so I headed off with the intention of seeing the Sandhill Cranes and the old freight railway that runs in front of Carlo & Sidne's house in Mendon.  

This is the railway line which is in a poor state of repair and the huge freight trains that run along it have to go at about 10 miles an hour maximum to avoid damaging it further. There is one train a day and I never expected to see it but today was going to be my lucky day. 

The closest I could get to Sandhill Cranes was two fields away

The view ahead of me on my walk. This is really a very beautiful area. 

Looking westwards back at the house we are staying in shows how lovely a view it has in every direction. 

The view north and more mountains

More Sandhill Cranes flying overhead 

While I was in the marsh area I heard a train klaxon way in the distance so I headed to the level crossing to catch it. It took about 20 minutes to arrive as it was going so slowly. It passed me at a brisk waking pace and had about 40 units in tow. 

We Arrive in Mendon

When we left San Jose an hour late we flew over Fraser in his office at Apple Park. Its an amazing place but I won't be able to visit it on this visit to California as they still don't allow visitors in. I would love to walk round the gardens with the recently planted 7000 mature fruit trees, most of which ar Apple.  

This is Carlo and Sidne's house in Mendon taken from the back garden. It's even more spectacular from the front but the sun was shining into the camera so I will take a photo tomorrow morning. 

Carlo has about 5 acres of Alfalfa which should be harvested soon. He needs to irrigate it twice a week or nothing would grow, but there is plenty of water from the snow run off in the mountains and underground springs.This is only one of his 2 fields.

The view of the side of the house

The view from our bedroom window. The town of Logan is in the distance but in between is marshland so there should never be any development there. There are lots of Sandhill Cranes that have spent the summer here and will shortly be heading off to Mexico for the winter.

An Afternoon on Capitola Beach

I love walking along beaches and my favourite ones are in the Outer Hebrides but a close second is the beaches of California on the Pacific. Today we headed for Capitola Beach which is 45 minutes from Frasers home in Saratoga. I had set off very early this morning to finish my painting project in the new house and by 10.00am it was done so I could go to the beach with a clear conscience. Tommy and his mum were unable to go as he had another Soccer match and won it 6-0. Eleanor just loves the beach and was great company with her granddad.

Fraser with Elliot. Elliot used to be scared of the surf but now just loves it and ended up with a huge wave knocking him off his feet but he just picked himself up and waited for the next one.

Waiting for that big wave

Big waves are no bother to Eleanor

I prefer them small but got caught unawares when I went for a walk and a big wave drenched me.

Gaye is not really a beach person but enjoys a short walk along the beach 

Plenty of action all along the beach

There are some very colourful beach houses in Capitola 

Under the pier

Capitola beach from the pier 

Eleanor back among the surf. She also loves surfing on a body board but not today. 

Next to us on the beach this girl was trying to put up a shelter and it took her exactly 55 minutes to do it. Several times somebody offered to help her but she refused all help. It was great entertainment as it was a job that most people (not me) could have done in 5 minutes.  

The southern end of the beach which is predominately for surfers

Graham Family Painters

The house Fraser has bought in Saratoga was built in 1969 and the kitchen is the original. He has a lot to do to get the house ready to move into including complete rewiring, new floors, new windows, new bathrooms, and complete decoration so him and Leslie have decided to improve the old kitchen but not replace it for a couple of years. They have bought new oven and hob but the cupboards have all had the doors taken off and they will be sanded and painted by Gaye and myself during our holiday. Its a big and messy job but we are enjoying it. 

Gaye is doing the difficult bits 

The sanding has been the dirtiest bit but its all complete now.

This is the primer coat which has to go on both sides and then probably on Friday and Saturday we will finish the gloss coat before we head to Utah for 5 days.

Another Day and Another Pool Party

Day 4 of the Labor Day holiday weekend and another Pool Party. This time its a friend of Leslie's and the pool was at her mothers house. Her husband works for Tesla so I learnt a bit about the Electric Car business in California. The kids had a fabulous time and worked on diving techniques.

The host had a lovely dog who would steel your food given half a chance but it was done with such grace and style you could not be angry at him. 

A year ago Elliot was not keen on the pool but private swimming lessons have given him great confidence and now he is loving it and jumping in without any bother. As a non swimmer I get very envious.

Eleanor must have spent 3 hours in the pool and will certainly sleep tonight as she swam many lengths and dived in  dozens of times

The pool was a bit different from last nights one as it is much older.

Tommy also honing his diving skills

Elliot loves spending time with their neighbour Kelly 

Eleanor with neighbours Mallory and her brother William

The Graham Clan