St George, Utah ( Huntsman Senior Games)

We arrived at St George Resort north of St George, near Leed, UT on Friday, Oct 2 around noon.  We had a few problems with check-in.  The lady (using the term loosely) told us we absolutely didn’t have reservations.  That they were closed to Coast to Coast reservations for the two week of the Senior Games.  I disputed that claim but she told me I’d have to call Coast to Coast.  I went back to the motorhome and was in the process of calling them when she came to the door and said she had found our reservation.  Funny how that happened!  It was definitely not the greatest site in the world as you can see from the pictures. 
 
After settling in we took a short nap and then were raring to go.  So off we went to find some Geocaches.  We found 5 that afternoon.  It is such beautiful country.
This outfit came into the park while we were there, a contradiction to the saying “You can’t take it with you.”
 






The picture below shows a very unusual cache.  I guess they don’t have to worry about rain in this part of the country so they had it taped to the inside of a brace for a post.  We signed the log and were on our way.

  

Saturday a.m. we had some breakfast and decided to go find some more Geocaches.  We were on #3 when we saw our friends Jim & Peggy drive by headed for the campground.  We knew it would take them a while to settle in so we finished the five caches we were after.  One was an old CCC camp.  The workers there had been involved in developing Zion National Park.  This cache was a multi (meaning you find the first one which has the coordinates for the next step of the cache).  The first was actually under the edge of the roof and the second was along the fence line.  When we got back to camp Jim & Peg were about ready for happy hour. 

On Sunday we were scheduled to check-in at the registration desk for the Huntsman Senior Games.  Early that morning Jim & Peggy baked a birthday cake for Gary’s Birthday.  After a light lunch we headed in to register.  There were an estimated 9300 registered athletes.  I wonder what St George is really like without the 9300+ additional folks.  That evening Jim cooked steaks and Peggy made all the fixens for the birthday dinner which was topped off with ice cream & cake. 

On Monday morning the Square Dancing began.  Ken Bower and Gary Shoemake were the callers for the week and Steve Harris was the Round Dance cuer.  The first day consisted of setting up teams if you didn’t already have one and then trying to do some practicing with those dancers.  On Tuesday the competition began at 9 a.m.  We competed in three divisions:  Mainstream, Plus and Random.  In the Random category  each couple’s names were drawn for a team.  No preselected squares for this one.  Thought maybe we would have a chance in that one but we ended up in 5th place.  No medals this year for the Cunninghams.  We were glad to have the competition behind us so that we could just have fun after that. 
It was a beautiful hall with a wonderful floor.  I’m going to enclose a group of photos that will show you the facilities and some of the dancers. 

View Full Album

This is a video I took of the dancers when one member was in a wheel chair.  We later had the opportunity to dance with her, she is a great dancer.    It is the first time we have posted a video.     If your connection is kind of slow you might have to wait for it to download before playing it. 

Tuesday evening was the opening ceremonies.  I don’t know why but for some reason neither of us took a camera so you will just have to use your imagination.  It wasn’t quite the quality of the China ceremonies but it was a great show.  It was put on by Diamond Talent Productions.  Their dance troupe called Pizzaz presented the Flag Extravaganza “Welcome to the World”.  I believe there were over 90 countries represented.  Other performers were “The Strings of Dixie” a violin group from age 6 to 18; American Idol finalist Taylor Vaifanua and others.  Melanie Roach, Olympic Weightlifter was the featured speaker.  There were some fireworks during the performance but the ones at the end were spectacular.  Oh! I almost forgot to give credit to the skydivers who entered the stadium from above, one was carrying the US Flag and did a fantastic job. 
There were 33 general categories of games with many divisions of each.  If you are thinking that you couldn’t participate, just not physically able, you are probably wrong.  They even have chess and bridge. 
On Friday when all our events were completed we had some time to look around and see some of the other events.  The pickleball players were practicing near where we had parked our motorhome for our final days in St George.   The Lawn Bowlers were also in that area.  We enjoyed watching them for quite a while.  The judge was sitting near us.  He lives here now but is from England.

His wife was playing as were some friends who had come over from England to play.  He was a chatty fellow and loved telling us the rules and how it was played.  He didn’t play, he was a golfer and will be playing next week.  Here is his friend who came from England for the games.  The one standing like a broomstick. 

Here the Judge is measuring. 






There were 250 softball teams here this year.  When they did the grand march they had the softball teams enter from one end and all the other sports enter from the other end.  It you are interested and want to find out more about the games here is their web site:     http://www.seniorgames.net/
Instead of having a banquet for some of the sports they gave a $10 ticket in our packet with a list of restaurants that would accept them.  We chose to go about mid-afternoon on Friday and went to the Brazialian Steakhouse.  It was advertised as all you can eat meat.  We didn’t quite know what to expect but wanted to try something different.  It was wonderful.  When you went in the waitress explained that this little container on the table was for your meat.  It had a green end and a red end.  If you want meat you put the green end up, if you want to take a break you put the red end up, then when you are finished and want your check you just lay it down.  They had a wonderful salad bar and hot side dishes that were served buffet style.  The waiter would come out with a big skewer with meat on it.  If you wanted it he would slice some off and you would grab it with your tongs.  It was all fabulous and we ate too much as we all do when we go to a buffet but it was really delicious. 

After lunch we decided to investigate the Quilt shop we had seen on the second floor of the same building.  It was quite a surprise when we entered.  It had about 6 open arm quilting machines.  They rent them by the hour.  You take your quilt in and you can quilt it yourself.  Presently it is $10 per hour but starting Nov 1 they are increasing their price to $15.  They said you could do a large queen in about 3 to 4 hours.  We were able to wander around, ask questions of both the proprietor and the people quilting.  The proprietor was a gentleman, he said both he and his father had really gotten hooked on quilting several years ago.  His father is 82 and makes several every year.  His mother makes them too but that didn’t seem so unusual. 

 






Here she is doing the final stitching along the end:

Friday night we attended a wonderful piano concert at the Tabernacle.  The 9’ Steinway piano and the acoustics of the Tabernacle made for a wonderful concert.  James Oneil Miner was the performer.  He has performed in many countries, 39 of the 50 states and recorded 12 albums.  We enjoyed it very much. 
This morning we went to breakfast and then attended a Classic/Rod Car Show in Washington, UT.  Washington is just north of St George.

Following our visit to the car show we drove to the northwest corner of Zion where there is a Visitors Center and a 5 mile drive.  We also did a 1 mile hike to an overlook.  Those red cliffs are certainly breathtaking. 













As we left the park entrance we found this scene.  The car appeared to have come from the overpass.  We had to go north to the next exit so we could go south back to town.  Don’t know who/how many were hurt.

Tomorrow we are off to Lake Mead.  Happy Trails!

Scotts Bluff, NE to Canon City, Colorado

Wow!  It has been hectic since we left Hart Ranch.   We had intended to leave on the 21st but the wind was horrible and we got a bit of rain.    We left Rapid City on Sept 22, headed for Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

We had been near there in previous years but never took the time to see the area.  We did the beautiful drive to the top of the bluff.

That cold front that had moved in made it a little uncomfortable up there, along with the wind.  Gary kept saying “Did I ever tell you how much I hate winter?”

Along the river is a really nice (paved) path.  We didn’t walk too far, but it went a long ways since there was a cache along it.  Too cold for comfort.

It was a pretty nice town and we picked up a few Geocaches while we were there as well as fixed the brakes on the car.  Strangest thing…when we arrived in Wal-Mart at Scottsbluff and were unhooking the car, we discovered that we had no brakes on the Honda!!  All the way to the floor.  Yikes!!  After Gary did some crawling around underneath he found that one of the bleeder screws on the rear brake cylinder was missing.  Just plain gone!  How that happened is something we will probably never know.  Gary did a fluid change out a couple years ago, that was the last time it was touched by us.  It’s silly to suspect vandalism, but nothing makes any sense.  Anyway, he figured he would have to buy an entire new cylinder, and after an inquiry found there was a parts store down the street a ways within walking distance.  When he got there he discovered they would have to order the brake cylinder, so he asked if, by chance, they had separate bleeder screws.  They did, and he bought a package of two.  The store wasn’t  real sure it would be the correct one… but it was, and after heading into Wal-Mart to buy a bottle of brake fluid and bleeding the brakes there in the parking lot, we were back in business.

On the way out of town we noticed these sad, sad sunflowers.  Actually these were the first ones that you could even see the faces on.  The others were really sad, looking at the ground. 

From Scotts Bluff we continued on to Cheyenne, WY., where we spent two nights at the F.E. Warren AFB campground.  The plan was for one night but when we arrived and checked the weather reports we found it was snowing above Colorado Springs.  Not knowing how long it would take to stop snowing and warm up we cancelled our reservations for Monument, CO at the Coast to Coast park there.  We did more Geocaching in Cheyenne, and found 10 or 11 during the two days we spent there.  One of the caches took us to this interesting cornerstone, not hidden exactly, but not where most folks would be able to see it:

Located inside one of the shoes was a small cache.  This was along one of the lesser streets.  It was interesting, sort of...

Here's where the grandaddy of 'em all rodeo is held:

On Friday the 25^th it sounded like the snow was over and it had warmed up so we went on to Monument, Colo.   It is about 25 miles north of Colorado Springs.  On Friday evening we were able to meet up with our niece Nancy and her husband David:

Meet their cat: 

They have a business in Colorado Springs called "Lightening Lube".  We were anxious to see it and got the full tour.  When closing time came, we stopped at their house so they could change clothes and went out to dinner at a really nice Mexican Restaurant, and returned to their house for some more catching up on family news.  David knew where there were 500 goats contracted to eat weeds:

As it happened, Eloise's bicycle tire had developed a bulge, and needed replacement.  My front wheel was bent and the bike shop in Rapid City had pronounced it as good as it was going to be.  Along the fence where the goats were, there was a 26" wheel and a separate not too bad tire.  No tube or bike frame in evidence.  David decided it looked pretty much like litter to him, and after asking if it would work for us, grabbed them  and took to the car for us.  I mounted the tire on E's bike, and put the wheel on my bike.  Two birds, one stone, and a fearless nephew!

Next day we were able to meet up with our friends Jim and Peggy, and took off for Seven Falls, a major attraction consisting of six spectacular water falls.  (No, seven, just testing you).

This is what the brochure says:
Next to the Falls, a 224 step stairway leads to a system of trails that will take you to "Midnight Falls" and then onto Inspiration Point with a breath-taking view of Colorado Springs and the great plains beyond.  Wildlife is everywhere, including hummingbirds, rainbow trout and the rare, waterfall nesting-American Dipper, Blasted 14 stories straight up through solid granite, a mountain elevator safely transports all who venture here to the "Eagles Nest" platform where the most spectacular view of Seven Falls is experienced.


Seven Falls is located just ten minutes from downtown Colorado Springs via Cheyenne Blvd, and is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.   From Mid-May to Labor Day the summer nights come along with a fascinating glow.  The entire canyon is illuminated in a veil of light, culminating with the Seven Falls in a brilliant display of color".

Their web site is really good, and has sound and pictures of the evening lighting:
http://www.sevenfalls.com/home/index.cfm

Well, we did ALL the hikes and did ALL the 224 stairs (each way) and the elevator!  The elevator took you to a viewing platform, but ultimately didn't save you any steps!  It was a beautiful area with lots of scenic views.

Jim & Peg were staying at the Elks Club RV lot.  While we were there we also saw square dance friends from Mesa.  Bill and Jerene were parked just behind Jim and Peggy, so we all had a nice little happy hour after our hikes and then went to dinner at a very good local Pizza place.  Sunday was another busy day.  Jim and Peg had been waiting several days for the snow to melt enough to go to the top of Pikes Peak.  Finally on Sunday the cog rail was able to go all the way.  Since we had been thee in years past, we spent the day getting caught up on laundry, a little shopping and some cooking.

We all took off in our motorhomes for the Royal Gorge next day, where Jim had located a free Canon City RV park.  It was back from the road a mile on dirt with some hefty ruts, but NOTHING was going to keep us from our destination!  It was ideally situated to access the Royal Gorge attractions.  That evening we ventured into nearby Canon City (pronounced canyon), to see where we would be boarding the train that runs at the base of the gorge along the river and to purchase our tickets.  On the way we found Skyline Drive that circles around on top of a ridge West of town.  Looking either direction from the road was straight down...a LONG way!

Sunrise at our campground.  (Not a typo, really, we were up!)

 

At the camp.

On Tuesday we took the train ride down into the Gorge.  What a beautiful experience.  The weather was perfect and we were able to ride almost all the way on the outdoor viewing platform.  What a trip!  When we were here before we rode a dumb little train that took us out on the edge of the gorge.  At that time we promised ourselves if we came back we would do it all...properly!!

Vista Dome Cars for richer than us kind:

This flat car is where we spent most of the ride -- way cool!  Cool meaning hip, not cold!

Here are some pictures of this train and/or tracks, taken from the gorge bridge:

 

The train trip was great and I'd recommend it for anyone.  As soon as we finished that trip we ran home and had a bite of lunch and headed for the Royal Gorge Park.  If you buy tickets before 9:30 you can get them for half-price!!  We were staying just up the road so Jim was the designated ticket-picker-upper.  He did that before breakfast.  We did the INCLINE RAILWAY down to the bottom of the canyon, the TRAMWAY across the gorge and ended up walking the bridge 3 times!! We had overlooked the theater since all the stuff around it was closed this time of year.  After the incline raliway, we checked our map to see if we had done everything and discovered the theater was on the 'other' side.  It was worth the effort though to watch the film and see the museum.  I think everyone was really tired by the time we got back to camp.  Of course the campers the night before hadn't helped, they were rowdy all night long, yelling and running around.  Of course Jim heard none of it.  He says he goes to bed to sleep, not listen to the neighbors.  But, just so you know, when Jim takes his hearing aids out, he hears nothing!!  Oh, well, we survived and after a short nap we grilled some burgers and had ice cream for dessert.

This unusual 'water' clock was in the entry to the park:  

Here are some views from the TRAM:

That's the gorge bridge.

The SKY COASTER was here too.  Didn't get good shots of this because there weren't many idiots going on it that day.  You lie down on your belly, and swing out over the gorge.  Eloise and Peg were chicken, so Jim and I didn't want to make them feel bad by going without them.  That's his story!

The park has a zoo of sorts.  Looked kinda sorry to me, but there was in fact a fairly rare white buffalo, the Indians used to think were pretty special.  Here he is:

We come now to the gorge bridge...cars/trucks can be driven on it.  It isn't a major thoroughfare though, it was built simply as a tourist attraction.  The highest bridge in the world was built in 7 months, dedicated on December 7, 1929.

The INCLINE RAILWAY was the least exciting attraction to me.  You can't really see out of the cages to take in the scene.  It is sandwiched in between two mountains so there wasn't much view except straight ahead.  You get a sense of dropping/rising at an acute angle.  Without adequate viewing, the spectacle is lost:

Eloise and I took a lot of pictures at the gorge, but none of them do justice to the beauty of this place.  This is a taste of the spectacle that this gorge is.  It has to be seen.  If you can manage to visit the Royal Gorge you won't regret it.

Before we got into St George for the Senior Games, we traveled on Hwy 50 through some lovely Colorado countryside: 

Along the way we passed thru the town of Gunnison, CO.  There was a convenient place to pull off the road at the visitor's center, that also had a nice city park next to it.  We had lunch in the rig, and went outside to find a geocache and to the sight of carvings made on tree stumps.  Instead of just cutting the tree stump close to the ground, they were cut 6-10 feet high, and wood carvers make them into interesting things and shapes:

 

 

See you next at the "Games"!