An Impromptu Family Outing

We were thinking of going camping this Memorial Day weekend, but a storm front came in and brought with it nasty strong winds on Friday and Saturday and cold temperatures during the night (I won’t even go on about the frost that occurred a full week and a half after the supposed last frost free day that took out some of my tomato and pepper plants!) so we decided against camping.  Instead we went on a family adventure around the North Kaibab National Forest where Dustin works which is along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. 

First we stopped at the Big Springs Forest Service Administrative Site.  Dustin had a project there this week patching a hole in the bottom of one of the ponds that then overflows and provides his horse pasture with water.  The pond was full of water, so he was happy to see that his project worked.  We also took apples to the horses.

Austin had fun throwing rocks in the pond.

Checking out the spring at Big Springs.

Next we went to So What's Point overlook of the Grand Canyon.  Dustin has led a couple of work parties by packing the horses threw the canyons you can see below.  He was able to point out different projects from up above.





The local fauna.



Next we ventured further east towards the Park Service area.  Austin fell asleep for his nap, so we just drove and I suggested we go to Fire Point Overlook.  Several years ago one of Dustin's coworkers died in a motorcycle crash and his family spread his ashes at Fire Point, so I was always curious to see it since they thought it was such a beautiful and tranquil location. 

It was beautiful, but the unfortunate thing was when we arrived there was another couple there and they had a dog.  Right away the dog ran up to our Xterra and was barking and growling ferociously.  Dustin had already jumped out, but I was hanging in the car until we saw what the dog was going to do, I am not at all a dog person anyway.  It came right up to Dustin and was acting like he was about to bite.  The dumb owner was all slow and acting like he thought he could just call off the dog simple as that.  He said "oh, he is just really protective."  He finally grabbed the dog and pulled him away from Dustin.  Then he asked Dustin if he wanted to pet him.  It's like come on man, that crazy dog just acted like it wanted to take off Dustin's hand and you want him to pet it?  Just take it away!  I hate dog owners like that, they defend their vicious dog just as the dog is about to maul you. 

These flowers were such a vivid pink, the photo does not do them justice at all.  It's amazing to me the beautiful things that will grow in the harsh desert environment.



29 Week Bump.

After Fire Point we stopped at Jacob Lake Inn for dinner.  They changed up there menu and had some fun new dishes that were really delicious.  I ate way too much, but it was oh so good!  The perfect end to the perfect day.