eurojenny

Alaska Road Trip Day 4

Thursday, 21 August

Alberta and British Columbia. 500 miles. Drove up to Lake Louise, Had to pay $36 for a parking spot a 20-minute walk away. Ugh.

And when I got up there, this is what it looked like. So many people! so I didn’t stay long.

People looked at me like I’m crazy when I put my feet in. It’s ice cold.

I found a lovely secluded spot next to the river 😊

Hemlock Grove in Glacier national Park. The one in Canada he he.

So much water cutting through the bridge!

I climbed down to the rocks just above the falls

Makes my heart pound

Got thoroughly misted

Sloooooowwwwww

Cool confluence of glacier run-off river and regular.

Of course I climbed out on the rocks for a closer look haha

Drove up the Icefields Parkway which was just stunning the whole way!

Grabbed some river pics as the sun was setting

Glaciers and glaciers as far as the eye can see!

Pulled into Whistlers campground at Jasper at 10:30 pm. What a day!!

Alaska Road Trip 2025 Days 1, 2, and 3

Monday, 18 August

Utah, Idaho, Montana. 554 miles.

Teeth care for my aligners in a rest stop…first in a long string

Florence’s exquisite chocolates in Rexburg…thanks Kaylie for introducing me to these nuggets of sunshine 😊

Then I hiked out to the brink of Upper Mesa Falls

Whoa!!!

Historic Falls Inn (closed for renovation)

Took a shot of just the spire since it looks ghostly in the ones of the whole temple

Slept at a rest stop just north of Helena

Tuesday, 19 August

Montana and Alberta Canada. 290 miles.

Border crossing was surprisingly fast and easy. Didn’t even check my registration! All that work for nothing! But I’m glad that I didn’t have to worry about it 😊

Did baptisms 💚 the font is beautiful tile.

Spent the rest of the day at Waterton Lakes (amazing!!)

And to listen to the roar 😊

So much fire damage! But it’s encouraging to see all the new growth

Great waterfall day!

Red Rock Canyon is stunning from above..

…but decidedly cooler and more fun while you’re in it!!

Just sat there chillin’ with my feet getting more and more numb. Delightful haha

Wednesday, 20 August

Alaska Road Trip Day 3…Alberta and British Columbia. 326 miles.

Woke and read scriptures with the beautiful sunrise

Banff National Park

Cave and Basin…Canada’s first national park

The underground cave and spring…really cool

Did a little hike through the marsh below the springs

…but is really a slow stream with crazy white mineral deposits!

Lunch at the farmers market in town. Garlic cheese bread 😍

And poutine!

Bow Falls

Johnston Canyon

Lower Falls

There was a huge line in front of this little cave

This was why! Great view of the falls from here!

Continental divide

Kootenay National Park

Everywhere was so crowded! I was so happy to finally get a few minutes alone with nature

It’s no Yellowstone but they’re doing their best haha

Then I sprawled on a rock right above those falls. Scary and delightful 😊

Campsite at Marble Canyon…purty nice view!

California road trip April 25

Took a solo road trip up to the Bay Area through some beautiful country!

Saturday, 26 April

Pinnacles National Park

Just did a quick hike since it was pouring rain!

Fremont Peak State Park

I went for a Star party at the observatory. Started out clear…

But alas, it didn’t last and the event got cancelled 😥

But I did the short hike to the top and that was so worth it! Beautiful!

It was a cold, rainy, foggy, vaguely creepy night in a mostly empty campground 😁

Sunday, 27 April

Drove down the mountain early for a day of beach and state park hopping

Went to church in Watsonville and then hit the Forest of Nisene Marks

This was carved into some wood. Glanced and thought it said Rory and not Froy. Immediately sent it to Ada and Rory…loved it!

Seacliff state beach has a replica of the sunk ship in the gift shop

The coolest grove of trees next to the beach!

Waddell Beach: part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park

My favorite combo…redwoods and beaches right next to each other

Watched the sunset at Half Moon Bay State Beach

Last one before turning inland and driving into deep redwood territory

Monday, 28 April

Drove a crazy windy long way and got to Big Basin Redwoods quite late. Slept in my car in the parking lot. This is what I woke up to!

So much fire damage from the fire a few years ago

But also so much new growth! Life carries on!

Drove less than an hour to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Love this one little white flower sticking up from a field of clover

On the way home I hit Soda Lake at Carrizzo Plain National Monument

Crazy dry place…quite a change from that morning

Last stop Tule Elk State Natural Reserve

Disney gave CMs who registered quickly a free comp ticket and a preview ride on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ahead of its opening on Nov 15th. So I took Ada. Her friend Miranda came along because they had been hoping to get a trip together for a while now. We flew from Provo on Monday morning and back Wednesday afternoon. Spent 2 days in the parks and then a chill last morning, lunch at the hotel, and an Uber to the Santa Ana airport.

I love the way a Disney hotel greets you. Disney music softly plays in the background 😊

This was Ada’s first time staying at a Disney hotel. We stayed in the fantasy tower. Fun flooring

No Mr Toad though 😢 Ada was very disappointed haha

The final paper tickets. They won’t be printing them anymore

Big Thunder is always a great start to any day

Pooh bear!! My friend Eddie let us go twice

We got return times for everything we could.

Afternoon break…I went to physical therapy, they napped, then we all went for a swim. Warm water but chilly when you got out! Hot tub was perfect 😊

Heading back to the parks aboard a haunted elevator. They had lots of mansion decor at the hotel

Started day to at DCA with racers and then guardians

Posed with the horseman before doing soarin

Spent a little solo time in the wilderness area

You can see where the villains’ grove magic happens

I got the high score but it was really fun because I was alone

Fun surprise when we got back to the room!

After the break we went back to Disneyland. We tried to get Miranda on Tiana’s for the preview too but they were really strict about Cast +1. We got soaked!!!!

29 October was my hire date. Two years with the company!

Celebrated with a button next to the boat where I started 😊

I didn’t get to spend much time with just Ada. We only went on on ride just her and me (Tiana). My knee often needed more room so Ada and Miranda would go together. And the scooter is low down and not easily walking speed so I really spent a lot of time alone. But it was a very fun trip

WDW Oct 24 with Gary Em and Jason

16-22 October

I flew to Orlando from LAX Wednesday morning (needed a direct flight) and lucked out with a not full flight and sweet flight attendants who got me a spot closer to the front with a seat next to me so I could stretch out my leg. And the airport accessibility team had a wheelchair waiting for me when I got off the plane. So that wasn’t too bad. Took a mears connect to my resort (art of animation) and my room was ready so I got settled. Gary and fam were supposed to be there late that night but their flight got moved forward a whole day so I did the first day and a half on my own.

The Cars Suite is so adorable. This foldout couch is where Em slept.

I slept on the fold-down bed in here. And did my knee bending exercises on the table

Gary and Jason took this bed (although I did the first night since I was alone!)

I did a little work, some laundry, and went for a swim. It was actually quite cold getting out. Windy. Think it got down to like 50 degrees

Set off on my scooter on the Skyliner to Epcot for the evening. Had fish and chips and bought yummy candy from Grest Britain and tried for a fresh baguette at France but they were out 🙁.

Day 2 Epcot again. Bought this awesome Totoro sweater from the Japan pavilion

Impossible spicy kielbasa and pineapple/watermelon dole whip

Incredible key lime tart. Love the food festival!

Walked through the Moana water stuff. It’s so pretty here!

Went back and did some work and had a swim at the big blue pool. The lifeguard there made me take off my fins (I guess they are not allowed!) so that was sad

Tried not to gloat too hard when I received this picture of what’s happening back in Utah haha

Went back to Epcot after the break and rode cosmic rewind. It took forever and I missed luminous because of it 😥 but it’s still the greatest ride!

Day 3 – Magic Kingdom with the rest of the gang

Did a few rides while lines were short and then got called for Tiana!!

Took a bus to Hollywood studios to have lunch at Woody’s bbq roundup. What a fun time! Our server Carmelo really added an extra spark

After the break we took the Skyliner back to Hollywood studios

Dinner at the sci-fi drive in theatre restaurant (fun and delicious as always!) and then we watched fantasmic!

Day 4 – Animal Kingdom. Pandora first (flight of passage and then this one (the Navi river ride)

After festival of the lion king and lunch at Yak and Yeti, we got in the Everest line. I let Jason drive some while I stood and stretched my legs. Then I realized that I dropped my fuelrod charger somewhere and my phone was almost dead. Got out of line to go find it (it was at the restaurant!) and missed the ride 😢

Well they were beat. I was just chillin on my scooter

After the break – Magic Kingdom. Did the Aladdin ride

Fun night. Caught a little bit of fireworks. Ended by shopping on Main Street

Day 5 – went to church and walked the outside of the temple grounds (they are renovating)

I found the cutest steamboat Willie weighted plush that I did NOT buy (I know. Restraint.)

Went to Disney Springs and had fish and chips and got Gideon’s cookies.

Day 6 – Epcot! Breakfast in the Skyliner on the way over

Got there early so while we were waiting for rope drop, we played around in the deserted Great Britain pavilion. Everyone took a turn on the scooter.

Em went back to the hotel while white Tower of Terror!!!

That you get to on a space elevator 😊

It was cool and I had wanted to go fir awhile and Jason was so excited to go, but I was disappointed in how expensive it was (they didn’t give a cast discount and it cost $440 for the 4 of us! And it took like 2 hours! So we mussed ratatoille and getting a baguette to go and part of luminous. Not too big a deal for them because they did those things later but that was my last night and I really wanted to do them.

And being in a scooter means that I didn’t get a good view u til the post-show when everyone left. We took our time, moseyed through the lit-up pavilions, and it still took us an hour to get back on the Skyliner.

Left very early the next morning for Utah. A very fun trip despite the disappointing last night 😊

Taylor Beach Camping and Disney

11-15 Oct

After presenting 2 GSLC workshops at the UtSta conference in Layton, I flew to SoCal. Went to Disney that night by myself and then Saturday some with Mackensie. Had a lovely time.

Steve flew in Sunday morning. I went to the Samoan ward for sacrament before picking him up.

We had time to kill before we could check in to our hotel so we went to cafe Sevilla in Long Beach.

Everything was delicious! Including the paella!

I would definitely like to go there again

We went to Doheny Beach and hung out with the Freelands a little bit before checking into our hotel, which was just across the street. Here’s the view from our balcony.

We got upgraded to a suite because our room wasn’t ready as promised. A really nice suite with a patio and a balcony and a full tub and a separate living room.

I finally made it back over to the beach after a long nap and some icing

Steve’s uncle Dave was there with his partner Darren and Darren’s mother. It was really nice to hang out and have dinner.

On Monday, everyone hung out at the beach but I headed in to my place in Anaheim to work, swim, and go to physical therapy.

Tuesday…Disney! Me and Steve, Ken and Nora, Robin, Zay, and Darren, and the Freelands including Eileen. Jonah was not having pictures 😊

The person taking the photo took one before we were posed haha

We had several rides go down when we were in the line (including here at Rise of the Resistance)…

…but we were able to get some shorter times because of the scooter.

And had great food! Smokejumpers for lunch…

Blue Bayou for dinner (and carnation cafe for breakfast!). It was a lovely day!

CA with Gary and Claire

17-21 Sept Flew down for Claire’s trip with her dad.

The next morning, my roommate Mackensie joined us

Claire was really scared to do space mountain but now she loves it!

Same with Incredicoaster. So proud of her!

We got in the virtual queue for haunted mansion. My favorite bit each year…the gingerbread house!

She almost did guardians…Gary and I both love that ride so we went anyway

Ate at the blue bayou. Fun with a Mickey glow cube

Claire really wanted to see the Queen Mary and I had never been so we spent Friday morning and early afternoon doing that

We did the paranormal tour which I thought was pretty contrived but Claire liked it. Gary pushed me in a wheelchair all over the ship

The coolest and scariest bit…the boiler rooms

Then we went to my favorite beach El Matador State beach.

We had planned to go to several beaches but the Queen Mary took way longer than we had thought

Claire went looking fur shells and she found so many!

I wanted to get to Solvang on Friday night but we didn’t get over there until almost 10 so we just went to the hotel and came back Saturday morning.

We had aebleskivers for breakfast and then looked through the shops. Found Ada’s gift shop

Had lunch at my favorite restaurant there. Gary and Claire both loved the town. I’m so glad that we went!

Knee replacements

24 July Steve prepped my non-surgical leg 😊

25 July right knee replacement approaching. My own clothes

26 Oct the first in a long line of meals brought in by people in the ward. So kind!

28 July A few days later thought it might be infected but the redness was just from swelling

1 Aug Plenty of time to watch movies with Steve.

8 Aug Got the bandage off at 2 weeks. Healing very nicely!

Cool bionic knees! No wonder this hurts so bad!!!

10 August. Girls night at my place. We played Gabe’s, ate junk food, talked, laughed, took a series of goofy pictures. 😊

What would I do without the cold therapy machine. What a lifesaver!!

Bought a great new chair so that I can enjoy the backyard

Jul recommended that I celebrate the things I can do instead of focusing on what I can’t. So I made a list of celebrations!

Had to go to my aunt Nikki’s funeral. Such a sad occasion.

1 Sept did a speed puzzling contest with En. It was lovely.

10 sept. Back in the hospital! Not enough bend so the surgeon did a manipulation under anesthesia.

This is how much my knee bent. Set it as my lock screen to remind myself.

18 Sept In Anaheim, I turned my regular bike into a stationary one for knee crunching’

I didn’t want to lose momentum so I swam every day and went through checklists of exercises, including this beaut on the scooter

4 Oct. got a new therapist and they have a cool knee crunching machine

See?

30 Oct Steve drew me some awesome scar monsters for my other surgery on Halloween

I got freaked out when I first saw my leg. The crooked bandage made me think my knee was crooked!

Colorado Road Trip

One last road trip before my knee replacement.

Friday, 19 July

The main entrance was closed so I drive around from to a little spot on the north side

Spur of the moment, decided to drive up through the canyon portion of Dinosaur National Monument

Drove out to the end of the road and then hiked out to Harper’s Corner

Found a peaceful spot to sit and watch the big birds

It was a long hike and my knees were shot but it was well worth it

Went back to the first overlook, K made a grilled sandwich for dinner and watched the sunset

Slept in my car in Craig.

Saturday, 20 July

Stunning drive all morning through the northern part of Colorado

Met Dave in Estes Park at about noon. We rode the Aerial Tramway up as something to do while we waited for the 2pm no-reservations-needed time at Rocky Mountain. This is the view of the town from the top. We eat our Subway lunch and chilled at the top for a bit

The trip down

We finally made it into the park after an hour and a half wait at the gate. 🙁 And we didn’t even get in line right at 2 like I’m sure lots of people did. Turns out there was only one (!) person doing all the admitting

Sat and talked for quite awhile at this viewpoint

Hiked out a bit and encountered lots of elk

We would have stayed longer in the park but we were almost out of water and everything at the top was closed. No drinking fountains either.

When we get back down to the tramway parking area where we left Dave’s bike, they were closed and the parking lot was blocked off. So we ended up pushing Dave’s bike down a little hillside in order to free it! And it stayed raining so he rode in stormy weather most of the way back to his place. It was a crazy day!

Stopped at Oskar Blues Grill in Lyons for dinner. Good food and a fun Elvis to pose with. I got sleepy about 45 minutes out from Dave’s place, do I stopped and slept in my car somewhere in Lakewood.

Sunday, 21 July found a church and attended sacrament and then headed to Dave’s place. We chatted and then he agreed to go out to Garden of the Gods with me. He drove his bike since I was heading on from there.

It’s stunning! And free to the public always.

We miscommunicated and had trouble meeting up but we finally did and took a short hike through the formations.

We had planned to go to the Airplane Restaurant in Colorado Springs but by the time we finished it was already much later than I had planned to leave the area and it was starting to rain again so we parted ways so that Dave could hopefully stay ahead of the storm.

Made it to Great Sand Dunes with enough time to walk out to the dunes and chill for an hour or so on the sand

I would have done some rolling but my knees had already had a tough day and still had the trek to the car

I love how it feels on my bare feet. Ada would have been in hell

Drove for a few more hours and slept in South Fork CO

Monday, 22 June

Awakened by the sun coming through my window. As per ushe

Got to Chimney Rock NM right as they opened. Was the first one up on the trail.

There’s Chimney Rock. They don’t allow you to hike out any further than this.

They think that there are astronomical reasons for the settlement to be right here. The sun appears right between the rocks at a certain point once every 18 years

The hike out there had some scary narrow parts!

With some bats roosting in the entrance 😊

Yucca House NM. Basically a short wall in an unkempt field.

Unless there is more hidden in this mess 😊

Beautiful views on the way to Capitol Reef. Lake Powell area

Tuesday, 23 July

Sun peeking out over my car where I stopped for the night a few minutes east of the park

I had hoped to snag pies from the Gifford House but I had to be home by noon so I got some banana bread from the general store in Torrey and headed out!

Cabin Fun 2024

I miss being in California but I have loved how much I have been able to come up to the cabin!

27 June Poulsbo Taylors, Teri, Steve, and me

Could live my life in a hammock 😊

Crazy thunderstorm that night

Jim stayed for an additional 2 weeks to help out with cabin projects. For the first week, I planned bought and cooked all the food so that everyone could just focus on the work. It was so much fun! Got a lot of electrical done. Built some walls upstairs, planned what to do in the bathrooms.