Author Archives: Elizabeth & Gary's Magic Bus Tour

A "Split Screen" week for E & G

This was an interesting week for E & G.  It started and ended together in Park City – but, 4 days of the week were ‘split’ between Park City for E and Lemoore, CA for Gary;-)
Sunday was a perfect day for us – great massages in Magic in the morning and a wonderful BBQ at friend Sally’s in the evening.  Dinner was especially fun because we got to enjoy Sally’s quaint deck while watching her fix yummy steaks and corn on her grill for the very first time!!
Chef Sally – looking good!

The next morning we went our separate ways.  That is – after E dropped G at the airport at 6 in the morning;-(

E’s next few days included a lot of reading, cleaning of Magic, hosting Book Club (so – some cooking of a delicious mac & cheese casserole), golfing and hiking.  You know – the usual –

Ready for Book Club at the Bus – guess what dessert was???
Hiking Deer Valley on a BEAUTIFUL day.

While E was enjoying the cooler weather of PC, G was baking in Lemoore!  But – it was worth it as he celebrated both Heather’s (July 4th) and Haley’s (July 15th) birthdays;-)

Celebrating Birthdays – guess who is older??

Haley riding her BD present from Gramps and Gramma.

The lights on the helmet twinkle – lots of bling.

After G found his way home, we were back to concerts and checking another item off E’s ‘to do’ list in PC.

First we enjoyed the Music of John Williams performed by the Utah Symphony at Deer Valley –

A perfect night – without rain – for a great concert.  Was this Jaws, Superman or Star Wars??

The “To Do” List Item – There is a VERY large piece of property out our back door and on the other side of the highway at Kimball Junction which is now referred to as the Swaner Nature Preserve.  Although, it began in the 1600’s as an Indian sacred place known as ‘Hole in the Sky’, became part of the Pony Express route in the 1860’s and from 1872-1890 the Kimball Brothers Stage Line ran a stage from Park City to Salt Lake City through the heart of today’s Preserve (thus the establishment of Kimball Junction).   In 1957 Leland Swaner purchased the Spring Creek Angus Ranch, which he operated for 35 years, until 190 acres were donated in memory of Leland Swaner, establishing the Swaner Memorial Park.  Land continued to be donated creating the Preserve as it is today with The Swaner EcoCenter building opening in 2008 to describe the preserve, its work and to allow viewing of the inhabitants.  All the time we lived in PC we never actually visited the Preserve, although we drove by it and biked its borders.  This year was time to check it out –

The Swanner Nature Preserve at Kimball Junction near Park City, Utah. 
Sand Hill Cranes on the Preserve.

Then came that “Super Moon” and a Full Moon concert at Larry Hart’s Riffs – one of our favorite things to do in PC;-)

Full Moon means…

Full Moon Concert at Riffs.

Ahhhhhh;-)  Another wonderful week in Park City.  But, time is going fast – only 4 more weeks to take it all in.

E & G – Off on more adventures before time runs out!

A July 4th Week in Park City

Another fabulous week in Park City!  
More golf – Monday with our regular Monday golfing buddies, Rheta and Tom, and Thursday with some ‘old friends’, Marla and Steve, who we managed to capture in town for a brief spell.
More dinners – Sunday we slipped in a nice evening at The Blue Boar in Midway with Rheta and Tom before our golf outing Monday morning.  And – Wednesday we met up with our old buddies from the RV park – Sue and Don – who have moved on from their RV, but are back in town in a rented house for the summer;-)
More hiking – This week we tackled Lambs Canyon, a 4 mile round trip with about a 1700′ elevation change.  The effort is well worth it when you reach the saddle and have views down Mill Creek Canyon to the Salt Lake Valley – 
Atop the Lamb’s Canyon trail with Ben and Sally – –

– – Gary, too.

THEN – it was time for the 4th of July festivities, which always begin on the 3rd:-)  This makes E VERY happy, as that means at least one extra day of fireworks!  And – there are always concerts at Deer Valley.  This year they started with Martina McBride and the obligatory rain storm –

Umbrellas up for a brief downpour before the concert



July 3rd fireworks at The Canyons;-)

July 4th and the hometown parade on Main Street.  The Grand Marshall – why Ted Ligety, of course –

and subbing for the US Air Force…
Go Ted!

Another concert at Deer Valley.  This one with the Utah Symphony and The Texas Tenors, who were a lot of fun!  (We were guests of our friends the Prothro’s – so we had front row seats for this one!)

And then, the 4th of July fireworks at PCMR – – –

But wait – we weren’t done yet.  July 5th brought Kenny Rogers to town with the Utah Symphony at Deer Valley.

What a celebratory week!  Some of what we really love about being back in PC for the summer – good friends, good golf, good food, good concerts, good parades, etc. etc. etc:-)!!!

Still having LOTS of FUN – E & G celebrating

Hikes – Yikes – and Rock & Roll

Another wonderful week has passed in Park City.  The weather has been beautiful – even the pouring rain we had Friday which ‘greened’ everything up again – and the full moon of the summer solstice.  
The last ten days have been a lot of the same – great dinners and conversation with friends (even an evening of entertaining at Magic), more days of golf (including a much needed lesson for E), Bill Medley at the Egyptian Theater, The Small House Strings concert at “Riffs Full Moon Concert”,  and our usual Wednesday hike.  This week’s hike was with friends (Marla, Steve, Marge, John and Sally) up Toll Canyon – where we hiked to the “Fairy Tree”;-)  Sure you can guess the derivation of the name – 
The “Fairy Tree”.

The shameless ‘Selfie’ in front of the “Fairy Tree”!

Our tradition has become to get a bite to eat after a ‘strenuous’ hike and this week was no different.  After our lunch at the “No Worries Cafe”, E was not worried at all when she almost backed the car into a ditch as she was trying to get out of the way of Marge and John – HA!

E decided to go four-wheeling – YES that wheel is in the air!!  YIKES!!

All ended well, as John carried a tow strap and pulled us right out of that ditch:-) 


AND – the concert season began this week-end with the Bacon Brothers at Deer Valley!  A great concert and a beautiful evening –   
Opening night at Deer Valley…the Bacon Brothers.

As this week ends – so does the month of June and all the 4th of July festivities begin.  Half way through another year!!  How does it all go so fast??

Enjoying every minute – Elizabeth & Gary

This Week’s Adventures

Well – after the snow we thought we would take advantage of the cooler temperatures down in the Salt Lake Valley and check out Antelope Island.  An adventure read about for the 18 years we lived in Park City – but there was just never a good time to see what it was all about.  Antelope Island is known for being hot, VERY buggy and smelly in warmer weather – thus the desire to get there when it is cool and breezy;-)  Despite it’s name – it is also well known for the buffalo that roam the island.  While we did see a small herd of Antelope, they were on the move and didn’t pose for pictures.  The buffalo, on the other hand, wandered right close to the road.  That is the ‘studs’ did – the ‘moms’ and all the ‘babies’ were on the other side of the island hiding out.  (We did see them during our hike, but the herd was so far away that pictures didn’t really come out.)   
Antelope Island Buffalo – the Antelope were camera shy;-(
Our hike took us to the top of the mountains in the rear of the photo.
TaDa!

Views from the top of the hills – now looking west, and down on the “Mother’s Buffalo Herd”.

Our lunch spot 

All in all – it was a very nice day and we can now say we have ‘done’ Antelope Island.

Today was a different adventure;-)  When returning to the Bus from Park City we had the pleasure of seeing a Mother Moose with her two little calves who were having a wonderful time romping in the weeds –

Mama Moose and her 2 romping calves.

More fun days for E & G in Park City

AHHH. Park City Weather!!

Since we left you last, we have – for the most part – had wonderful weather (except for a LOT of wind!).   So – we have had more dinners with friends, golf, E attended Book Club (they still let her come when in town), we have seen many movies (“Chef” ****,  “The Fault of the Stars” ****, “Million Dollar Arm” ****, “Belle” **** (don’t miss this one if you have the opportunity), “A Million Ways to Die in the West” – don’t waste your time;-(!!!!) and have continued our hiking.  The last hike was Armstrong Trail that wanders through PCMR where we ski in the winter – 
A view from the Armstrong Trail in PC – PC mountain and golf courses below

In the winter the turnstile E is hanging onto is thigh high – need more snow;-)

 When I said we needed more snow – I was just kidding – REALLY!!  But – PC always gets a mid-June ‘freak’ snow storm for one last dusting and we hadn’t had it yet.  So, it came today –

Aw c’mon, I just bloomed..what’s the deal here?

//player.vimeo.com/video/98494331 2014 06 17 Snow Day in Park City from Gary Dickey on Vimeo.

Tomorrow we are off to Salt Lake City for our hike as it will be a little warmer down there.  AND – it is to be back in the 70’s and 80’s by the end of the week.

Stay warm – E & G with Magic in the snow;-)

Pinehurst #2 ( ??US Open ??)

NO – unfortunately we are NOT at the US Open this week.  But, just two short years ago we did brave the course and had a wonderful time.  Of course,  it was when they were just telling us about all the changes that would be made in the next two years to prepare it for the Open.  We did NOT have to play it that way.  WHEW!!  We will be glued to the TV this week watching every stroke – 
The anticipation
And after – a fist pump with Payne – – – 
 And a drink on that beautiful porch.
It will be a lot of fun this week remembering our round.  Hope all you golfers out there enjoy it, too;-)
PS – Just a side note-the entire Pinehurst area IS built on sand just as they have ‘returned’ the rough to for the Open.  Therefore, this is what we ‘parked’ Magic on while staying here.  Perhaps one of the scariest places we ever parked!
PSS – Don’t you just LOVE Ricky today in his knickers;-)!!!!
Enjoy the US Open – E & G loving it

Early Morning Visitors in our Campground

What have we been doing during the last week??  Well – the usual up here.  Several dinners with friends, a couple of rounds of golf, a couple of movies, a tooth extraction for Gary;-( – AND, our first moose sighting of the season!!  Right here in the campground – 

More fun later – E & G moose watching in PC:-)

In PC so far – enjoying golf and dinner with friends – and a hike today😊. Beautiful flowers and beautiful views – still lots of snow on the mountains.