Category Archives: Photos-Landscapes

On The Road, Photos-Landscapes

~Utah Lake State Park

2 Comments

Provo, UT

We spent two nights at Utah Lake State Park located in Provo, UT. The campground closed on October 1st; however, since we had reservations we were allowed to stay. We were the only campers there, except for one host site.

Adjacent to the park is a bicycling, hiking, walking trail. On the other side of the trail is an old ranch and the photo below shows what it looks like.

_MG_4838

Utah Lake is unique in that it is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the West and yet it lies in an arid area that receives only about 15 inches of rainfall a year. The mouth of the Provo River, where it empties into Utah Lake, was undoubtedly a very popular camping place for the early inhabitants of Utah Valley.

_MG_4830
Utah Lake is surrounded by mountains.
_MG_4942
Part of the harbor leading into Utah Lake
_MG_4947
A happy fisherman with his fishing buddy.
_MG_4842
Still seeing some autumn colors.
_MG_4832
Jordan River, which flows into Utah Lake
_MG_4852
A  Cottonwood tree, showing its autumn colors

_MG_4856

OoO-Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon

If you are ever in Orem or Provo a ride to see the falls is a must. At the falls there is a paved trail, miles long, that runs along the Jordan River that you can walk, It is beautiful.

Bridal Veil Falls is a beautiful foot “double-cataract” falls along Hwy 189 in Provo Canyon. It is most impressive in spring and early summer when flows are highest and wildflowers surround the area. You can view the falls from a highway pull-off or hike to its base.

_MG_4877
Bridal Veil Falls

_MG_4884

_MG_4888
The Forest Floor along the trail at Bridal Veil Falls
_MG_4966
Sunset at Utah Lake State Park (looking east)
_MG_4981
Sunset,l ooking west.

 

On The Road, Photos-Landscapes

~An Old Barn…

2 Comments

~Midway, Wasatch Mountain State Park, and Provo Canyon, UT

_MG_4756
The Tate Barn

This barn was erected in 1902 when Francis Tate, an English emigrant, established a dairy farm in the location below Soldier Hollow. Tate used local red pine on a foundation of “pot rock” which was commonly used on structures in the area.

_MG_4765

_MG_4773

The barn became part of Wasatch Mountain State Park in 1961. It was used for agricultural purposes but during the winter of 1996, the barn fell into disrepair as a result of heavy snow.

_MG_4768

The Tate Barn was restructured to stand as an iconic representation of the Heber Valley’s agricultural history as it was introduced to the world during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

A group of local citizens, public agencies, civic organizations, contractors, suppliers, and philanthropists was formed and led by Friends of Wasatch Mountain State Park to reconstruct a barn similar to the original structure.

~OoO-Provo Canyon

_MG_4749
~

_MG_4754

_MG_4743
Deer Creek Reservoir

 

 

On The Road, Photos-Birds, Photos-Landscapes

~Wasatch Mountain State Park, Midway, UT, Jordanelle State Park, ​and a few birds

Leave a comment

~The moon was full last night (10/24/18). Didn’t capture a good photo, but I like the leaves in front of the moon in the photo.

oOo-Wasatch Mountain State Park

We took a ride from Jordanelle State Park to Wasatch Mountain State Park one day. It is a beautiful, older state park, established in 1961, and it even has a golf course. It is located in the northern part of the state within the Wasatch Range on the north and west edges of the Heber Valley in Wasatch County near the city of Midway. The Wasatch Range is a mountain range that stretches approximately 160 miles from the Utah-Idaho border, south through central Utah in the western United States. It is on the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains. (some info was taken from the Web)

Didn’t see any RV sites in Wasatch Mountain State Park that would accommodate big rigs, so plan carefully if you want to visit this area. I would highly recommend Jordanelle State Park, but not in the busy summer months.

oOo-Midway, UT

The town of Midway was settled by Swiss Mormons and its Swiss architecture is prominent today. More information on the history of the town here – Midway, UT

There are several Bed and Breakfast places to stay in Midway all portraying the Swiss influence.

 

IMG_1963
Blue Boar Inn
_MG_4591
Midway Town Hall
_MG_4599
Midway Post Office
IMG_2036
Appeared to be a private home in Midway.
_MG_4568
Wasatch Mountain State Park

However, we did find some Toms hanging out with a few ladies on the golf course in the state park.

_MG_4548

_MG_4563

_MG_4558
Showing off its beautiful tail feathers.

I am so glad the birds finally found the feeders I hung out. There are Western Scrub Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Mountain Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, American Gold Finches, House Sparrows, Black-billed Magpies, and a wonderful surprise, several Cassin’s Finches. I don’t ever remember seeing so many at one time before.

_MG_4726
American Gold Finch
_MG_4721
Downy Woodpecker
_MG_4611
Black-capped Chickadee

I have seen lots of hawks in the area, some probably migrating through, but haven’t been able to identify them with certainty. I saw a flash of a white-ban on a hawk today and I think it was a Northern Harrier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On The Road, Photos-Landscapes

~More photos from Jordanelle State Park

4 Comments

~Jordanelle State Park, near Heber, Utah

Today was mostly sunny and cool. A walk, bike ride, and a geocaching excursion filled the day.  The geocaching was a fun experience and a first of this type.

The geocache “course” is made up of ten total finds. You write down the coordinates at each station and it leads you to the next one. You probably guessed you find the sun, the eights planets, and Pluto. For more information, you can visit this link –  Solar System.

In the end, you retrieve a coupon from the ammo box, bring it up to the ranger station and get a prize. I believe this Solar Geocache Course is a great learning and fun experience for kids. And, perhaps for adults as well.

Here are a few photos from around the park today.

_MG_4519
Beautiful autumn colors just after sunrise.

_MG_4503

_MG_4517
Picnic pad, table and fire ring at each site.
_MG_4529
Driftwood.
_MG_4530
Rocky shoreline.
_MG_4537
Pretty autumn colors.
_MG_4522
Coots, I believe swimming away from the shoreline.
_MG_4527
Jordanelle State Park Nestled in the rolling mountains north of Heber City, Utah sits the beautiful Jordanelle Reservoir, fed by the Provo River and impounded by the Jordanelle Dam. (from their web-site)
IMG_1962
~
IMG_1961
~

IMG_1959

I hung a bird feeder out yesterday, but didn’t have any visitors. Today, two Western Scrub Jays and a Black-capped Chick-a-dee finally found the feeder. There are lots of Magpies here and I am hoping to capture a nice photo of one.

Late this afternoon we received a brief thunderstorm, which included small hail. As I type this post, the wind is blowing and it is starting to rain again. Low tonight – 36F.

 

 

 

On The Road, Photos-Landscapes

~Jordanelle State Park

1 Comment

Traveling all day in the sunshine you would know that once we arrived at Jordanelle State Park, north of Heber, Utah, the skies over this beautiful Wasatch mountain range turned gray. However, the aspen, cottonwoods, and grasses, although past their peak, are still pretty.

_MG_4467

_MG_4494
A patch of blue sky. The sun moved in and out of the dark clouds.

_MG_4471

 

_MG_4473
The Jordanelle reservoir is fed by the Provo River.

 

_MG_4476

_MG_4496

_MG_4501
Site 29, with full hookups.

You can find information about this beautiful Utah state park here – Jordanelle

 

At Home, Photos-Birds, Photos-Bugs, Butterflies, etc., Photos-Landscapes

~Welcome to Autumn!

Leave a comment

Autumnal Equinox

Today, September 22, 2018, the Sun crossed the celestial equator and marks the first day of autumn. We celebrate two equinoxes, one to mark the beginning of Spring and one to mark the beginning of Autumn. Equinox literally means “equal night.” And during the equinox, most places on Earth will see approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night.

On Sept. 22 at 9:54 p.m. EDT, the sun will cross the celestial equator, or an imaginary line that projects Earth’s equator into space. At this exact moment, the Northern and Southern hemispheres will receive an equal amount of sunshine, and the length of day and night will be approximately equal around the world — hence the term “equinox,” which is derived from the Latin phrase meaning “equal night.”

To learn more see Astro Bob’s Blog at Fall. Some of this information was taken from Space.com Space. Also go out to wikipedia to learn more. Click here: September Equinox

OoO-A few photos I took today while on a bike ride, while enjoying this first day of Autumn. What did you do today to celebrate the September Equinox?

 

_MG_4219
Canada Geese enjoying a rest. Some are probably getting ready to migrate.

~

_MG_4212
A guess some will stay.

~

_MG_4224
Mehaffney Park. Fall colors haven’t arrived yet at 5,000 feet. Our home sits on the hill in the background.

~

_MG_4262
A bug enjoying the warmth of the sun on this first day of Autumn. Taken in my backyard.

~

_MG_4266
This bush is showing some cooler weather changes. Our lows have been in the mid 40’s.

~

_MG_4245
Easing into fall.

~

_MG_4264
Some bushes are announcing their fall arrival.

Welcome to Autumn. Enjoy!

And, here is what Scrubby is doing on this first day of Autumn:

_MG_4275
Cashing peanuts.