Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Dr. Bronner's


Ah, Doctor Bronner's, let me count the ways I Love You!  With each and every drop, my Love for you grows.

It was 34 years ago when I was first introduced to Dr. Bronner's.  It may have been on one of my first Salt River kayaking trips.  But, for sure, it was on my very first Grand Canyon trip in September of 1980.

If you didn't use Dr. Bronner's back then, you were a heathen, an infidel and unworthy of traveling with your fellow adventurers.  Using Dr. Bronner's was a badge of "Early Green Honor."  It simply would have been unthinkable to travel The Colorado River through Grand Canyon without Dr. Bronner's.

The Nose Knows.

They say your sense of smell can bring back memories better than any of the other human senses.  They say there's some connection between the olfactory nerves and that part of the brain that is the gate keeper for Sweet Memories.

I can attest this is true.  The mere sniff of Dr. Bronner's brings back a genuine flood of river memories.  I can even remember specific camps and beaches where I washed my once long, flowing hair and beard in the luxurious aroma of Dr. Bronner's.

Dr. Bronner's became kind of a Mentor to me in a strange sort of way only a soap could do.  Somehow, I connected with that Free Spirit whose dedication shines bright long after his 1997 death at the age of 89.  Somehow, even today when I see a bottle of Dr. Bronner's,  I am instantly transported back to those Free Spirit Days of my own.

If ever there was one common thread between all of our profligate lifestyles back in the 1980's, it would have to be the scent of Dr. Bronner's.  There's really nothing like washing your hair in The Colorado River with Dr. Bronner's.  Somehow, the whole world became more real and more compelling as the embracing aroma of Dr. Bronner's filled your life with a sense of All Things Possible.  Aye!

Well, the years passed and Dr. Bronner's faded from my Life Path.  Suska Kocis came for a drive by visit in mid-September and we both went to the organic grocery in Idaho Falls.  I think it's name is Natural Grocer's or something like that.  She wanted to get some certified organic produce and I was just along for the ride.

But as I walked in the store, the seas parted and there stood a bold display of Dr. Bronner's right smack dab in my face.  And, imagine my glee to see a great big bottle was only $7.39.  That's downright free!

I couldn't find Grand Canyon Peppermint right away so I anxiously asked the staff if it was still for sale and they laughed and guided me to the peppermint.  I gleefully clutched my bottle and checked out.

Ever since that day a short time ago, I have been reliving so many memories with my twice daily shower.  Ah, Dr. Bronner's, who knew you could bring back so many olfactory memories of yesteryore along the riverbanks of legendary Southwest streams?

Aye, Dr. Bronner's let me count the ways I Love You!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_Bronner

This article really sums it up for Dr. Bronner's.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070312054730/http://www2.jsonline.com/news/sunday/lifestyle/0608bronner.stm

There is only one and will forever only be ONE

Dr. Bronner's!


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Monday, September 29, 2014

You know you're heading to OAZ when...

Yep, you know you're heading to Ol' Airy Zonie (OAZ) when you file your temporary forwarding addresses with the USPS.  You know you're heading to OAZ when you buy 6 gallons of RV antifreeze for your pipes. Yep, you know you're heading to OAZ when Sweetie Susun sez she'll have all her stuff packed and ready to go by October 12th.

The trees here are starting to turn colors.  The squirrels are burying their nuts and spiffing up their nests.  Thursday's high temp of 89 broke the 1957 record but today couldn't even top 60.  Over two inches of rain has come down since Saturday.  Yep, Fall is quite literally in the air.

Susun spent 12 hours over the past few days tidying up her half of our basement.  She did an outstanding job and now it is my turn to see if I can do as good or better than she did.  When this time of year rolls around, the pace of our lives definitely picks up. There is a tangible sense of urgency.  We've been through this drill ten times since we began our migration gig in 2010.  We have "The List," of course, but by now the "terms and conditions of our migration are burned into our brains.  We somehow instinctively know what needs to be done and when and how.  We know how to turn up the heat under our feet to move faster with focused purpose.  Yep, it's that time of year once again.

The truly cool thing about our migration this year is that we're flexible.  Yes, we will be ready to leave by October 12th.  But we don't necessarily HAVE to leave on that date.  If the weather is nice and we feel like lingering longer, we are free to do so.

If the weather is turning bad, we're outta here for sure by October 12.  However, we might just want to leave early so we can park our rig in the Sunset Campground at Bryce Canyon National Park and day hike day after day on those Terrific Trails traversing Hoodoo Heaven.

We've both agreed it's time for a change in the way we travel south to OAZ.  This is the first year we will be towing a 15-foot trailer and traveling together in the cab of Annie, our 1993 Chevrolet C2500 3/4 ton pickup truck.  It's a whole new pair-o-dime.
Staring at a Bryce Sunrise in April 2013.

Frankly, the allure of hanging out in Bryce during the glorious fall weather there is quite nearly overpowering.  We had our first taste of The Fall @ Bryce in 2001 when we volunteered 4.5 months for The Dixie National Forest north of Escalante, Utah.  We were required to travel often from Escalante to Panguitch in Garfield County, Utah.  That's how we had occasion to pass through Bryce many times in September and October of 2001.  We would often take our small tent and camp there amid the Fall Splendor of Bryce Canyon.

Every National Park is special.  Each National Park has its annual cycles and seasonal highlights.  Bryce Canyon National Park is blessed with a plethora of seasonal highlights, indeed, even DAILY highlights!  It's a fabulous, fantastic, fairy-tale kinda place when conditions conspire to focus the seasonal spotlight on Bryce.  That's why we are so smitten with the idea of leaving early this year.

Luckily, we have our GO TO GUY to watch our backs here in Idaho Falls.  Porter W. proved his mettle this summer in so many different ways.  He was easily the most enjoyable young man we both had the privilege of working with since we moved here in 2007.  He's a BYU-I Business Major.  His LDS Mission was in Norway and he's fluent in both speaking and writing Norwegian.  We couldn't possibly ask for a more reliable, dependable, trustworthy individual to do what needs to be done to put our place to bed for the winter.

This is the first year we've had the option of leaving with no fear of "what might not get done."  In past years we've always had to stay here to make certain that certain things got done...and done right.  This year, that's not a problem, thanks to Porter.  He charges $15 an hour and gives you $30 an hour of value.  He's that kinda guy.

So, yeah, that's why we got this here hankering to leave a little early this year.  Fall in Idaho Falls is a many-splendored thing, too.  Don't get us wrong.  There's plenty of allure to stay here, too.  It's just we hear the siren call of Bryce beckoning.  It's a siren call that reaches deep in our psyche....one that touches our the very roots of our Spirits together.

It's going to be very interesting to see how this year's seasonal migration actually shakes out.  Will we linger longer?  Will we split south sooner?

One thing's for certain--when you file your postal forwarding orders, you're know you're gone.  It's now just all a matter of the dates and the details.

Thanks for reading!  Happy Monday and Many Cheers, jp
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Friday, September 26, 2014

Jumping Good Times

Cody and Brooklyn were having some fun Thursday night.  In a very short time, they both have become very, very good at jump rope.  Way to go, Kids! (If the embedded video doesn't show, use this link: http://youtu.be/jXtqOMrZJ2A )
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Thursday, September 25, 2014

BAM! POW! WOW!

It didn't just break today's previous high temp record--it BLEW it A-W-A-Y!  The old record from 1957 was 85 degrees.  Today's new high temp record for Idaho Falls is EIGHTY NINE degrees!  YEA! Let's hear it for excessive heat on The Snake River Plain in late September.YES, Mother Nature, you still got yer MoJo goin' ON!
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Early Migration

"The Times, they are a-changin'..."  

Indeed.  Looks like El Pacifico is gettin' its Game Face on a little early this year.  There's some interesting stuff a movin' and a shakin' in the vast reaches of that humongous ocean.  The details are too complicated to recount here.  You can read more about them here: (http://geekweather.blogspot.com/2014/09/change-of-latitudes-change-of-attitudes.html)

Anyway, what does it all mean?  Two words: Early Migration.  We have already begun to stage for our departure to Arizona.  We want to be completely ready to go no later than October 11.  If the evolving patterns persist and, if the jetstream starts going double down from The Arctic, we really need to be able to skeedaddle outta here on short notice.

Does that mean we will beat feet for Arizona?  Nope.  Not necessarily.  It just means we'll get outta Dodge earlier than normal.  What's normal?  Well, our normal departure date is typically the last weekend in October, which this year would be October 25.  The normal departure date would get us to Arizona on or about November 1st.

If we leave Idaho early, we will head straight to Utah's Yuba State Park and then regroup.  From there, we might take a wide-swinging detour over to Capitol Reef NP and Moab.  Or we might just mosey down to Bryce Canyon National Park and set up shop in the newly-remodeled Sunset Campground.

The nice thing about Bryce is that we wouldn't need to use the truck much.  All the trailheads are very close to one another and the day hiking is truly delightful.  We didn't get to stay at Bryce on our way north in April because Sunset CG was closed.  All the other camp spots were taken.  So we spent the night out in the Dixie National Forest and then drove straight home.  It would be nice to revisit Bryce this fall.

Fall in Bryce is actually a little more user-friendly than spring.   For one thing, you don't have to deal with the howling, incessant Spring Winds.  Plus, the fall colors come early to Bryce and it's a delight to be there in the cool autumn weather.

Chances are we wouldn't go stay at Susan K's. place in Marble Canyon.  We know we will be back at Susan's next April.  Who knows?  We might even get a hankering to detour over to Mather Campground on the South Rim of The Grand Canyon.  We haven't had a nice visit to the Canyon in a few years.  We're long overdue.

Anyway, leaving early might have its merits.  All eyes are on the Pacific's evolving weather patterns.

The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
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Last Day of Summer

Even though The First Official Day of Fall was Monday, today is the last unofficial day of Summer here in Idaho Falls.  It's almost certain to break the high temperature record for this date today set in 1957.  Yep, yesterday's high was 88 degrees which tied the previous 1987 record high temp.  Today is a lock to be 88 degrees once again and will be 3 degrees above the 1957 record.  It's really HOT here in Eastern Idaho right now.

Luckily, the weather will come back to its senses soon and daily highs will drop back into a much more normal Idaho regime of the 50's to 60's.  Bye, Bye Summer Time!  Been nice knowin' ya in Twenty Fourteen.   We'll see ya again next year.  Happy Hibernation!

Hopefully everyone will get the chance to say goodbye to summer today. We are expecting one more day of very warm temperatures, with near record/record highs for Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Challis. It will be breezy again this afternoon, and is some cases the southerly wind will produce downslope conditions that will help boost those highs. 

WEATHER ITEM   OBSERVED TIME   RECORD YEAR NORMAL DEPARTURE LAST
                VALUE   (LST)  VALUE       VALUE  FROM      YEAR
                                                  NORMAL
..................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
 YESTERDAY
  MAXIMUM         88R   305 PM  88    1987  70     18       74
  MINIMUM         50    641 AM  18    2000  37     13       39
  AVERAGE         69                        54     15       57



LONG
TERM...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY. DESPITE SOME 


  MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN THE MODELS...WE WILL BE IN FOR WETTER AND 
  MUCH COLDER WEATHER. A CLOSED LOW DEVELOP ALONG THE SIERRAS AND 
  VERY SLOWLY PROGRESS EAST OVER THE WEEKEND. THE NAM CONTINUES TO 
  BE FARTHER EAST JUST A BIT VS THE OTHERS...BUT ENOUGH TO BE 
  CONSIDERED THE "ODD MAN OUT" IN TERMS OF WHERE SHOWERS/ISOLATED 
  STORMS WOULD DEVELOP. EVEN THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE AT ODDS WITH EACH 
  OTHER...BUT BOTH KEEP THE BULK OF THE PRECIPITATION FARTHER WEST 
  FOR SATURDAY. BY SUNDAY...WE MAY SEE A DRY SLOT SOMEWHERE ACROSS 
  THE SOUTH BUT THERE IS NOWHERE ENOUGH AGREEMENT THIS MORNING TO 
  TRY AND PINPOINT THAT IN THE FORECAST. SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP TO 
  9500-10500 FEET WITH THIS STORM...MEANING THE HIGHEST PEAKS WILL SEE 
  SOME OCCASIONAL WET SNOW. JUST BE PREPARED FOR IT IF YOU DECIDE TO 
  VENTURE OUT TO THOSE AREAS. IT DOES APPEAR THE LOW WILL WEAKEN AND 
  LIFT NORTHEAST INTO WESTERN WYOMING ON MONDAY. IT WILL REMAIN 
  UNSETTLED WITH SHOWERS STILL IN THE FORECAST. ANOTHER STORM WILL 
  SWING INTO IDAHO QUICKLY BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THIS ONE 
  LOOKS EVEN COLDER...WITH SNOW LEVELS POTENTIALLY DROPPING TO 
  BETWEEN 7000 AND 8000 FEET. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL DEFINITELY 
  INTRODUCE EVERYONE TO FALL THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. VALLEY HIGHS 
  THIS WEEKEND WILL RUN 55-65 DEGREES AND OF COURSE COLDER IN THE 
  MOUNTAINS. THEY WILL RUN 50-60 DEGREES WITH STORM NUMBER 2 IN THE 
  VALLEYS...AND 30S/40S IN THE MOUNTAINS.  KEYES
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Friday, September 19, 2014

Wilderness

We posted a couple of articles about Wilderness shortly before the 50th anniversary.  Both articles are simply too good to allow them to get lost on our Facebook Timeline.  The first link is an article by Ron Dungan.  The article is accompanied by some great photos, one of which is shown here.

http://www.azcentral.com/longform/travel/local/hiking/2014/08/31/call-of-the-wild-arizona-wilderness-areas-legacy-wilderness-act/14829833/
Here is the second article we linked to Facebook:

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/08/30/3348721_a-legacy-for-idaho-and-boy-wonder.html

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Facebook Profile photos

Here are some of our favorite Facebook profile photos that we used during the Idaho Season Summer of 2014.
At Riverside Campground along The Henry's Fork in July 2014.
On Jenny Lake, September 3rd, 2014.

Trouble uploading--we will return to this project soon.
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Jenny Lake

Once again, another Facebook album that you can access via the link below.  It's out paddle of Jenny Lake September 3rd, 2014.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.352401421589797.1073742036.100004598250156&type=1&l=4eec83968c
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String & Leigh Lakes

Here's our Facebook photo album on paddling String and Leigh Lakes September 3rd, 2014.  It's now hidden from my Facebook Timeline but you can see the entire album and various comments by clicking on the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.352422581587681.1073742037.100004598250156&type=1&l=afbeac63e5
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Leigh Lake


Leigh Lake is one on the many hidden Sweet Spots of The Grand Teton National Park. You have to dig deep to get the NPS people to tell you much about Leigh Lake's Sweet Spots.

What we found on this trip is once the NPS Back Country Rangers know you've had it together enough to take a canoe there, they open up and start telling you some really neat stuff.

Get this, beginning in January, it would be possible to go online and RESERVE this canoe-in campsite ONLINE in September 2015 for a mere $35. And that would cover your entire stay limit of 7 days. A Whole New World was opened to our eyes on this trip.

Yes, it's difficult to get there, and, yes, there are risks, but there are ample rewards. We both think we can do this next year.
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Jackson Lake

Here's our Facebook photo album on canoeing Jackson Lake September 4, 2014.  Facebook has a feature that should allow us to hide the album from our Timeline while still keeping is readily archived here on the blog.  Let's see if it works.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.352424468254159.1073742038.100004598250156&type=1&l=d80391a941
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Steaming to Grand Canyon

One of the bigger stories we covered this summer was The Steam Can Saga.  In a nutshell, two British Brothers acquired and restored a 1901 Toledo Steamer that turned out to be the Very First automobile ever to travel to The Grand Canyon.

In true British Style, the brothers decided to re-enact that 1902 historical event.  The link below the photo goes to the best wrap-up article about their saga.  Below that, we include our toast to Tom Martin for his role in making it happen.


http://www.azcentral.com/longform/life/az-narratives/2014/08/29/steam-car-grand-canyon-journey-longform/14834557/


(Narrative posted on Facebook August 30, 2014)

Now that The Howell Brothers and their Little Steamer That Could have made it to the Grand Canyon, we'd like to salute and commend Tom Martin for his role in helping history happen.
Tom did a truly remarkable, outstanding and historic piece of work. His efforts, organization and leadership were admirably outstanding in so many ways. He may brush off this observation--but it''s true--There's simply NO WAY that endearing series of events could have remotely happened without his efforts behind the scenes. The steam car saga is one of the most inspiring, entertaining and exciting events to happen at Grand Canyon in a long time. Tom gets a HUGE Gold Star on his Life Chart. If there was anyway we could organize an online standing ovation for Tom, we would do it. Congratulations, Tom. "Ya dun good!"
On his part, Chris Howell said, "We are indebted to Tom Martin who has been the grand master in bringing together a wonderful, enthusiastic and truly kind team of people with whom we have forged a lasting friendship. Without them, we would not have overcome some of the tremendous difficulties we encountered between man, machine and Mother Nature and her stage props of thunderstorm, mud and washed out tracks."
Of course, Tom, even the humble Grand Master, replied, "Chris, you are too kind. It is the entire Northern Arizona community, myself included, who thanks you for allowing us to participate in your incredible journey with an incredible part of American history. Thank you!"
Many Thanks to ALL who played a role in the steam car saga!
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ReStore Dedication

Here's another great photo from this summer of the Habitat For Humanity ReStore Ribbon Cutting at the dedication of the new facility.  It was posted on Facebook June 27 and is now archived here.

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Lemonade Stand

This is easily one of our best photos of Idaho Season 2014 so it's now archived here.

(Posted on Facebook June 20, 2014)  Dear Neighbors Brook and Cody are in business today running The World's Finest Lemonade Stand. Mom Danielle spent days building this beautiful stand. Sweetie Susun made the lower curtain. The stand is on casters so it can be wheeled to and from the garage. Note that it's the "C&B" Lemonade stand and Brook is providing entertainment for attendees at Danielle's Famous Annual Yard Sale. Way to go Danielle, Brook and Cody! — with Danielle Steiner.
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Mark & Eryn



(Posted on Facebook September 7, 2014) SO GREAT!...to reconnect with Mark...27 years since we last saw each other. I wouldn't be who I am without Mark's Influence! We became roomies in November 1980 in Flagstaff at 912 W. Grand Canyon Avenue.

Meanwhile, Mark and Eryn are Soul Mates.

Mark and Eryn are shown here at our Idaho Falls home this morning with his 35-year-old T-Shirt he bought in Salmon, Idaho in 1979.

We had a fabulous visit with them. Happy Trails, Mark & Eryn!

(Editor's Note:  We are attempting to move stuff off of Facebook and onto this blog because it's much easier to archive here.)
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Easy Rider - Flagstaff Scenes

A screen clip from the video.

We put this YouTube up on Facebook September 17, 2014.  http://youtu.be/rMbATaj7Il8

It produced quite a few comments so we felt we ought to archive the comments someplace.  This is an experiment to see if Facebook comments will transfer to this blog.  Interestingly, we deleted the Facebook posts but these comments appear to be living on.

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