The Blanch Herd: Red Canyon

Gregg's parents invited us to join them in their/our happy place for a few days of camping. It didn't take us long to agree - um, "yes" is always the right answer when the question is a trip to Red Canyon! They went up on Monday the 27th of July and we arrived at the Greens Lake Campground the next day, just before bedtime (after quite the journey through an epic rainstorm on the way between Kemmerer and I-80. Wow!). We got camp set up and the kids stretched their legs and got their wiggles out by biking around the campground with grandpa and grandma. We enjoyed some stellar summer sunset clouds (as is often the case when we're here) and then it was off to bed.

He was so tired after waking up so early (because he was so
excited) that he fell asleep in the car before we hit Monte
Cristo and mid-shuffle through his stack of postcards. :)

I spy them coming around the loop!

Go around again!

On Wednesday morning, we woke up, ate breakfast, and took it easy for a while. The kids read Billy Mink with Grandpa and Grandma while I read Stella by Starlight and Gregg rested. But soon it was time to hit the lake in Grandpa and Grandma's boat! The kids were so excited for this!

A family of baby ducks!

Osprey - we hoped to see it dive for fish in the lake, but it never did while we were watching.

Grandma bought the kids some fun toys for the water that got a lot
of good use during our time at Greens Lake.

Later in the afternoon it was time for fishing! Grandpa knew just the perfect fishing spot (he had been there the day before and had caught 14 fish! A few of which he kept and share with us for lunch!) down at Deep Creek. The kids had their fishing poles, which proved a challenge for the adult fishermen, but a couple little trout were able to be snagged and everyone was happy.

bonus video!

"a fish!"

(I love that he didn't even want to stick around to see the fish - he was so intent on

telling Dad about it.)

Checking out the cool cliffs across the road from the creek.

A gorgeous dirt road if ever I did see one.

He wasn't having much luck with such a tiny pole, but he didn't give up (until the kids were melting down since it was dinnertime).

After dinner we took a drive down to the visitor's center (which was closed, of course, but the overlook was very much open thank goodness!) to check out the views.

While the rest of us cleaned up dinner, Gregg took the kids down to the lake for a quick dip.

And then it was time for bed - tucked in (not that we needed any tucking on such a hot evening!) and
quickly off to sleep (yeah right).

After breakfast on Thursday morning we didn't dilly dally because it was time for a hike around the lake (and we wanted to do it before it got too hot!). It's a lovely stroll, and we continued on further by turned toward the overlooks near the Canyon Rim campground. What a view! It seriously never gets old!

Totem pole shadows.

The (in)famous "Poop Rock".

On the opposite side of the lake from the campground.

Callie matching the thistle flowers.

We were pretty hot and hungry by the time we got back to camp, so we ate some lunch and headed to the lake for a dip. We had the dock to ourselves for a few hours that afternoon, which was entirely lovely. The kids caught minnows and we soaked our feet and just had a delightful afternoon.

Splish splash little minnows. (Callie was very good about releasing her catches every time, since the sign rules said it's a
catch and release lake only.)

Grandma and Grandpa's site was our "home base".

And we were right next door (this was taken from our "grove" of Ponderosas in the corner where we liked to hang out in the hot afternoons.

After dinner Paul and Kim took off to take showers down the road and we headed off to explore a dirt road nearby that we thought might lead to another overlook into the canyon. It turns out it didn't but it was a beautiful drive anyway.

The first road ended up in a dead end, but what a sight! How do we get hookups like this?!

The second road took us to the back side of that property. I could settle down there, no problem!

We wandered down this track a ways, but it didn't go far before it ended in some sagebrush.

The sun was still high, but we promised the kids s'mores. We made them and then moved
into the shade to eat them.

Later that evening, after the kids were in bed, I finished my book.
It's one I've been wanting to read forever and finally did. There are a lot of Roll of Thunder vibes in this one, but it is still its own unique story. And there was an interesting voting rights angle that I wasn't expecting, but fits in with election year this year. Definitely recommend!

I love the color fading sky and the silhouettes of the trees.

After some general shenanigans and breakfast, the kids took the grandparents on a bike ride to the overlook on Friday morning. They all had a grand time. We met them there with the car and enjoyed another peek over the edge.

Firewood as art.

A grandpa joke passed on to his granddaughter - I can't see you!

Good sport award goes to this Grandma and Grandpa!

Back at camp, we decided to rent a pedal boat for an hour at the lake (the kids wanted to try one out, but of course after the first 5 minutes of slow-mo pedaling, they were reading to hop in Grandpa's boat instead). We managed to get our hour's money worth out of it, then headed back to camp to eat lunch and pack up. While Gregg and his parents finished packing, I took the kids back to the lake for one last swim. We all met up when we were done and caravanned to Kemmerer where we got pizza from a real hole-in-the-wall sort of place called Scroungy Moose. We ate in the shade in a park down the road and then Paul and Kim headed home via Evanston and the interstate and we continued on through Randolf and Woodruff and over Monte Cristo. Such a fun getaway with marvelous folks in a gorgeous place. I could get used to this!