Flaming Gorge!!!

For Memorial Day, KR and I went camping with Catherine and Brian! It was raining pretty much the whole time, but we still had a great time. We always love to get away.

We went to Flaming Gorge, which is in the Northeast corner of Utah and most of it is even in Wyoming. We didn't actually leave Utah though (which was not my choice. . .)
It was beautiful though. This view was from a couple hundred feet from our campsite.
KR scoping out the land when we first arrived on Friday.

While setting everything up, KR accidentally broke the automatic pump so he had to blow one of the air mattresses up manually. . . haha.
Saturday morning we went over to the visitor's center before heading out for a hike. This was another view of the Gorge, taken from there.
Catherine and Brian in the Visitor's Center.
So then we went to the fire tower which was the start of our hike. Before we actually got going, Brian wanted to climb up the tower. Because it is so old, they deemed it unsafe and removed the first set of stairs so he had to use KR for a boost.
Then he got up there and realized they blocked the top of the stairs as well. But apparently it was still a great view.
Meanwhile, KR wanted to get up and tried to use a wire hanging. It wasn't as easy without a boost.
Then Brian came back down. . . WHEEEE!!!
As I mentioned before, it was raining pretty much the whole trip, although lightly most of the time. Well, while we were hiking, it wasn't any different. Rain the whole time. But it made for some pretty sights still. I couldn't help take some pictures. I loved this little star plant with the water droplets on it. The rain is very photogenic (well, when you have a nice camera that can capture it, it is).
KR smiling for the camera! :)
Of course I had to get our favorite pose. . .
We hiked down to a river/stream which was surrounded on either side by marshy grass. There was a bridge to cross but it was kind of flooded so we had to jump.
One angle of the stream.
Once we crossed, there was a lake on the other side. It was still raining and people were still fishing. Ok. Here we have the King, over looking his land.
Catherine and Brian (by the way, she was wearing the jacket to the rain suit, to keep dry).
Me and KR. (I was wearing the pants. . . )
On the way back across the stream, we saw that there was a beavers hut! I have never seen one in real life, especially not in the wild!! How cute!!
These are actually built by beavers! DAM!
In order to get a closer look at the dams and the hut, the boys got a running start to make it over the stream. Of course I wanted to go too so I had to manage my own way over there. I made it of course.
On the way back, I saw this and couldn't resist smiling and snapping a picture.

And for some reason, this looked so cool to me, with the rain drops and the one single leaf. But it looked neater in real life. The camera just didn't quite capture what I was seeing.
After being soaked from hiking, KR built us a nice fire. He was definitely in his element out there in the wilderness.
SMORES!!! (You only get a half a smore though Brian. . . )
FUEGO!
Sunday we packed up to leave. But before we did, the boys went to try and climb the 1000 cliff that dropped down to the water (remember the view from before? Ya, that's what they wanted to climb down). They didn't get too far though because the rocks were covered in slick moss.
So we took pictures instead.
Before heading home, we went to the Flaming Gorge Dam and took a tour. It was really neat and super huge! We got to take an elevator, inside the dam, all the way to the bottom! I was scared of course, but it was cool.

At the bottom, there are lots of fish! 20,000 per mile. They have railing to keep you from falling in the rushing water. KR and I took a jail shot.
Then Sunday night we went up to Catherine and Brian's house and stayed the night. Monday we got up, gardened a whole bunch, barbecued, and then headed out. We were attempting to go to Antelope Island, in the middle of the Salt Lake. But we couldn't find the road to turn on (we think it was closed, due to flooding). Brian tried honking, hoping the magic road would appear. It didn't work. So instead we went to the "beach" but let me tell you, it was NOT the beach. I was tricked and fooled. It looked pretty from far away but it smelled soooo bad. PLUS! There were dead seagulls all along the sand as you walk towards the water. THEN, when you get to the water, it's all scummy and gross.
Beach access my butt. . . .

KR and Brian went way out there and they were still only ankle deep! (Doesn't this picture look like the Truman Show?)
Then KR gave me a piggyback ride out there so I could say I got in. I wasn't too excited about this idea, but I am glad he made me. It's the same as when I went to the Atlantic Ocean and there dead fish all along the beach. Also, the same as when I went to the Mississippi River and it was just slimy and gross. I got in just to say I did and documented it with a picture.
Then when we got back, I took a nap, KR studied, we ate dinner and then we all took a bike ride/skateboard ride! It was really fun! The weather was finally beautiful that day so we enjoyed it. We spent one more night at their house before coming back to Provo in the morning.
KR riding the bike and pulling me along on the skateboard!