Murray Ohana

Spring Break in 5 posts and enough pics and descriptions to bore anyone but me

A few hours ago my kids had to go back to school. Spring Break is never long enough...even when they give us a week. I love having my kids around and I can't wait for summer! Camping in Snow Canyon was delightful and the mountain biking was just what I needed. The warmth and sunshine was deeply appreciated. Watching my kids play is probably my favorite past time and I got to do lots of that. Our trip was shorter than we had planned. We had just over two days. Definitely not enough time, but Jason had some work commitments that were a priority. Returning to Logan and snow was a bummer, but gave me an excuse to lounge around in my jammies for a couple of days and to read my book, which I finished. Anyway, I wanted to post some pics before I forgot how warm and lovely it was down south. It might take a few posts to get it all in...and I don't want to forget how much fun it was.

Sam had a smile on his face pretty much the whole time, except when he was in the car strapped in. Living outside for a few days was a dream come true for Sammy.

We aren't sure how many miles Sammy pushed his Tonka truck around our campground, but we're sure it was several. He was permanently attached and ALWAYS pushing it backwards.

The boys discovered football on rollerblades and had a blast skating and throwing the football all over the campground.

Bear-claw Poppy- Spring Break

The first thing the boys wanted to do on our trip was bike the Bear-claw Poppy trail. They love this trail and I know why. After a relatively short climb and a run down a desert wash you get to some pretty scary drop-offs (which my boys love) and a hard-packed roller coaster BMX course. It's definitely a fun-filled ride and a little bit of an adrenaline rush at times. Jason let me go with the kids while he waited with Sam. It was a great ride. I was so impressed with Sadie...she got a little tired at first with the climb, but was willing to try some pretty scary downhill sections. At one point the I was making a movie of the boys going down a pretty scary section. Before I could say anything Sadie had started her way down...too late. She lost control and had a pretty bad tumble. I was worried that this would ruin the ride for her, but she wiped her tears, hopped back on her bike and continued on down the trail....a little more carefully though. Sadie is so great about going with her brothers....it can't be easy keeping up with them, but she sure does try.

After Bear-claw we were ready to try something new. Jason took us to the Dino-cliffs trail where he thought we could all ride. Taking Sam on these single track rides doesn't really work, but Jason planned to take Sam on his back in the backpack carrier. (I was a little skeptical, but if you know Jason, you know he always figures out a way). A couple feet onto the trail and Jason knew something was wrong...he thought it was the new tire he had put on, but after closer inspection realized his bike frame was broken! We have no idea how this happened, but it ended any hopes of Jason biking....total bummer! The boys and I ended up doing the Dino-cliffs which was fun, but the boys didn't like it nearly as much as the Bear-claw. Jason, Sadie, and Sam hiked up and met us on our way down.

Sand Dunes- Spring Break

We didn't go to the beach....but we did get to play in warm, red, sand, which was very therapeutic for me. The kids loved burying each other in sand and rolling and running down the dunes. We had lots of sand at camp too. Our tents were pitched on top of sand and it got in everything, but I didn't mind a bit. I really miss sand.

Gooseberry Mesa- Spring Break

Our bike ride at Gooseberry Mesa was possibly my favorite part of the trip. The mesa is somewhat remote and it took us a while to get there and the road wasn't pretty, but it was SO worth it and I would LOVE to go back! Rising up to the north you could see the massive red sandstone sentinels of Zions NP. Oh the views were spectacular! I am so mad at myself for not getting pics, but I had lost my phone and didn't want to take my camera on the trail. Jason snapped a couple shots before we took off on the trail, but they don't really show much of what we saw. Jason's bike was broken so he hiked around with Sadie and Sam while the boys and I biked.

Soon after we started biking Cole and I both had to go to the bathroom....#2. (Traveling is always hard on my digestive system.) So we decided to turn around and go back to the van since we didn't have any TP. We got back to a locked van and Jason and the kids were no where to be found, my cell phone was lost, and our walky talky wasn't working. So we decide to head up the trail again and just go as far as we could and hope the bathroom situation didn't get more serious. Part way up we found Jason hiking around with the kids and by that time the urge has gone for both Cole and me. So we decided to go for it.

Cole opted to take the most difficult route...the south rim trail. I was kind-of wishing he would have chosen North Rim, the easier route, but now I am so glad he didn't. The trail was SO fun, had lots of variety, mostly slick rock and best of all I LOVED the physical challenge of the trail. It was way too technical for me, but it was good for me too. The boys did great, but it was really a tough ride for them as well. In one section, called God's skate park, I clipped a tree and thought I was going to hit into the rock wall on the other side of the trail....oh, it scared me and hurt a little too....so I gave a little yell. Aidan, who was just ahead of me. jumped off his bike so quick and ran like lighting over to me. His face showed such worry and concern. It was maybe the cutest, sweetest thing ever! Fortunately, I had saved myself from too much injury and we were on our way again. We biked a few hours before Cole's urge came back. About that same time we had a choice. Continue on South Rim trail which was marked EXTREME DIFFICULTY in red or take the Hidden Canyon trail marked Most Difficult. We opted for Hidden Canyon hoping we could get back to the road quicker and then the road would be a quick trip back to the van. It was still another 2 miles of difficult trail back to the road and Cole was not feeling the best. Just as we thought, the road section was super fast and he made it back to the van just in time. Jason had started to get worried since he hadn't seen us in a while and we had no phone.....We got back just as the sun started to go down. Cole and Aidan both had to go in the trees and I made it all the way back to camp without needing to go....a minor miracle. I really did NOT want to go in the trees or the pits! Yuck!

The fields of purple flowers were beautiful on our way back to camp.

Sk8 George-Spring Break

My kids had a blast at Sk8 George and the little park next to it. They biked, rollerbladed, and of course Skateboarded. It wasn't until we were leaving that we realized it was against rules to ride bikes there....oops!

My Sammy is growing up...one of the things that really hit me on this trip. Sammy can do so much now. And I think he had more fun than anyone on this trip. At home all he wants is to be outside....and he got to be outside the whole time! He was in heaven!