Bridge Jumping on the Dee River

This week, I took my Young Men out on the River Dee to jump off of a bridge. The bridge is about 30 minutes from the house. It is called Cambus O'May. Originally built in the early 1900's, it was re-worked in 1988.

The river here is wide and fairly deep in the middle.

This is the view looking upstream.

This is the view looking downstream towards our house.

We used this rock (under the bridge)
to put our blankets and cook our hamburgers.

My 4 YM with the old man--getting ready to jump.

The view from the bridge was fantastic. It also made me reflect on why

an old man like me needs to jump with the kids.

It didn't look that far down until you get over the edge and look down.
It is probably about 18 feet down to the water.
Give me just a few moments to get up my nerve.

Video proof that I did actually jump.
The current where we jump in is strong.
It takes a little effort to get out of the current and onto the rock.

Simon, Jordan, and me getting ready for a multiple jump.

Simon and Angus--team jumping. (Jordan backed out)

I survived. The water was pretty cold but well worth it.

Jordan needed to be calibrated.

Swimming in the river.

The end of a fun activity.
We came, we jumped, we got cold--we survived.
There will definitely be another trip back to the bridge.

Mmm Mmm Good!

Red Robin!

Bud and I had been craving Red Robin. Trying to find a great hamburger and milk shake in Scotland is nearly impossible.

This young man takes after his grandma - we love chocolate milkshakes. We made plans before I left Scotland to go get chocolate milkshakes. His original plan was for him and me to go and not take mom, little sister and Jakey. Then he decided Bumpa could go too. In the end, everyone was invited!

French Fries are yummy!

I know my dear son already posted this picture however it bears repeating. This wonderful creation (besides the baby) is the Royal Red Robin burger. A bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg on top of it. Don't knock it until you try it - it is maaahvelous!

I have to confess that I got to most of my favorite restaurants while over the big pond. I gained five pounds which (see above picture) are not coming off as easily as I like them to. :( We had a good time back in Utah and New Mexico. I managed to visit my mother and siblings, go to lunch a couple of times with my old office, went to dinner and a few movies with some friends, laid sod in DD's yard and most importantly, hung out with the kids and grandkids. I loved my visit!

Trip Back to Utah!

That is one happy baby! I cannot believe how well she traveled. After spending four days in New Mexico with my mother (mom whines it was only technically two days) it was time to drive home to Utah. A six hour trip with kids quite often turns into eight hours though.

My little guy with his frisbee he got from the Three Rivers Cafe in Farmington, NM. This cafe, by the way, has the BEST quesadillas. They are loaded with gobs of fresh green chili! They serve their kids menus on these frisbees. Clever idea.This time we drove through LaPlata, Colorado instead of going through Shiprock, New Mexico. This is my favorite route. I love this little pasture in the desert.This is what a lot of the scenery looks like in New Mexico. Sage brush, pinon and cedar. Which I find beautiful. I love the desert. Quite a bit different from Scotland, which I also love.

This is outside Hesperus, Colorado.
It is one of my favorite parts of the drive. Here is a field of Iris'. It is a new farm, at least new to me. In Scotland they have acres and acres of daffodils so it was fun to see this little itty-bitty Iris farm in Colorado. I love Iris'.This was a cool truck, beautifully restored.

This is one of the few spots that each time Bud and I drive by it we sigh. We would love to own this little valley between Cherry Creek and Mancos, Colorado. It has always been one of our favorites places. It is one of the places we pretend we would retire to.Green mesa . . . this is nearby the Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde means Green Table.

Outside of Moab, UtahGreat CloudsSandstone Monuments
The long and winding road. Okay not so winding,
but it is long hours of scenery like this.
Sandstone Bluffs
Wilson's Arch. This is about the half way point of the trip.
Jagged red cliffs in Moab, Utah
The sky looks so huge compared to the scenery.

This little guy was trying to take a nap. His mama needed a break from his incessant talking. The nap didn't work so he and I played the quiet game. He won 9 games to my 8 games. I think once he was almost quiet for 1/2 hour. He is good! No wonder he won! :)

Snakeman's Pictures

So here are a few pictures from my photography class. I thought a few of them were okay so here they are.


This one is just down at the cows


This one is of Snort and its my favorite.


Look at me, I'm glowing. I must be doing something right.


This is my HOLY COW.


Snort and Monkey Boy playing hide and go seek.


This one is up Hobble Creek Canyon.


Another up the canyon.


A habit that I picked up that my parents don't know about.


Okay this one is my favorite. Look at the mouth on that one. The invasion continues:)

Hope you like the pictures.

Visiting Great Grandma "Grey Kitty"

I know I have been slow in posting my trip to the US. My pictorial is not all that exciting but still it was worth noting. This is my mom. She lives in New Mexico. I love this picture. It is a good picture of the ol' girl. My little granddaughter sure is cute too, if I do say so myself.

I was trying to get a picture of my little buddy with my mom but that is difficult at best. I am not sure why but he now likes to squint his eyes when he is getting his picture taken. He also does the "Cheshire Cat" smile. Speaking of cats, he calls my mom "Grey Kitty." Why you ask? He has five grandma's! Me, Honey (because that is what my son-in-law's father calls his mother), and three sets of great grandmas. Grey kitty; because she has a grey kitty named Kee. Sometimes we sound like loons when we start calling all his relatives by the names he has given them! You know sometimes when you are soooo tired that you wish you could just lay down and take a nap? Must be nice to just take a little snooze in the middle of playing, with your foot next to your ear! Holy moly is that girl bendy!
Here is my buddy squinting again for the picture. This is his great uncle Randy. He LOVES Randy because he takes him for rides on the digger and dump trucks.
One evening we went to the Dairy Queen and got Dilly Bars. Little Bud sat on this wooden stool for about 1/2 hour just watching the world go by, eating his ice cream. He was so cute. I wondered what was going through his mind as he watched all the comings and goings. I tried to get his picture without him noticing me but he must be in tune to a camera's presence.
We were all worn out from our travels. My DD snuck around and took pictures of us sleeping.



One day I will exact revenge on said DD for this one! At least it didn't show my famous bed head!