Calico Ghost Town and the Ride home

Saturday we scraped together our last 12 dollars in cash and went to the Calico Ghost town near Barstow. We had fun walking around the ruins and the old historic buildings. There were old mine shafts every where. This town had once been the center of a silver mining operation.


Then it was time to head home. We were done sight seeing so we just drove straight from the Ghost town to Saint George Utah where we got gas. Then we stopped in Cedar to pick up my brother in law, Jon. Lindsey was already in Salt Lake so he came up with us so that our whole family could be together for the weekend.
About 8:00 PM we pulled into Kearns. Emily and David had come down from Rexburg so we were all there. We had a great dinner and had fun talking. It was a wonderful way to end our week on the road.

Our big road trip may be over -- but that doesn't mean the vacation is. We still have Memorial day left.

San Diego and ideas for next time

Friday we said goodbye to the ocean and headed into San Diego. Originally we had planned to go to the temple there. But that was when we thought that the showers at the campsite were free. The showers actually cost money. We realized that we were covered in sand that probably wouldn't come off easily. We didn't want to get sand all over the temple so we decided just to walk around the temple.

The temple was stunning. A missionary showed us pictures of the inside that he shows to non members. We vowed that we would come back to San Diego and definitely go to the temple. I'm glad that even though we were physically unclean to enter the temple we are still spiritually clean enough to enter worthily.
After the temple we kept driving south. We were trying to get to Balboa Park in San Diego. But we missed our exit. We were only 15 minutes from the Mexican border so we decided to go see that before turning around to go find our exit. We drove to the border and almost went over. But at the last minute we decided not to go. We really weren't prepared. We had no idea what papers we would need to get back in the the good old USA. As we drove back towards San Diego I told Brandon, "If we wanted to go to Mexico we would have thought of it a whole lot sooner."We found our way to Balboa Park and went to the Air and Space Museum. Brandon, of course, was in heaven. We had fun looking at everything, and he told me lots of things about airplanes. Here is the actual Command Module for the Apollo 9.
And here is a replica of the Spirit of Saint Lewis. (And a replica of Charles Lindbergh)
Probably the coolest part about the museum is its location under the final approach for the San Diego Airport. About every 3 minute and airplane would fly over the museum.
We took a tram around the park and looked at the outsides of some of the 30 odd museums. One day we will come back and look at the insides of them. But this day were were just too tired. We got back in the car and drove to Barstow. For some reason this was the longest drive yet. Probably because we were both sore and worn out from all our fun. We made it to Barstow and put up our tent in the dark. The pool was still open so we swam in it for a while. Then we came back to our camp site and made noodles over our camp stove. They were so good especially after all the sugary junk food we had been eating.

The Pacific Ocean

Thursday was our Ocean day. We drove from our hotel near LA to our campsite near San Diego using roads that would keep us near the ocean. It took longer than if we had been on the highway, but the scenery was much better.

Our first stop was the Santa Monica Pier. Brandon hadn't seen the ocean since he left Reunion five years ago. He was so happy to be able to see, hear, smell, and --most importantly-- touch the ocean.
I liked looking at the pylons under the pier.
After Santa Monica we drove through LA. Were were able to drive right by the LA airport or LAX as it is known. Most people avoid this airport, but not Brandon. Of course we had to go drive around it. The highway even goes under one of the runways.
We stopped for lunch at some over look point. I made a little advertisement for Pacific Cooler Capri Sun.
We were able to walk down to this rocky beach. I joked that it was like walking in a Macro Shot.
Around 6:00 PM we finally made it to San Elijo State Beach which is North of San Diego. We set up our tent and changed into our swimming suits. Everyone else that we could see in the water were wearing wet suits. We were worried the water would be cold. But we were determined to swim in the ocean. Brandon had spent most of his mission on an island, but had never been allowed to swim in the ocean. So we didn't care how cold the water was. We were going to get in. We walked out into the ocean prepared for cold water. Instead it was actually really warm. I'm certain it was warmer than Bear Lake ever gets. We played around in the water and had a wonderful time watching the sun set.
Our campsite was great. It was right on the edge of the bluff that over looked the ocean. We slept with our tent door open. We were able to hear the waves all night long.
About six in the morning we woke up and walked on the beach. We found some shells and watched sand craps run around.
It was so beautiful. It only cost us $35 to camp here. This was one of the most magical things I have ever done.
Here is the view out of our tent door. That is the ocean out there.

Magic Moutain: The raison d'etre

I first went to Magic Mountain the summer before my Sr year of High School. I was thrilled by all of the amazing roller coasters. I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie so this place was heaven. I have wanted to go back ever since. All the time we have been planing this trip to California we knew the main attraction was going to be Magic Mountain. Wednesday this dream -- this big plan -- came true. We woke up, drove 15 minutes, and arrived at the thrill capital of the world.

Since it is not quite summer and we were there on a week day there were hardly any lines. We were able to ride 6 roller coasters in an hour and a half. Over the 8 hours that we were there we were able to ride every major ride. We were even able to do 3 roller coasters twice. Most rides had at the most a 15 minute wait. The exceptions were the X2 which had about an hour wait. This was still better than the 3 hour wait this ride had last time I was at Magic Mountain.
I would go through and tell you about each ride, but really words cannot describe them. Pictures don't really do them justice either. You can only really understand by riding them yourself. Though a second best option is to look up the rides on youtube. There are people that snuck cameras on the rides and have taped first person shots. Those give you a pretty good idea.
Here is a list of what I consider the best rides. These aren't in any order. Tatsu, X2, the Viper, Goliath, the Screamer, the Bat Flight, Riddlers Revenge, and I'm sure there are others I just can't think of them.
By the end of the day we were exhausted, but very happy. This day was everything I hoped would be. It was actually even better.
We drove back to our hotel room and then played at the pool for a while. After the pool we just laid on the bed and couldn't move. The next morning we were so stiff we could hardly walk. What a day!


I have to say I was in love with this pool! Actually I was in love with the whole hotel. It is the Guest House in in San Fernando CA. I highly recommend it. We booked it on Hotels.com for about $60 a night.

It's not every day you get to get lost in LA

On Tuesday we got up and drove from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Our plan was to drive to our hotel in San Fernando (north of LA) and check in. Then we would change into nice clothes and drive to Hollywood for the Late Late Show taping.

Well it almost worked. We underestimated the amount of time that it would take to get to our hotel. Then we were unfamiliar with the roads to get from the hotel to Hollywood. Also my sense of direction was completely messed up. At 3:30 we were still on the freeway and we knew we missed our chance to see the taping.

But all was not lost. We had other things to do. We bought a detailed map of LA and found our way to the La Brae Tar Pits. As soon as we got out of the car Brandon said, "it smells like they are repaving the road." Instead it was the tar pits which are really made of natural asphalt with methane gas bubbling up. Here is a picture of a life size model of a mammoth falling in the tar pit. In the back ground you can see a methane bubble coming up in the asphalt.
There is a art museum next to the tar pits and there were all these street lights there as some sort of sculpture. I think this would be a really cool place to do Bridal pictures.
After the tar pits we drove up to Griffith Park to go to the Griffith Observatory. I have to say that Brandon LOVED driving in LA. He thought it was super fun. With the good map and an adjustment to my sense of direction we were able to get around the city pretty well.
The observatory has a cafe named after a Douglas Adams book The Cafe at the End of the Universe. Which is the sequel to the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The cafe was a little over priced ($7 for the salad Brandon is eating in the pic) but it wasn't too bad considering the food had to be transported to the edge of the universe.
We enjoyed walking all over the observatory and looking at all the cool things both inside and out. We watched the coolest star show called "Centered in the Universe." It had some amazing spacial effects.

After the observatory we went back to the hotel and stayed up so that we could at least see the Late Late show on TV. Craig Ferguson joked about Noah leaving the good animals like the chocolate moose off the ark. I wish we could have seen it live, but we had a good day none the less.

Beating the Odds in Vegas

So obviously I had a great time on vacation and didn't have any time to post blogs. But oh well . . best laid plans of mice and men I guess.

Anyway Monday morning Brandon and I woke up and drove from Santaquin to Cedar City where we spent time with my sister Lindsey. Then we drove to Vegas. We stayed in the Imperial Palace. We picked that hotel for two reasons. 1 it was cheep and 2 it was located on the southern part of the Strip with all of the more interesting hotels.

The drive down had been hot and dusty so I was very grateful to check into our room. We were pretty stuffed from all of the family members feeding us all weekend so we opted to eat some of the food we brought with us rather than eat in Vegas. After our dinner of bagels and cream cheese we went out walking on the strip.

I love the strip because of all the creativity. Sure there are some not so great parts, but I just ignore those things. I focus on the amazing things that people have created using their imaginations. I especially love the Bellagio fountain. We watched it 3 times. It is so amazing I just about started crying. I couldn't help think about that quote from last week. That fountain certainly is not a small plan. And as a large plan it stirs my blood. It makes me want to do something great with my life.

After walking the strip for about 6 hours we hobbled back to our room and went to bed. We had spent a grant total of 51 cents (at a penny presser). We had seen many amazing things and had been greatly entertained.
Here is the view out our hotel window

Here is the bed.The canal at the Venetian.
The ceiling of the BelagioThe outside of the hotel we stayed at.

The Belagio fountain from the side.
A view of the Eiffel Tower.
Outside the Luxor.
Across the street from New York New York
In the grand canyon

2 Year Anniversary

Here we are on our second anniversary. This is Melanie's amazing guest room.

Weston trying to steal fruit.

Brealynn sliding down the slide in my high heels. She around in them on grass for about half an hour before they fell off. You should have seen her climb up the ladder to the slide.

The whole Illguth family.

I would do a mushy post on how much I've loved being married to Brandon, but I don't have time. So instead I just will say that these have been the two very best years of my life. I have never been so happy.

Yesterday we woke up at Brandon's parents house and had breakfast waiting for us. His parents made us a romantic breakfast of fruit, waffles, and eggs. They even had orange juice in wine goblets. (sorry no pictures I just got out of the shower and still had wet hair.

We went to church with his parents. The last speaker read this really cool quote that was quoted by Spencer W Kimball in July of 1977.

"The architect Daniel H. Burnham said:
Make no little plans; they have no magic [there] to stir men’s blood And probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high and hope and work, Remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, But long after we are gone, Will be a living thing, Asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things That would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. "

I've been searching for a scripture or quote to be our motto this year and this was the perfect one.

After church we relaxed in the back yard and then drove to Brandon's sister,s house in Santaquin. We had a really fun family get together. Then we stayed in Melanie's amazing beach themed guest room. It was like staying in a better homes and gardens magazine page.

All Gassed Up and Ready to Go

Saturday was the official start of our vacation. We packed up the Jeep Friday night so that all we had to do on Saturday was pack the cooler and get out of there. We left Logan around 7:00 am. As we drove past my work I couldn't help saying "See ya Suckers" (I'd had a really bad phone call the last 20 minutes I was there on Friday so I am pretty happy to get a way from there for a while)

We drove straight to the University of Utah Campus to Libby Gardner hall. My brother, Billy, practises with the Utah Youth Orchestra there on Saturday mornings. He has a concert with them next Saturday, but we will miss it. So we went to the rehearsal so that we could hear him play the Brahms 1st Symphony. It was really neat to be able to sit in on a rehearsal. We sat right behind the French Horns and the Trumpets. We were near the Timpani and our chairs shook every time they played it.

I liked listening to them rehearse little parts of the Symphony. I will never listen to that Symphony the same way again. I now appreciate all the little tiny parts that all work together. Sorry I don't have any pictures or video of the rehearsal, but check out the "Loveless Family Blog" in the list of Blogs I read. There is a video of Billy playing with the Granite Youth Symphony a few days ago. I'm sure that my Dad will upload a video of the Brahms symphony after that concert too.

After the rehearsal we drove over to Highland Drive. We went to two furniture stores that I have wanted to take Brandon to forever. They are San Francisco Design and Forsley's. I first went to these stores about three years ago as an assignment for an interior design class I took as an elective. The stores have furniture that I had never even imagined existed in the real world. (I know it doesn't exist in the Kearns real world)

San Fransisco Design has really hip contemporary furniture. One day we would love to have a really awesome family room full of crazy furniture. We had fun looking at what we would like to put in there. Then we went to Forsley's and looked at their Stickly furniture which is in the Arts and Crafts Style. We liked that too. Of course we will probably never actually buy furniture from these stores, but it is so fun to get ideas.

We had lunch (more like a feast) at my parents house. My parents are on a pretty strict eating plan (it is not a diet), but you wouldn't know it by how good everything tasted.


By this time I was pretty tired ( I forgot to mention I woke up at 4:00 Am because I was so excited) so we went to Brandon's parents' house. I fell asleep for about an hour. Then we had another great meal of soft shell tacos.

We spent the evening at our friends' house. Jake and Heidi got married about a month ago, but it seems like they have been married longer than we have because they have a house.

And that was the first day of our trip.

Here are pictures of everything we have packed.

Here is our food. We had to buy things that wouldn't go bad in the heat of a car.
Here is the inside of our cooler. I froze water bottles and Capri sun to act as ice packs. So far everything is staying cool. Though the strawberries smell really ripe. I think we will have to eat them all on Monday as we drive to Las Vegas.
Here is the back of the Jeep. The only thing missing in this pic is the Huge duffel bag with all our clothes.
Here is the other view of the jeep.
And here Brandon is gassing up the Jeep in Kearns.