#35 - Road Trip from Utah to Los Angeles

We loaded up the car and started our drive south with just four kids, leaving our two-month long retreat in Orem, Utah and our two college kids behind, and pointed ourselves toward St. George, Utah.  It had been two months since we all loaded up in the car, and the kids eased back into it quite well.  After an overnight in a friend’s house we spent a day in Zion National park.  Sunday was a church day followed more driving and then a few days in San Diego seeing cousins. Then a final dinner in Chino Hills with yet more cousins before our late night marathon 18-hr flight from LAX to Singapore.  Living out of a suitcase for the next 7 weeks, here we come!

 
Highlights:

1. Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park
2. Staying for two nights in a friend’s beautiful home in St. George
3. Cousin fun at my brother’s spacious home near San Diego
4. Uneventful flight to Bali

(click below right to read more . . . . )

Highlights:

1. Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park – One of my life goals has always been to hike the Narrows of Zion National Park.  Thus, our drive through southern Utah had to include this trek.  Even in late September, there were thousands of people in the canyon, many more than I expected.  The river was fast and swift and cold and our footgear was somewhat inadequate.  Plus, the footing in the river was much less secure than I imagined. The scenery was beautiful and the trip was totally worth it, but next time, we’ll be better dressed for the hike.
2. Staying for two nights in a friend’s beautiful home in St. George – We had put off getting accommodation on the road trip for weeks and weeks, and finally, the day before we departed we were talking to some friends who mentioned that they had an empty house in St. George where we could stay.  It was serendipitous, and we jumped at the chance.  The house was beautiful and accommodated us all most comfortably.  Thanks Lantz family!
3. Cousin fun at my brother’s spacious home near San Diego – Erik’s younger brother Peter had moved a year ago out to farm suburb about 40 minutes outside of San Diego.  They have a large beautiful home on hill, with a multi-level swimming pool and waterfall and slide, a putting green, badminton court, horseshoe sandpit, chicken coop, grape orchard, and a golf cart for driving around the property.  On the inside they have a pool table, a sand shuffleboard puck board, and lots of space.  They were very generous with their time and home and hosted us for two nights.  We swam and played and swam and played some more.  On the day of our departure, we drove up to Los Angeles to spend the evening and have an impromptu dinner with Erik’s older brother Kirk and his family. They were super generous to feed us at the last minute, and even supplied some "necessary" travel treats for the kids' upcoming LONG flight.
4. Uneventful flights to Bali – When I say that “uneventful” is a highlight, I mean that nothing went wrong, and we made it safely and comfortably to our destination across the two international flights and layover lasting a total of 32 hours.  We all read and slept and watched our fair share of movies on the trans-pacific flight aboard the 787 Dreamliner.  We enjoyed our return to the well-designed Singapore airport, visited the butterfly garden, and then headed onto the Bali airport.