Road to Promontory

Nana and Papa set out last Wednesday on a road trip that would take them ultimately to Promontory Summit, UT for the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike ceremony commemorating the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Let's tell the story of this trip with pictures, captions, and links. We'd recommend all these establishments.

First, though, the train related stuff is over on ToShinyRails:
Ogden, UT, Big Boy #4014 and #844
150th Golden Spike anniversary at Promontory Summit, UT
Caught #4014 and #844 leaving Ogden

Coyote Creek Steakhouse and Saloon
Rock Springs, WY

Cowboy Donuts, Rock Springs, WY

The Greenery Restaurant, Ogden, UT.
Known for Mormon Muffins.

There was a wall of these photos in the hallway
where the Greenery and the quilt shop were located.
Kept Jamie busy.

My Heritage Fabrics, Ogden, UT

The view from our spot in Eden, UT (a little northeast of Ogden)

Same spot, interior view.

Mad Moose Cafe, uniquely good coffee

Mad Moose Cafe, Eden, UT

Carlos & Harley's, Eden, UT. Loved the decor. Good food, too.

Interesting geology just north of I-80 along I-84.

New World Distillery, Eden, UT

Now called Midway Wool

Midway Wool

Midway Mercantile, fantastic drinks and appetizers

The Links restaurant next door to our spot in Eden.

The view from our table at the Links.

We had tickets for the Heber Valley Railroad today,
but alas, a derailment canceled the 3pm excursion.

On the Way to Promontory Summit

Nana and Papa took off this morning for Promontory Summit, Utah, site of the Golden Spike ceremony memorializing the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad 150 years ago this Friday (May 10, 1869). Here are some moments leading up to and along the way... If you're ever in Fort Collins, CO looking for interesting food, try the pot pies at Waltzing Kangaroo (off the beaten path, small, and not much ambiance, but very good Australian pot pies, and all kinds of them).

AJ and Papa replaced this worn out kart wheel.

Rosie's Diner in Monument

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Dinner tonight in Rock Springs, WY: Coyote Creek Steakhouse

Pikemasters Railroad Open House

Papa, AJ, David, and Jonathan made a trip downtown to see the model railroad done by the Pikemasters Model Railroad Club. More pics...

Deck Recovery

For the first time in what seemed like a very long time, Matt and Papa had some deck time today. Tracy and Matt have been very busy, and Nana and Papa have had a lot of kid time. We've been using deck time lately to keep up with Uncle Jon's political podcast back in California called California Streaming, a new episode every Friday. I think they've done about forty-some weeks so far. "Three California natives taking a conservative look at California politics. Hop on the bullet train to no where..." It's hard to find humor in such a mess, but they manage to do it.  I took a few interesting weather shots from where I was sitting, and added a couple shots from recent times. There's also a shot or two in the last photo.

Easter dinner. Matt did all kinds of things with a full brisket,
including the brisket itself, burnt ends, and pastrami.
In the foreground are cucumber, dilled cream cheese, cherry tomato nibbles.
In the background are mashed potatoes and asparagus au gratin.

New glass?....

Matteo Baseball

Matteo's team had a game today, which they won! I think it was 11-8. The game was over because time ran out (2 hours max in this league). They played at Gossage Park where trains also go by (good thing, for me) but the fields are entirely wrapped by chain link (no good camera views).

Matteo is #4.

AJ's Birthday

It was AJ's birthday breakfast this morning. All the great kid breakfast items were there including a new one, Baseball Cupcakes.

This item actually arrived the next day, explaining the helmet gift today!

Tracy and Nana put the snake head together
from an Etsy pattern for AJ's spring
musical at school, Life Cycles.

Baseball Cupcakes

He really wanted an expansion pack
for Settlers of Catan. He got two!

Easter 2019

Really nice, easy day! Off to church which included the kids' singing with the worship team and an Easter egg hunt! Then back home for a nice relaxing day, movies (including Jesus Christ Superstar), and dinner with home-made pastrami, mashed potatoes, cheesy asparagus, and cucumber with whipped dill cream cheese and cherry tomato. Not mention generously interspersed chocolate all day.

Tracy fell in love with this swan...