Flaming Gorge with the Nielsens

      We've found another favorite place to recreate--Flaming Gorge! Man is it gorgeous. Getting there took a 3 1/2 drive up to Wyoming and back down to Utah, but it was worth it. Speaking of that drive: we did it without movies and I have to say it was really enjoyable. We looked at the scenery and even talked to each other ;).
     We loved our campsite at Mustang Ridge campground. It combined my favorite scenery: red rocks, with Clint's favorite scenery: pine trees. It was fully shaded and looked over the gorge and it was large enough to put up four tents and still have privacy from our neighbors.
     We got in a few hours before our friends, the Nielsen's, so we set up camp, then Clint took the older three down to check out the fishing and adjacent Sunny Cove. They came back an hour later with three rainbow trout!

     Once the Nielsens arrived we served up tacos and S'mores before tucking into bed. Have I mentioned that now that Clint and I have our own tent with an air mattress and double-sleeping bag, it is as comfortable as our own bed? And the temperature was perfect--50's at night.
     In the morning I went for a run while Karly made a gourmet breakfast of french toast with berries and whip cream, bacon and OJ! Heaven! (Cole said the breakfast was the highlight of his weekend).

Then we went down to the beach and had some fun. The dads and older kids did some more fishing and caught seven more rainbows! Karly and I hung out with Trace and Gwen as they helped some boys construct some sand engineering feats of dams and canals.

     At noon we went back to camp and packed up in time for check out, then we went back to the beach for a picnic lunch at the bowery. Then we headed back to the water and went cliff jumping! Paint me surprised that our three older boys repeatedly jumped off a 15-foot cliff! Clint made them a $10 dare, then after that they were hooked! Jack (our daredevil) was the first. Even Trace donned a lifejacket and jumped off a 4 footer a couple of times. "I didn't even freak out when I hit the water, Mom!" Then the adults got brave: Clint and Dave jumped off a 30-foot cliff and I followed. Then Dave and Clint did the highest--about 35 feet. Then we goaded Karly into jumping off the 30-footer. She said, "I just want you to know, I've never done anything like this in my life!" But she did it!
         Talmage was beyond stoked about the cliff jumping. He talked of it for hours. "Dad, that is how you turn a boy into a man!"

     Here is Tal doing some victory push ups after his cliff jumping. His excitement and added confidence  made all our outdoor efforts this summer totally worth it.

Here you can see Sunny Cove and the jumping cliffs in the background.

 Before we left Karly, who was on her high school swim team, observed my swimming and gave me some great pointers, although it was embarrassing how fast she could catch up with me! I have a ways to go to become a proficient swimmer. 

We'll be back Flaming Gorge, and next time we are rafting the Green River!