Three-thousand, twenty-nine miles and seven states later .

A little glimpse of the hearts, hugs, smiles -The sweet family and good friends that make these miles seem so short !

Here are the thousand words showing the trail to Colorado, Montana and Idaho.

A fresh new morning, greeted by black-eyed susans and couldn't wait to get to Gary, Karen and Brady's

I had a little detour. I was accompaning the Oakridge Brothers singing "American Beauty" and whizzed right by I-70 and didn't notice until I had "American Beauty" refined . . . clear up at Nephi, Utah. I had to go through Spanish Fork. As Gary reminded - Think of the country I would've missed if I hadn't passed the offramp! Sure enough I saw a 24-hour bait vending machine in Spanish Fork and I had never noticed Soldier's Summit quite like this before.

Finally arrived!

So happy to be with Gary, Karen and Brady!

Brady getting a ride-in-a-bag :0)

After supper I told Brady that I could play with him after the dishes were done. He asked how long so I showed where five minutes from now was on the clock. This is Brady patiently waiting for five minutes to tick away. Very patient for an active little guy!

A good nite Pooh story narrated with an excellent Eeyore voice by Papa-bear.

Karen whipped up delicious peach pancakes Sunday morning.

Mmmm, homegrown peach pancakes!.

Putting a lid on leapin' lizard's home

Brady was totally absorbed in bubbles and water here ... I wondered if I was witnessing the brilliant beginnings of an engineer...

Brady reassured me just a few seconds after this shot by attempting to dump this bowl of water over my head. (He came very, very close to wet auntie success!)

The brilliance is balanced by orneryness!

and a huge capacity for laughter and giggles!

Viewing the world through a bubble

Karen working in the hearty garden.

Brady brought Mama-bear some cool water.

A beautiful walk through the red rocks

Watching bees coming and going from their red-rock hive

This is a collage of the lizard catching process ( You can see the quick little guy falling in the lower right pic... Don't worry he ran off back up the wall)

Face to face

A belly full of beautiful blue

Fragrant craggy junipers

I liked these "Hoodoos" that Karen pointed out...

Scout appreciating some cool water
A bootiful family portrait :0)

Brady catching up with Mamma-bear
Walking together

Coming soon the pictures of those great days with Loretta in Montana

and the lovely time with Don, Gaylene, Bobbie Jo, Cecelia, Joey, Jaxie - Tyrell and Danae and Ben in Idaho

By the end of the trip I learned how to eat on the road with a little help from Goo-Goo's :0) Astonishingly nourishing !

The trail home from Saint George . . . last taste of big, blue-sky beauty.