Arrived in London

Someone fed happy pills to the TSA agents at CLT!  We had an amazing 5 minutes going through security with all agents smiling and making small talk. Saturday afternoon must be a good time to fly; empty airport with flights leaving on time and arrival on time in Chicago.  Still felt strange to fly west to go east!  Starbucks was a welcome sight before boarding (again on time). Left in a rainstorm but flight was uneventful  and we arrived ON TIME.

Unfortunately we had to wait for almost 15 minutes for a gate and 30 minutes to get through customs before we could  get our luggage.  The good news was that both of our bags arrived with us…then the task was to find the driver who was to take us to our hotel (we had an hour and 15 minutes from our arrival time before we’d have to pay additional per minute of wait time . We found him by the Information Desk just as we were told with15 minutes to spare.  And we were on our way to the JW near Hyde Park.

We had hoped to find a vending machine at Heathrow to buy our Oyster transportation cards which allow one to choose how much money to put on the card and then use it for all buses and the underground until the money runs out and add more money as you need to.  The card costs 2 GBP which is refundable if you turn the card in when you leave OR you can keep the card and add to it on a future trip.  Guess we’ll have to wait until our first visit to a Tube station and get the cards there.  After little sleep on a red eye flight, I didn’t think it worthwhile to deal with the train and taxi alternative.  Several good reviews (on Cruise Critic, of course) for Executive Airport Cars made the choice easy for us.  We were not disappointed.  Check-in went smoothly; we received a lovely letter informing us of the Executive Lounge where we could have continental breakfast; traditional cream tea in the afternoon and drinks and hors d’oevres in the evening. The best news was that WiFi is complimentary in the lounge.  That’s a real bonus since the charge for Internet access in the room is 20 GBP per day!

After showers and a nap for Art, we headed to the lounge to check it out.  Lovely little sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, fancy coffee machine with espresso,cappuccino, etc. and, of course, tea.  So here I am updating my blog with free WiF i, drinking tea and enjoying the ambience of a traditional old British hotel.  No off to wander around Hyde Park directly across the street.

Friday, July 30

Up and at it early this AM to drive to Antelope Island and experience the Great Salt Lake. Our trusty GPS (validated by Google Maps) got us through the mess of criscrossing Interstates and constant road construction in record time. Somehow it's reassring to know that it isn't only NC and SC that have constant Interstate reconstruction. We were amaazed at the amount of traffic going North from Salt Lake City in the direction of Ogden. The drive to Antelope Island was from I-15 on a busy 2 lane road that was UNDER CONSTRUCTION to the entrance where we paid the $9 per car fee and then on a 2 lane causeway to the island. The drive on the causeway was already spectacular with amazing scenery. I won't try to describe the salt flats, mountains in the distance that were reflected in the lake and the, at times, moon like quality of the views. The link to the pictures is at the end of this narrative but I'll give you a taste as we go along. This one was taken from the car.
We arrived at the visitor center to be greeted by our first Bison.  We had read that some people see 1 of 2 and others see herds, so we were excited to see one so soon.   This fella hung around the visitor center the whole time we were inside buying the requisite tee shirts, viewing the exhibits and enjoying a short film about the area.  Nick and Max were anxious to get to the Lake so off we went.  The temperature had risen dramatically since we left the 7000 foot altitude of Park City.  It was sunny and hot and we were glad for our sunscreen and cold water bottles.  We drove to the access point for one of the beaches and hiked through hot sand quite a distance to the water.  When we got there we found the large hordes of brine flies that are everywhere…they don’t bite but are annoying…and the smell of the briny water.   We walked, seemingly forever, to the place where several people were in the water. It was very shallow and the boys opted to wade in knee deep rather than try to float to avoid having to walk quite a ways out into the water.  They tasted the salty water, picked up some rocks to take home and in Nicks words “ now I can say for the rest of my life that I was in the Great Salt Lake”.  The return hike to our car was especially painful when we noted that if we had driven just a little further, there was a much shorter path!! 
After gratefully drinking more water, we drove to Buffalo point seeing another Bison on the hill in the distance.  The views were spectacular – facing the lake on the other side of the island.  Antelope Island is but one (the largest) of the 9 islands in the lake.
We then drove back to have lunch at the, you guessed it, Buffalo Grill! And, of course, we all had Bison Burgers and tall drinks.  .The boys were given the choice to leave now and go to the Kennecott Copper mine south of Salt Lake City or to stay and, hopefully, find some other wildlife.  They chose to stay so  off we went to find the Ranch Road.  As we drove along the edge of the lake, the boys saw a large number of,what looked to me as rocks in t he distance and were sure they were bison.  We kept driving until even I recognized the animals.  We pulled over to the side of the road to take pictures and Nick discovered a Prong Horned Antelope in the green brush closer to the car.  
We counted about 50 bison and felt really lucky.  Off we went to the Ranch – restored to it original state – the Ranch was owned by the Church of the Latter Day Saints to raise cattle, horses, etc.with the income used to expand the church.  Max was excited to learn that the small bedroom in the house was used by 12 year old MAX, the son of the owner at that time.  We saw a Wringer Washer, and other appliances of the time as well as the Spring House and cellar pantry.  It really was interesting to consider how isolated the Ranch was and to talk about how they passed the little free time that they had.  Even 12 year old Max worked a 12 hour day as a ranch-hand!
Max sat on Max’s  - A sign said that this was OK!  We decided to head back to Park City after we left the ranch and on the way back to the park entrance, we again saw the herd of bison; this time they had moved closer to the road and one was still standing on the salt flat which looked like the world’s biggest salt lick. Very satisfied with our experiences on this amazing island, we headed back to Park City to shower and change for dinner at Jean Louis, a very nice restaurant where Art and I had eaten before.   A very nice end to a wonderful day.  Today's pictures

Thursday, Part 2

What a nice laid back day. The boys played games until lunch - we raided the frig to use up leftovers. We have plans for tomorrow and Saturday that include lunch, so it was good to finish up pizza and sandwich fixings. Clouds rolled in early today with a pretty good downpour. So...they found the X games on the big TV in the lounge and played pool. After the rain, so typical of Utah, the sun came out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Practice for the Ping Pong tournament was on the docket for the afternoon. We were so impressed that they found out about the tournament and signed up themselves. There was only room for one more person on the list so they signed up for 2 Englebardts (to make it easy) and agreed that if only one of them could get in it would be OK. In the end, both played and did very well. Each won their first round game, Max won the 2nd and Nick got a bye, then Max and Nick played each other and Max won. He had to play the strongest player in the group - a girl about 14 who we had watched playing during the day. She was very good - the score seesawed for awhile then Max dug in and became the Champion! We were all so excited. He won a $5 certificate towards one of the other activities and a cute, multi-color ping pong ball. Unfortunately, we won't be around for the next 2 days and are leaving early on Sunday, so Max plans to give the certificate to someone. After the tournament, we dressed for dinner and took the bus to the bus station in town - a short 10 minute ride. We walked uphill (everything is uphill in Park City. We had early reservations and were able to sit on the outside balcony overlooking Main Street. It was lovely and cool - wonderful atmosphere for the promised Sushi dinner that we all enjoyed. Art gave Chopsticks lessons which were minimally successful but the food was good and it was fun. After dinner we walked down to the Java Cow - a local hangout that has fun tee shirts and gift items and the best ice cream in Park City. After our nightly ice cream, we walked down the street and stopped to see the fire pit in the plaza by the other Marriott in PC where we stayed the last 2 times we were here. Then we showed the boys the Shoe tree - a funny tradition started in PC when skiing was a new phenomenon here. As the story goes, some guys were sitting around drinking and one of them decided to throw a pair of old shoes into a nearby tree. Over the years, others throw their shoes in the tree and it acquired the name - Shoe Tree. It really was amazing to see how many more shoes are in the tree tonight than we saw on our last trip here 2 years ago...the Shoe Tree is now 3 or trees. We then introduced the boys to our favorite walking path and walked down to the Sound Gardens and the Skate Board park. Took some pictures and watched the kids boarding and biking in the park then walked back to our place - a lovely evening and long walk. Early to be since we have a long day planned for tomorrow and hope to get an early start. Today's pictures.

Thursday, July 29

Guess we finally exhausted the boys...after two very full days, they slept soundly until 9:30 AM. Had a funny experience when Max went to get his cereal - he tried to pour the milk and wondered why it wouldn't pour! It had frozen overnight! We've discussed why this happened and the OJ did not freeze. A Science moment and a decrease in the setting on the refrigerator. After breakfast - they were eager to go to....., you guessed it - the ping pong and pool tables with, this time, consideration of trying the hot tub, too. As long as they're happy, we are, so I'm taking the opportunity to organize some pictures, do some laundry and relax. We'll decide after lunch whether and activity is on for this afternoon or if it will be a lazy day all around. We have reservations for Sushi tonight, so I know they'll be ready to do something by dinner :)

Wednesday, July 28

Quiet morning - boys slept in after long and full day yesterday. Goal for today was to stay on our property and do the activities of Park City Mountain Resort using the day pass option (limitless access to all activities). First stop - lift up to the Zipline. Grandma was a bit nervous about the boys starting out on their own (and also wanted to take pictures - of course). So....she took the lift up, found the entrance to the zipline - the Alpine slide left from the other side of the lift, and took pictures as the boys were strapped in. Poppa met them at the bottom. What she didn't know was that the lift didn't take anyone down - it's expected that you either hike the mountain or take the slide or zipline. Since I didn't have a ticket for either ride (what a relief), the nice guy at the top got permission to stop the lift and put me on the ones going back down - What an embarrassment! Needless to say, I didn't use my lift pass again! The boys loved the Zip and moved on to the alpine coaster. We waited at the bottom in a nice patio area as they moved from activity to activity. Surprisingly they played miniature golf even though it wasn't a very good course. Competition reigned all day - the winner choosing the next activity. They get along so well and really enjoy each other. The rain clouds moved in after they did the Alpine Slide, the lift, zipline and coaster were shut down for awhile and they were getting tired. Our friends, Dottie and Herb, came over for a visit so we went up to our unit for a late lunch. Then the boys went down to play ping pong and pool and we visited with our friends. We ate dinner at a little outdoor restaurant on property (The Corner Store) - fun, casual menu that suited us all. Great waiter who said yes to all requests and they had a cornhole game that the boys enjoyed after dinner. The weather had cleared so we went back to the activity area when they rode the alpine coaster again, Max did the trampoline and Nick decided not to try the Rock wall again. Of course, we ended the day with ice cream at the only place in our immediate area that was open AND crowded. Seems like every store (except downtown) closes up as soon as the activities close at 8 pm. We didn't want to walk into town and back in the dark so were happy to stand on line to get our treats. Another happy day for all concerned.  Today's pictures were not as good as previous days....just blame a tired photographer who didn't do a good job of editing :)

Tuesday, July 27

Today was the day for surprises...Max didn't want to know what we were doing, but both Nick and Max kept guessing that we were going rafting. We kept mum and reminded them that they wanted to be surprised. We left our place around 9:15 so that we had time to get lost and time to pick up sunscreen (I bought a large size spray can before we left NC and then forgot to pack it (maybe some luggage handler had a need for it, since I'm sure I put it in our checked bab :)). Picked some up in Heber City (about 1/2 hour from Park City) and a very easy, scenic drive - but then, what isn't scenic in this area?? Our trusty GPS got us through several turns in this cute, small town to the railroad depot. Picked up our tickets at the Will-Call window (railroad tickets, lunch tickets and armbands for rafting). We boarded at 11 AM and were able to find seats on the shady side of the train. Enjoyed a slow, old-fashion train ride complete with two gun toting robbers shooting their way onto the train looking for the 'money box'. They left without anyone getting hurt! We picked up our box lunches and ate while on our way to the pick up point for the raft company. We were glad that the conductor waited with us until our ride arrived as he was late and being stranded with a Mom and her 2 small boys in the middle of nowhere was not very appealing. Tyler arrived late; we jumped into his van and in less than 2 minutes we arrived at the place where the rafts were put into a pretty rapid running river. Our well-organized rafting experience in Colorado which included a detailed safety talk was NOT repeated here...laid back and relaxed was the message for the day. The 7 of us from the train (3 adults and 4 boys) were on a raft with Tyler as our guide. The Provo River was pretty quiet - class 1 and 2 rapids and lots of flat water with some tricky currents. The river is beautiful, lots of fly fishermen near the shores, plenty of beaver dams and huts, birds mostly yellow finches (although we did see a golden eagle from the train), and fun watching a novice rafter not using a guide, get hung up on trees and rocks along the way. Tyler was friendly, great with the kids, and knowledgeable about the river and local wild life. We really enjoyed our time with him. When our trip was over, we got cold water from the rafting company and after a few more Kodak moments, Tyler drove us to Sundance. Art and I had been there several times before for lunch and love the location. This time, Tyler got our lift passes and we were off on another adventure...taking the ski lift almost to the top of the mountain. I was nervous about the boys (and they admitted afterwards, that it was pretty scary and they were nervous, too). But we all did well and love the magnificent scenery and finding Robert Redford's house (the boys wanted to know who he was and what picture he was in, no clue :)). We did find it (Tyler gave us directions and another couple on the lift passed us and also pointed out the same house). We saw a few ground squirrles, several crazy bikers on very steep and winding bike trails, lots of other bikers taking their bikes up on the lift, and magnificent mountain vistas. After we returned to the base....we walked crossed the bridge over the creek to the main building which houses, restarants, gift shop and, most important, ice cream! The boys had chocolate shakes and we had ice cream which we took to a quiet place on the porch and relaxed to the sound of the creek and views of the flowers. I do love this place and would love to spend a weekend here some time. We were supposed to be picked up by Tyler at 4 PM but that time came and went with no sign of our van. Not that I would have minded being stranded in Sundance, but our car was at the Railroad Depot in Heber City! At 4:15, Art called the company and they said the driver was on the way. He pulled in a few minutes later, apologized and told us that some amateurs tubing on the river had a bad wreck and the guides had rushed down to help them. This guy was the 'in charge' guide and gave us a lot of info about the area and his trip to NC and SC (his only trip to the south) including being introduced to a Waffle House late at night with a waitress who talked with such a thick accent that he didn't understand a word she said besides pancakes! He dropped us off at our car and we were on our way to hot showers, clean clothes and delivered to the room pizza. The boys went down to play pool while we waited for the pizza delivery, ate their pizza and went back to play some more pool - hustlers in training??? All in all a lovely day!  Today's pictures

Monday, July 26

Today was our day to relax, catch up with mountain time, and explore our immediate area.  The boys woke up around 8 after a good night’s sleep (although it was cold in their room – adjusted the thermostat and all is well).  After breakfast, they showered and off we went to explore the Park City Resort fun rides and prices.  Couldn’t make a decision so we agreed to revisit after 11 when the rides were open.  We walked a block or so to the free bus and took it into the bus terminal in town.  Beautiful Park City (PC) day – clear skies, warm with little humidity, and shade on the uphill side of Main Street.  We wandered around town window shopping and reading menus in all of the ‘fine’ restaurants in town.  The boys wanted to try all of the wonderful Sushi Restaurants (fortunately we had already planned to go to one tonight).  We then walked down the sunny side of the street and the mile back to our place.  We continue to be amazed at the number of restaurants and shops that remain open over the years of our visits to PC – prices seem higher but few empty places.  Many houses that were beginning renovation (or looked like they should be renovated) were either completed or close to it.  Prices were very high in town (over 1.5 mil for small wooden houses with little property and, sometimes, unattractive next door neighbors).  When we got back to our room, we were content to enjoy the air conditioning for awhile. Then the boys had fun playing ping pong and we went to off to a little place that specialized in homemade soups and sandwiches for lunch. We had taken out from there on our last visit and really looked forward to going back – even in non-soup weather.  Well,surprise, surprise – when we finally found it – lots of road construction going on in PC, it was clearly closed! :(  It was near an Einstein Bagel place so we went there instead.  One of the counter workers told us that Souperman had closed some time ago.  Strange since I had purchased a Restaurant.com certificate and looked over their Web site just a few weeks ago.

Back to put on bathing suits and spend a few hours by the pool (with additional Ping Pong games) only to find that it was very crowded and the clouds were gathering – then the rain started.  So…more ‘hanging in our nice 2 bedroom unit’ with 3 TVs lest anyone want to watch something different from what the others were watching.  When the rain stopped we decided to go out for Sushi only to find out that the restaurant was closed on Mondays!

  Not having luck with restaurants today, we drove over to The Bridge – a small casual ‘hamburger joint’ with Brazilian touches.  We settled for the hamburgers, had a great waitress, and the boys loved the fooseball table – played while waiting for their food, between food and dessert and after dessert.  It turned out to be a really fun dinner AND we will do sushi later in the week.  Check out  All of the pictures to date