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