Finding Balance...At Bear Lake

 Earlier this week my wife and I decided to go for a drive. Because I'm now working the weekends, on Monday we loaded up the van and headed east. It was a smoky drive, but even so the canyon trees were incredible.

We also had a wonderful time just hanging out at the lake.

Bear Lake is a favorite of ours. My wife's family rented a cabin timeshare years ago and that's where she developed a love for the place. Me...I haven't spent as much time at Bear Lake, but I do love the small town, the resort feel from the small shops, the delightful homes and atmosphere in the valley.

We pulled over and walked along the shore. I was fascinated by the rocks--they're the same rocks that we dug up in mass when putting in our yard. I guess it makes sense. The entire northern part of the state was once under the same giant inland sea.

Someone set up a monument...rocks balancing on each other. I'm sure there's a proper name for just such a structure. If so, I don't know it, nor do I need to know the name to appreciate it.

There's something about large bodies of water that draws humans like a moth to a flame. As it did us. A few people roamed the shoreline dipping their feet into the water. We did not venture that far out.

Yes, it was smoky and you couldn't see very well the other side of the lake, but it was beautiful none the less. Bear Lake, Utah...a place we'd love to visit many times more.

Bring On...Raspberry Days!

Chances are wherever you live there's probably a day (or a few days...) set aside to celebrate the town and its people. Today we drove into Garden City, Utah and experienced Raspberry Days! Many of these home-grown town parties highlight a food that's famous to the area. Garden City has some delicious raspberries.

We knew the party was starting this weekend, but we had no idea it would start as early as Thursday. We actually drove into town to get a bite to eat. We ended up having some delicious pizza and enjoyed the local atmosphere. 

As we walked between the booths that showcased clothing, hand-crafted items, cool pens made by Steve, and various food items, I was hoping an author who lives in the county had a booth. I've been looking forward to picking up John Brown's next book, Curse: The Dark God Book Two, but he wasn't there. Next time.

If you find yourself on the banks of Bear Lake (the Utah side...) during the first week of August, see if they're celebrating Raspberry Days. And if you are and if they are, be sure to stop in. It's a great little party.

The "The Legacy Of Laketown" Sign...

I've never stayed in Laketown, Utah--driven through it a couple of times in my life, but never stayed the night. Until now.

As far as a settlement goes, there's not much there. We're staying at an amazing lodge (I'll blog about it at a later date...) and next to the lodge there's a park. And on the east side of the park, just off Round Valley Drive there is a sign, a monument to the community of Laketown, Utah.

I snapped a picture, not knowing if all the little words would be legible. I hoped they would be because there was a lot of information on the sign and I thought it would be interesting. I didn't know until I downloaded it that I was happy to see that both of my hopes were realized. You can read all the little words and (I think, at least...) the information is interesting.

I knew that the area where we're staying was an active location for mountainmen and indian rendezvouses back in the day. The sign points out some of the history of the town as well as the names of notable families that have remained in the valley for decades, even over a century.

But the thing that I enjoyed most about the sign is the population statistics. In the 100 years, from 1896 to 1996, the population of Laketown increased by a grand total of nine people. The western states of the U.S. are (and have been for a while...) the fastest growing region of the country. But in a little town in Rich County, they've grown by less than one person every ten years. That's pretty cool!