Karin's Team - A Dedication

Last year my good friend Karin Vandenberg invited me to participate with her law firm's team in the MS 150 Bike Ride in Cache Valley to raise money to not only support research for a cure, but also to provide programs which address the needs of people living with MS. It was a lot of fun to participate with her, Steve (her husband), and Richard (her dad) - see blog entry for June 2008. As soon as it was over, I was already anticipating riding in 2009. Needless to say, things changed over the course of that year. Karin passed away from a tragic fall in April. Because she would not be able to ride with us, many of her family and friends committed at the time of her memorial service to do this ride for her.

Some of Karin's Team: Sue Vandenberg, Michael and Linda Dunn, Cole, Steve, Jack, me

My original intention and training had been focusing on riding again with her dad; this year we were going to do the 75-mile route. But as it turned out, I decided to do the shorter 40-mile route with Steve and their boys, Cole and Jack. They were a lot of fun to ride with. Good choice!!!

Jack, Cole, and Steve

The Carlstrom men...Cole, Steve, and Jack - Karin's "boys"

And again the weather was superb. Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. 'Til next year....

And a huge THANK YOU to those who sponsored me. I appreciate your donations!

Yellowstone / Grand Teton

My sister, LeAnn, and Nathan came up for the weekend. I don't have to twist her arm very hard to do a drive through Yellowstone. This time we got to do this in her new car. After breakfast at the Relay Station, we headed on up to West Yellowstone and into The Park in the west entrance. We took the south loop by driving up to Norris junction and over to Canyon, then down through Hayden Valley on past Yellowstone Lake and then up to Old Faithful.

Considering thunderstorms and scattered showers were in the forecast for the day, we lucked out for the most part with the weather. It was a bit cool though, in the 40s and 50s, so we did not get out and take many pictures. We saw a lots of bison, geese (mostly along the Yellowstone river in Hayden Valley), and a few deer near Yellowstone Lake. No elk this time.

After watching Old Faithful erupt, we headed east again to go out the south entrance and on through Grand Teton NP. With the snowpack runoff and all the thunder showers over the past week or so, I have never seen so much standing water in Yellowstone. The Lewis River, as it leaves Lewis Lake and then flows south to join the Snake river, is flooding extensively just down river from Lewis Falls. Jackson Lake is full!! It looks good.

As we were driving down the road near Colter Bay, there were a lot of cars along the road. A moose carcass was visible not far from the road. And many people were waiting to see the grizzly bear come back to feast on its kill. Just as we approached, it started raining...sprinkling at first but within about 30 seconds it was a full downpour. We opted to head back to the car instead of getting soaked. We didn't see it.

After stopping at the new visitor center at Moose (where we did see a young bull moose right outside the visitor center) we headed onward toward home on the Moose-Wilson road. This is one of my favorite drives. It is a short drive on a very narrow, winding road, but it is worth it. More often than not, I will sight moose along the road. And definitely as worth it this time. A mother moose and a very young calf were eating along side a creek very near the road. It was just beautiful to stand and watch them.

We then headed on over Teton Pass and got home in time for me to go to the wedding reception for Ryan and Breanne Olaveson. A great ending to a fun day!!

You have to look hard, but the calf moose is visible to the right of the cow.

Thunderstorms

This has been an exceptional spring for rain and thunderstorms. Actually, I quite like thunderstorms, but are enjoyed more from inside my home...as opposed to on top of Table Rock. The following photos are some that I have captured this spring of gray skies and threatening clouds...from just outside my doors.

The video doesn't do justice to this rainbow, but I just wanted to share the FULL rainbow I got to see outside my back door on Monday night. If you look closely, you can faintly make out the double rainbow. It was awesome, truly awesome. One of the beauties from God.

Note: I have finally "caught up" my blog, as of today. I have updated all the way back to the St. George trip in mid-May. FINALLY!!

Mesa Falls

Sunday after church I wanted to venture out for a little drive. It has been a very rainy weekend, so I needed to get outside (but within the confines of a car), so I took a drive up to the Mesa Falls area...past a favorite camping spot Warm River. Hmmmmm....I need to calendar in a camping weekend.

Lower Mesa Falls

A view towards the Upper Mesa Falls, from the Lower Mesa Falls viewing area. You can see the spray from the Upper Falls and the roof of the lodge in the distance.

I love this place!!