The Porta Bote adventure

Here it is almost all together, without the transom that holds the motor. It folds together, can be done with 2 people and has a 4 inch draw in the water. It won't sink either, even full of water and people! That's a plus with our grandkids - we never know what they may try!
>>>>> - it all started here. Sam and I went to an Outdoor Show last spring and saw this amazing boat. It folds flat to 4" deep and can be carried on the top of a car or along side an RV. We were intrigued, but didn't buy one. Finally after a lot of research about it we ordered one...........well, we ordered two............actually we ordered three!! Let me splain. The first one was delivered by Larry and Carol, the distributors in Utah. We got it unpacked and unfolded and put together (it was 95* outside, too) and then it was discovered that someone had dropped it on the back corner and crushed the structure. Sooo, Larry had to fold it all back up and make the 150 mile trip back to his home. 10 days later he brought us boat #2 and this time there was a forklift bite in the back, where the transom goes................So, poor Larry (age 71) takes this one back too. Now, 3 weeks later, he calls again and promises that he inspected the third one before it left the loading dock. They used a different shipping company too! Smart huh?



Here we have the maiden voyage with Austyn, Drake, McKenzie and Alyssa at our reservoir in Delta. We bought 4 canoe paddles too, so each passenger can row and help. One day soon, we will get a small motor, but for now, it's fun to paddle around.

Exploring Millard County

Today we got up and decided to explore the extinct volcano Sugarloaf. It's not too far from Delta, so we made PB&J sandwiches, hooked up the trailer and 4 wheeler and headed out. The rounded peak on the left has concrete towers left in the 1930's from an abandoned wind power project. That's where we went first. There is a hiking trail for the taller peak, but we didn't go.........we would have had to walk from one peak to the other (and BACK!!) -- we're old, what can I say??
After leaving the wind towers, Sam decided to take the scenic route down...............and I mean almost straight Down!! I was holding on for dear life!! I was also holding myself back, so I didn't lean on him and push him off. I've never, ever been on such an adventure. I didn't even want to turn around at the bottom and take a picture of the long, steep hill!!! We continued to the back side and saw some amazing rock formations, caused by thousands of years of erosion. The rocks looked like melted wax. Next time we go, it will be in the early morning, so we can get the sun on the rocks, instead of in our eyes and camera lens.

The testdrive

School has started and Drake (13) borrowed t-shirts from his Grandpa Sam last night to fit over his football gear. What a great time we'll have going to his games this fall. Drake got to throw out the first pitch at the Orem Owls baseball game, held during Sam's company picnic this summer. He did great and threw it right to the catcher.

There was another surprise this summer when Julie and her family came from Colorado and had a picnic at Murray Park with almost the whole family. Jason had to work and Sally was taking a woodcarving class. It was lots of fun for the cousins to become reacquainted, and for Grandpa to see Sebastian, his youngest grandchild for the first time.