10 Mile Bike Ride, Sept 22,2011

Jim and I have been riding our bikes together several times a week, quite often after we get home from the mission. It helps to exercise to reduce any stress or fatigue whiah we have built up. After all it has been a long time since we worked 8 hrs a day and got up at 6 am! :-)

This is the start of our ride this day. We cross the Jordan River here near the fairgrounds and start riding on the north side of the river. The river is right behind our rv park.

This is Jim riding alongside the river, although you cannot see it. On the right are soccer fields behind a recreation center.

At this point we took this beautiful bridge back over to the south side of the river to join the Jordan River Bike Trail. This bridge is very wide and easy to ride across.

This is a very narrow bridge which I used to stop and walk my bike across the first couple of times I approached it. It did not take long until I was able to navigate it in both directions, however!

Soneone had some very pretty pyracantha growing on the other side of this bridge. It was too pretty to pass up!

This just shows some of the variety of scenes along this bike path. This is a large recreational complexwith soccer and baseball frields as well as a playground. It is very nice.

Along parts of the path are home on one side with the river on the other. This is just one example. Many homes here, even in the city, have vegetable gardens.

This part of the path has what we call the rapids in the river, maybe a minus one! :-) The river is just over the fence as we head north on the trail.

Close to the end of the existing trail, (There is more trail planned & under construction) is a golf course which we ride beside. It makes for pretty scenery!

When we hit the end of the trail we have to traverse a busy highway by the name of Redwood Road for about 1/3 of a mile and then turn east of 2300 North to go over to Warm Springs Road. This to me, is a little scary but we do have a wide berm to ride on.

Now we are on Warm Springs Road heading south to return to Salt Lake City. On the other side of I-15 there is some sort of construction there or a business which is tearing apart the mountain. See the different colors of the soil.

Jim saw this funny sign so we had to stop and take a photo of the 3 mph speed limit!

Now you can barelyy see the SLC skyline in the distance. See the railroad on the left. We hear engine whistles all night long in the KOA where we live. We call SLC the Railroad Whistle Capital of the world. This Warm Springs Road is not heavily traveled which made our ride more enjoyable.

Well, you can see we are getting closer all the time to the skyline.

At this point we have to ride across RR tracks. It was interesting and a little jarring!

And yet another scene showing the SLC skyline in the distance.

I really liked this business becauise of the patriotism with the large flag on the side of the building. However, I did not notice the graffiti of the smiling face until now!

Now the skyline is really coming into view! I believe you can see the tops of the temple spires here. It sure is pretty with the evening sun shining on those buildings downtown.

We are near the area where we traverse city streets to return to our home at 1424 W North Temple. We arrived home and had traveled 10 miles without resting! Phew, I am getting good! :-) This is especially true since I am riding the old beach cruiser we bought in Jax Beach in 1988! Maybe one day, I will get it tuned up! :-)

Jim, by the way, just recently, Oct. 1st, rode up City Creek Canyon with Elder Doug Haymore. It was a tough uphill ride, until he turned around to come back down! I think it was over 2 hrs. He said it was the toughest he had ever done! Elder Haymore rides 10 miles every morning before he comes to work! I know that when Jim rides with me he is frustrated but he does ride on his own every Saturday for longer distances and rides faster. One day this past week we rode our bikes up into downtown on "bike streets" and then back home for only about 5 miles. That was a little scary for me riding alongside all those cars, even though I had a bike lane!

Going to Work at the Mission

This photo of us, with our Mission President & his wife, Elder & Sister Peterson was taken about the first day or so of our training. They sure are great, humble people.

I digress...but I have to "show off". We had our first branch social on September 12th and we were asked to bring chili or a cobbler. I brought both (It's a long story.) but the cobbler, actually which was rhubarb crisp from my sister-in-law's recipe, won a prize and so I was awarded this scarecrow! Cute, huh? Thanks, Judy!

It is hard to believe I would ever win anything in the culinary arts department but here it is! :-)

This is a scene on our way to work, Monday, September 19th. We are starting toward downtown Salt Lake after crossing the bridge over the railroad tracks. We live out North Temple to the west toward the airport. It takes us about 10 minutes to drive to the parking garage.

Here we are turning the corner by the relatively new Conference Center to drive into the underground parking garage. The Family History Library is behind us as we turn.

This is the entrance to the parking garage. It covers the whole block under the Conference Center.

This is another shot as we are driving down into the parking area. Notice the cactus growing up on top. There are parts of the garage which are 5 stories down but we usually park on the 4th level down and take the elevator up.

This is a blurry scene of the parking garage! :-)

Jim is waiting at the elevator. This day we parked at level P3.

As we exit the elevator and walk outside, this is the scene which greets us! I love the lighting on the temple on the right. The building we work in, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, formerly the Hotel Utah, is on the left.

Here is another shot of the temple.

This isn't the greatest shot of the JSMB, but it will do for now. We go to the Third floor for training. Our training is two weeks long.

On each Monday morning we all go to the chapel on the Mezannine floor for a devotional at 7:30 am. This lasts about an hour and then we go up to the third floor for training.

Before we enter the chapel, we have the chance to shake hands & speak with each person in the Mission Presidency. Sometimes this line gets too long and I choose to go inside rather than stand in a long line. I am bad, aren't I! (Don't answer that! :-) )

This is shot of the front of the chapel with the Men's Choir seated there. This building is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year. It is very beautiful!

Early Cookout 9-10-2011

We had our first cook out Saturday, September 10, 2011 and invited the Vincents and the Haymores, both couples from Georgia and on a mission with us. We had the usual burgers & hot dogs & everyone brought something to add to the menu. By the way, Linda Vincent is the photographer here, so we have photos thanks to her!

Elder Speidel & Elder Vincent awaiting the refreshments.

Here they are again!

As an unexpected treat we had Adam Chevrier & his fiance, Jessie, come up from BYU to have dinner and have us meet Jessie. She is a delight! And of course, so is Adam! :-)

Elder Haymore & Elder Vincent are talking serious talk! Neither believes the other! Note the body language! (Ha, Ha!)

Here they are again organizing our food table.

Sister Haymore & Jim look on while I cook the burgers & dogs. Sister Haymore was cold so I lent her my jacket. By the way, this kis our new grill since our last one rusted through!

Jim is making Jessie laugh with all his stories! We had a great time!