Fall Colors, A Quick Trip to Odgen, and Our Lapidary Studio

Fall is almost here and the Resort is emptying. The fall colors here are not as bright as normal, due to lots of summer moisture, but you don't have to drive very far to see great mountain colors. We discovered this while making a quick trip to Ogden to purchase a lapidary shop's equipment and rocks, and discovered another beautiful route through the mountains.

While getting my oil changed, in preparation for the fall exodus to the Gulf Coast, the owner of the garage told me the reason for the duller fall colors. She said that the heavy summer moisture meant that the oaks did not have to send sugar to the leaves and so the leaves simply turn brown and fall off.

Still we hoped for a colorful drive as we headed to Ogden, Utah. During the show, last week, a man from Odgen approached our tent and told us he was emptying the family house in preparation to renting it. His parents had both passed and his father had been involved in lapidary and jewelry making.

His wife sent us images of the equipment and so we hurried to their house in hopes of purchasing as much as possible. We have needed a slab saw and a dedicated trim saw, so we don't have to haul all of our rough rocks to Texas, (we still will have to haul the larger ones to cut down to size). Now we are the proud owners of a twelve inch slab and an eight inch trim saw, both Lorotones and both in really great shape.

The seller, Wayne, recommended we head up Odgen Canyon, (Highway 39 to Randolph), and was he ever right. It's a beautiful drive through rocks and trees and it follows a narrow and steep sided ridge. Its definitely not for the acrophobic and its also a road you don't want to pull your big rig.

Renita was busy taking image after image and giving me vivid descriptions of the colors. I really couldn't appreciate them as much as I was concentrating on keeping us alive, as there were few guard rails along this narrow road. It reminded me of driving in Alaska, somewhat like the Top of the World Highway, only paved of course.

So now its doctor time and we are in the midst of getting our annual checkups. These are going to delay our start till early October. We should see some snow before then but Indian Summers usual happen here and so we should have good weather for crossing the Rockies.
Clear skies