Logan Canyon and Bear Lake

Next we went camping at our favorite place in Logan Canyon and cast our lines into the river which was ridiculously high.

Notice I said "cast our lines" rather than "fished". We still have yet to catch a fish.

Hopefully that will change some day.

Because we never give up!

The next day we landed at Bear Lake which was also ridiculously high.

See my lovely arrow? That is the end of a road jutting out into the lake. The arrow points to the place where we normally drive our car out to, then down a ramp and onto the sand because the water normally meets the sand just a little beyond that place.

It was the most beautiful day we have ever had at Bear Lake. There was hardly any wind (it is usually fairly windy) and the sky was clear and the temperature warm.

While we were there, I thought of how much fun it would be to live in a nearby town and be able to play at the beach any time.

Then Brandon reminded me of what winters are like in this area.

I guess Florida would be more up my alley.

For now, a trip to Bear Lake in the summer will have to suffice!

Crystal Hot Springs

Our next stop was Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville. I've bought Honeyville wheat and oats, but until now, had never been to Honeyville, a tiny little farming community near Tremonton.

Crystal Hot Springs is a resort with a couple of water slides, an Olympic-size pool, and several hot pools, the two latter being filled with water piped from the nearby springs. There is also a lodge and campgrounds. While we were there, the slides were closed, so we never got to try them out.

I had read reviews when we were making plans and so I knew beforehand that it was a dive, but my initial reaction was still to feel a little dismayed. They really need to do some improvements. It's actually an historic place (and it shows)--my dad told me that he went there when he was a kid.

At first I was a bit bothered by the color of the water and the stains on the concrete (it looked dirty and algae filled), but it wasn't algae or dirt, it was just the minerals and I quickly got over it. Also, the water had a salty, mineral-y taste which bothered some of the boys at first, but after a while they didn't seem to care.

Supposedly, swimming in mineral water is good for you. I did find it relaxing. You are supposed to drink lots of water (not the mineral water, but fresh drinking water) when you swim in it.

Check this out!

It turns out that Crystal Hot Springs is quite the hot spot in Honeyville. By evening, the place probably had a quarter of the town's population. (Just kidding, of course!)

It also turns out that we had a lot of fun there. It is a dive, but also has its charm.

We camped there that night. We had almost the whole place to ourselves.

The boys weren't thrilled about the campground because it obviously isn't in the forest, but there were plenty of big trees and since there was almost nobody there, it was fine. I wouldn't want to camp there when the campground is full, though, because there is no privacy and the camp sites are rather close together.

A stray cat came by that the kids named "Doodimus".

Don't mess with Onion Ring in the morning.

Brandon rigged up the best swing he ever has. Thanks to a perfect branch on this huge tree and Brandon's awesome skillz.

So here's the verdict: this place has some quirks but we really liked it and would enjoy going there again.

Lessons Learned at Bare Lake

This past weekend was our annual Logan Canyon camp out and Bear Lake day trip. Again, there was plenty of food, fire, mud, and water involved. It is very important for boys to get their fill of these Fabulous Four All-Time Boy Favorites. And to get their fill of other very important Fabulous Boy Favorites.

Such as fishing.

Understand that even if they don't know how to actually catch the fish, it is still important to try.

It is important for boys to cast a line into the water and reel it in again and again with visions in their heads of a fish on the hook.

But if a fish never actually gets on that hook, even though there are plenty of them jumping all around in the water, it's still important to cast that line out and reel it in again and again.

It must be done because one of these days, those boys might actually figure it out. Or someone who does know how to really and truly catch a fish might give them some pointers and then they will soon be skillfully catching their own fish.

(This was the most impressive catch of the day.)

Boys must tap into their hunter-gatherer natures and cast and reel. Cast and reel.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

It'll do you good.

Combat is another Fabulous Boy Favorite.

Are they sword fighting?

Lightsaber dueling?

Whatever it is, it is especially fun in the forest.

Or in the lake.

They develop a deeper connection with nature in this way. Combat + nature = rich inner peace and strength.

It's true. Think Yoda training Luke on Dagobah. (Yes, I looked up how to spell that.)

And that brings us to launching. (Boys, not boats.)

Launching is very good for boys to do periodically because it unscrambles their brains that tend to get scrambled from time to time.

It also allows them to cleanse their sinuses with the water that gets up their noses, and practice their Jackie Chan moves.

And experience life from greater heights. And learn balance.

And experience flight. For a short moment.

Phew, there is so much to be gained from launching.

Now here we are, back in the mud.

Mud is great for developing a connection with the earth, as well.

And for introducing organisms into boys' bodies that help to strengthen their immune systems. (Lake water is great for that, too.)

And now I must relate Junior's revelation as we were driving to the lake.

"I think I know why it's called Bear Lake," he said.

"Why?" we asked.

"Because it looks really bare."

Hmmm, I see what he means.

The Fabulous Boy Favs triumph again.