Grandpa Soars

Grandma Johnson and her five children gave a glider ride to Grandpa for Fathers' Day. He was astonished and amazed at the thought. Yesterday he went up. Some photos of the day.

Rolling out the LIT L-23 Super Blanik sailplane. This is the Czech-built trainer used by the Air Force Academy for pilot training.

The pilot was Kristine Ciesinski, a world-class opera singer, who took up soaring in the '90s.

Packing the old man in.

Tow plane was an Aviat Husky, with its flat-bottomed Clark Y airfoil.

An attendant held the wing up until they got rolling...

... and off they went.

This is the last we saw of him for over an hour.

Grandma wasn't nervous..

Approaching Grand Teton.

Up close and personal.

We all had a fine time waiting...

... and waiting.

Dad says he and Kristine got on famously. (You can sort of see the Tetons there, after they landed.)

Since they landed at the far end of the runway, in preparation for the next passenger, they shuttled Grandpa back to the FBO.

Two thumbs up.

Yellow (and Other-colored) Stone

We took Grandma and Grandpa Johnson on a loop through Yellowstone and Teton national parks. We entered the park at West Yellowstone, turned right at Madison Junction, looped past Firehole Falls, stopped at a couple of places on our way to Old Faithful, then to West Thumb, and out the south entrance. Laura and Sam went to Lagoon instead.

We stopped first at Big Springs, where the Henry's Fork suddenly materializes from a hillside. Here, Grandma is trying to see the fish under the bridge. We rescued her so she didn't fall in.

Grandma showing Grandpa the big fish.

There were seagulls begging for food.

Jack, at Silex Spring, wondering about the tooth he threw in last year.

Grandma is getting her nerve up to go around the larger loop at Midway Geyser Basin.

Everyone was interested but Adam.

Grandma spent a lot of time holding on to her hat, so it wouldn't blow away.

There were many hats that did.

Excelsior Geyser. The day was rather chill, so there was lots of steam coming off the hot springs.

Adam's new glasses fogged up.

Effluent from Grand Prismatic Spring.

We hiked around behind Old Faithful. We also saw Castle Geyser erupting in the distance. Castle Geyser only erupts every 7 to 12 hours (they say).

Finished off the day by driving through Grand Teton and eating at Mountain High Pizza Pie (and Moo's Gourmet Ice Cream).

Mmm.. Grandma did really well with all the walking, though I think we tired her out.

Hike Over the Hill

Grandma and Grandpa Murdock are checking out hikes for their ward's young women. On Tuesday, the were going to Oliver's Peak, south of Victor. Jann decided to take the little kids (Adam and Jack). Grandpa Johnson was keen too, and since it was my 50th birthday, and since I had no classes, I decided to skip work and go as well.

Obligatory rock shot. Brian, Jack, Adam, Matthew.

Grandpa enjoying the fine Idaho outdoors.

We did quite a bit of side-hilling, before arriving at the ridge. This is looking north, and you can see Teton Valley in the background on the right.

Lunch spot.

Grandpa resting his tired bones.

Adam caught by a dead tree. We didn't end up going all the way to the peak, because of brewing weather, so we headed back down. 

At the end.

Jann and Grandma trying to get their sausage fingers to go back down.

Afterwards, we had a 50th birthday party. Brett and Amy gave me fireworks. Some of them appropriate for indoor use.

I think that's more than 50 candles.

Emily and Rory got me some nice green slip-ons. Thanks guys. See how relaxing they are?

Promenade

I knew I forgot something. Emily told me I didn't have Sam's prom pictures up..

Sam's ex tennis partner who broke his foot. Hopefully she won't stomp too hard.

Sam and his Nattie.

The group.