FAMILY VACATION TO LAKE POWELL HAPPENED AS PLANNED...

 Now that is saying something!  With Covid the past year and a half, so many things got postponed; our family vacation was one of them.  We had planned an Alaskan cruise with our adult kids and the ship we were scheduled to be on was one that was in the news with the beginning of Covid in 2020.  We waited patiently for Princess Cruises to cancel and got our money back.  Hopefully we will get to Alaska someday!  

Then our SIL got the chance to go with a friend to Lake Powell and they had a terrific time.  I had seen pictures of Lake Powell a long time ago in Family Fun magazine, probably 20 years ago.  I always wanted to go there and houseboat but it seemed an unreachable goal with young children, being so far away, and quite costly.

We decided to check it out.  We started planning and reserved a houseboat for fall 2021, which is shoulder season.  The water is still warm and the temperatures are still pretty hot, too!  Turned out to be a perfect time to go!  We decided to do 5 days on the boat and a couple in Page, Arizona.  It was my major research project for the last 9 months.  I learned all about different houseboats, that you also rent a speedboat, anchoring, which canyons to explore, that the marina at the half-way point was closed due to storm damage, what kind of meals work best when houseboating, what to pack, toys to rent, things to do on the way there and back, etc, etc, etc. Horseshoe Bend was on the way and Antelope Canyon tours opened up!  Woohoo!  Right up my alley!  

Here's a few of my favorite photos:

Horseshoe Bend - surreal!

Sunset at Wahweap marina with my son

The Hubs taking us out of the marina

We chose this area to stay in for the week - Gunsight is the name of this rock formation.

I dubbed this Coin Rock as it looks like a coin standing up (from a distance).

Entering Labyrinth Canyon

We all paddle boarded in!

Exploring the slot canyon!

We paddleboarded to the other side of the cove.

and we found a balanced rock!

The kids and their spouses playing games.

One of our dinners was a campfire dinner!

My son who loves to drive!

We boated up the lake and then hiked to see one of the world's largest natural bridges, Rainbow Bridge.

After that we found what they call the Toilet bowl!

The girls and myself in our cover-ups!

Man, I will miss this view each morning!

Family photo with the houseboat before we go.

In Page we took the Antelope Canyon tour - simply wonderful!

Our guide took some neat photos for us.

Coming out!

We also hiked a short trail in Page they call the "New Wave."

The last day there we drove and checked out Lee's Ferry, where the Grand Canyon begins!

It was truly amazing and had I known I would love Lake Powell so much,we might have stayed there a bit longer.  But we really had no idea, since it was our first time there and first time houseboating.  Favorite moments were singing for hours on the top deck, looking at the stars on Sunday night, exploring Labyrinth canyon together, playing games at night, paddle boarding and hiking, Rainbow bridge, quiet mornings on the top deck with The Hubs.  We did enjoy our activities and eating out at some different restaurants in Page, too.  If you have some experience with boats in your family (that is, someone confident enough to drive a 59 foot houseboat and anchor it, I would say, definitely GO!

POOL REMODEL...

 After 1 1/2 summers of having no water in the pool, we were so excited to be able to use it again these last few weeks of summer!  Last summer we had a problem with our pool equipment and ended up draining it.  We signed a contract in March of this year to have it remodeled which was only going to take 2-3 weeks of work once started.  I'm not sure if the company said June or if that was all in my head, but I really thought we'd have water in it and get to use it in June of this year.  Well you know the story with Covid and shortages...it ended up getting finished in August!  Grrr...

But it's so nice now, and we look forward to using it as long as we continue to live here.  Nothing, I mean nothing, had been done to it in 20 years, except for us removing the broken diving board (16 years old's bday party gone bad).  We changed it to suit our needs now.  The shape remained the same, but the depth changed.  We filled in the deep end and made it into a sport pool, about 5 1/2 feet in most of it.  The steps became a pool shelf with umbrella pole, which we love.  We also got the burgundy brick surround replaced with new travertine, new tile and new plaster.  Here some of the ever popular before and after pictures:

Before:  Deep end and burgundy brick surround

Brick replaced with travertine stone, tile removed

Pool getting filled in and the shelf being made

Testing out how the pool shelf will be soon!

After:  Party time with the family!  You can see how we are all on the pool shelf!

With the umbrella on the pool shelf, just relaxing in my crazy orange dress.

Now it's much easier to play volley ball!

THE MAINE THING...

 Couldn't help it!  So many fun puns for the state of Maine!  We got to visit recently and spend some time in Acadia National Park and the resort town of Bar Harbor with friends.  After that, The Hubs and I wanted to get away from the crowds and we went to the easternmost point of the United States - Lubec, Maine!  Here's some of the highlights:

In Bangor - the Stephen King house

Bucksport - Storybook walk

Penobscot bridge and observation tower

The only bridge in the US with an observation tower!

Fort Knox - not the one where they keep the gold

We saw this everywhere and found out it is Rosehips!

Rosehips blooms too!

Lots of places decorated with buoys from boats

In Acadia this Thunder Hole is popular because it makes a loud boom when the water rushes in.

Hiking one of many trails in Acadia

It's a big deal to see the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain in Acadia.  

Unfortunately it was super foggy the day we went!

Trail pic

Walking across to Bar Island - when the tide is low, you can literally walk across!

Best ice cream in town!

Our friend B got to hold a 4.5 lb. lobster at dinner!

Needhams are a candy made in Maine from potatoes, coconut, and chocolate and are delicious!

We saw Bass headlight - the only one on the island.

Lots of gorgeous flowers!

Fun at the ice cream shop

We biked the Carriage roads in Acadia - pictured is one of many rock bridges 

provided by John Rockefeller.

The Hubs and I got up early to avoid the crowds and hiked the Beehive trail - a little scary!

Lubec is a tiny town but it's claim to fame is that it is the most eastern town in the USA!

We had the best view from our room at Water St. Inn!  

If you walk out onto the seawall you will see this international boundary marker. So close to Canada!  But we couldn't go across due to Covid restrictions.  

Next time hopefully - to visit Campobello Island the FDR home. 

 

I enjoyed walking out on the sea wall and just sitting on the rocks.

Quoddy Head lighthouse is about 10 minutes away and it is the only candy-striped lighthouse 

and also the easternmost.  

We hiked early two mornings and saw so many beautiful mushrooms!

Drove over to Eastport Maine and saw this guy.

Wanted to visit the mustard mill but it was being renovated - so we just stopped at their shop to buy some different flavored mustards.

Back in Lubec - so cute!

Last evening there - absolutely breathtaking sunset!

Last morning hike - found some blueberries!

We wore our mosquito nets on that hike.

Hiked out to Morton's rock!

Looking over to Canada!

I loved our time and my favorite place was definitely the little town of Lubec.  I'm just not into the crowds.  The most unique thing we did while in Lubec was to go to a church singing.  They had a sign out that advertised it and it also said "all are welcome."  So we went and had a great time, singing some old favorites! We talked to several locals as a result of that.  They were so friendly.  We also loved Monica's chocolates, which I have no pictures of - but she is famous for her products in Maine and we can vouch for her delicious hot chocolate!