A Little Hike With Robyn

A week ago Saturday, Robyn and I took a little walk through Whiting Ranch--by the "Wahoo's" trail head. It is wonderful that Robyn can do trails with her new knee! She has worked hard, and gone through a lot of rehab, to get to this point.

Hiking Buddies

This is the same trail that Stephen and I did in February. (See 2/21/2010 posting.) In February all was lush and green. In September, you can see how brown the grass gets at the end of the dry summer season.

Labor Day Weekend--Surprise Visit From the College Students

Robyn and I had a nice Labor Day Weekend. On Saturday, Dylan came over for a visit. We went to the Nix Nature Center in Laguna Beach with Dylan. Ryan, Ben and Josh came home for a quick visit from BYU--carpooling down with a girl from Corona. This was a surprise, only one week since we dropped them off at the BYU dorms! Brent and Debbie were in town also--and Mom and Dad used the occasion to host us all for a great get-together at there house in PV. (Camera dates are one day off.)

Dylan exploring the sandbox, with fossil shells, at the Nix Nature Center.

Grandpa Jeff and Dylan on the trail outside the Nature Center (Robyn took the photo).

At the PV Get-Together, Marion had each family report on their recent doings. Austin gives his report on how he found his Great-Grandma Jannetta listed in the BYU Yearbook (from the 1920's), voted as that year's "Most Popular Lady." Here he is showing her photo. This validated the Great-Grandpa Hap's oft-repeated boast--he had to hurry down to Provo to marry Jannetta before she was snatched away!

Rachel watched Austin give his report. Rachel's exciting news is her ongoing internship with a structural engineering firm in West LA, close to their home.

Brent and Debbie. They reported on their family's recent volunteer service trip to Haiti with Ben and Josh, touching all of us with their devoted service. Brent and Debbie = love-in-action.

It was especially fun to have the Outhier clan to visit.
Stephanie and Matt, with Matt's dad Darryl and sister Emily . We missed Cherise (recuperating from surgery and in our prayers) and Emily's husband.

Nathan, Ryan , Ben and Josh: The college students getting ready to play the inscrutable card-game "Mao." The rules are undisclosed, but must involved giving Steve and/or Marion hugs when certain cards were played, because there was a never-ending stream of hugs going on Sunday evening.

Robyn and Rachel

Steve and Austin

Marion and Steve

Another famous Grandma Marion-chocolate cake.
I took extras home, because there's only one way to get cake this good!

Jeff and Robyn

Greg on the phone with Jillair, who was with Erin & kids in Baltimore.
Greg and Nathan showed us slides of their awesome ascent (with Brian) of Mt. Shasta earlier this summer.

Ryan and Dylan
Ryan's main reason to come home for the weekend was to visit Dylan. We stopped by Christian and Katie's so he could say goodbye.

Christian and Katie
Christian was actually in Provo for the BYU game. Katie picked him up on Sunday and we stopped by for a visit.

Vacation August 2010--Ryan Starts BYU

Robyn and I returned from a one-week trip to Utah. We dropped Ryan off at BYU, spent time visiting with family and friends along the way. Some photos of our vacation.

As we were leaving, Joel Carter stopped by to wish Ryan good luck at school.

Jeff and Robyn along the trail in Park City, hiking with Jan and Sophie.

Ryan checking in to his new dorm room at Heritage Halls, BYU.

Ryan gives Mom a goodbye hug.

Some of Ryan's dorm-dwellers.
McKay, Josh, Ryan, Ben.

Thanks to Joyce, as always, for her wonderful hospitality. I call her home "Cape Canaveral--Bountiful" because we have launched each of our boys there.

Robyn and Jeff, leaving for California, by the scenic route, through Manti.

Small world, big coincidence.
Jeff and Robyn bump into Heather and Scott outside the Manti Inn!
What fun to see them.

Visiting some of the local sites in Manti after Scott and Heater left.
I am looking sad because I just received a phone call that a judge had ruled against my client.
I hate when that happens. It rained in Manti, marking a gloomy turn to the day.

Robyn and I stopped in the Venice/Glenwood area. Robyn's great grandparents were from Venice. It is very windswept and can appear somewhat bleak, although the irrigated fields were quite green.

A historic landmark by Glenwood/Venice.

Robyn likes to visit this old co-op store originally built in 1878 in "downtown" Glenwood, as part of the Glenwood United Order and later part of ZCMI. Robyn would like to see it refurbished, but it is currently a run-down shell. It will probably fall down before anything is done.

Four Generations On Top of "Saddleback" (Santiago Peak) July 31, 2010

Here are the details:
Appx. 16 miles, from parking lot to Saddleback Peak and back.
One group hiked to the top; the other met us by 4 wheel drive at the top for lunch.
The generations:
1. Steve & Marion Robinson
2. Greg & Jeff Robinson
3. Austin & Rachel Robinson, Christian Robinson, Nathan Robinson, Ryan Robinson
4. Dylan Robinson
The hikers started about 7:45 am; on the peak by 12:30 pm; left the peak by 2:15 and back at car by 5:45 pm. The last mile was the longest and sloooowest, due to my blisters and fatigue.
The truckers left about 10:30, tried one dirt road (gate locked); found another at the end of Silverado Canyon; arrived about 1:00 pm.

Greg took this photo at the 730 am in the departure parking lot.
Make it look like you've already been to the top!

At the trial head sign: up the Lower Holy Jim Trail

"Terry the Tarantula," on of the animal friends we saw along the way.
Nathan's hand shows scale. Rachael wanted to take Terry home as a pet, since she loves spiders so much---NOT!

Hamming it up at Bear Springs, just over halfway up the mountain.
This is where the trail switches to Upper Holy Jim.

On top at last! Greg celebrates while Austin checks the map (or peels an orange).
The day was hot, but not blazing there b/c we had a high thin cloud cover at least initially

Tired and sweaty self-photo, on top, resting on the concrete under one of the numerous antenna towers.

Exploring the scenery and view. At various points from the peak, you could see areas near San Diego (Mt Palomar); Palm Springs (San Gorgonio/San Jacinto) , downtown LA, Catalina.

In the shade of an antenna tower: enjoying the nice lunch and extra water that arrived via 4 wheel drive!
Robyn, Jeff, Steve, Austin, Rachel, Nathan, Ryan, Dylan, Christian, Greg (and photo by Marion)

Dylan found a "big gun."

Ryan and Rachel using the spotter tubes to view the neighboring mountains.
Thank you Eagle Scout for this project!

Robyn exploring the summit, with the antenna towers in the background.
Best advice from the guidebooks: When you first see the antenna towers from the trail, don't get excited--you still have many miles/hours to go before you get there!

It was a challenging and wonderful trip. Thanks to all who participated.

Ryan Receives His Eagle Scout Award

Ryan's Eagle Court of Honor was one of the happiest days of my life.

Proud Dad and Mom.
Look closely on my lapel--you see the eagle scout badge I received 39 years ago, in 1971, at Troop 131 in Torrance, CA.
I wore it to illustrate a "Tribute to Eagle Scouts" talk I gave for the Court of Honor.
(Date on camera should be 7/15/2010.)

Eagle Scouts: Drew Barretto, Ryan Robinson, Jason Harris, Jacob Gibbons
Troop 767, Foothill Ranch CA

Thanks to all for your support and encouragement of Ryan.
There are 5 eagle scouts in this picture--only one in uniform.
Steve and Marion started the tradition with their sons, now continuing with grandsons, and soon to be great-grand-sons.
(Dylan will be a cub scout in 6 short years!)

Hap & Jannetta Family Reunion

We enjoyed our trip to Utah for the annual Hap & Jannetta Robinson Family Reunion held at Farmington Park.

A group photo at the pavilion. JoAnn and Family are bringing us up to date.

Thanks to Grandpa Steve and Grandma Marion for keeping up the tradition.
We love you.

Clay and MaryLou Robinson led us on a hike up Farmington Canyon.

Clay was our tour guide. He stopped every few minutes to point out past adventures... Here's where his Dad (uncle Rick Robinson) shot his first mountain lions (when he was 12), or here's were they restored a trail to prevent any more horses from rolling to their deaths...

Jeff, Greg and Austin--picture by Mary Lou

Clay led the boys, Brent, Ben, Josh, Nathan, Ryan, down the cliff and trail to the gushing waterfall at the bottom of the canyon. The picture does not do justice to the scale or height exposure.

Proof that they made it to the falls.

Wonderful trip!

Thanks also to Joyce, Sean, Jill and family for the fun we had staying with you! My pix of the Bountiful stay got lost!

Ryan's High School Graudation

Thanks to all our family and friends who helped celebrate

Ryan's graduation from Trabuco Hills High School

Ryan spelled with Reese's.

Dylan brought his Uncle Ryan a special card and even more special hugs.

Ryan walks to Pomp and Circumstance.
Enlarge the photo to see Ryan's expression.

Post-graduation greetings on the THHS football field. Thanks for taking this photo, Austin.
Four great sons have graduated from THHS: 2000, 2002, 2006 & 2010!
Such blessings, all.