Backpacking with 6 people???

Here is the short version...I'll let Kevin fill in details later.  We went backpacking with our good friends the Reyman's.  We all had our packs (some lighter than others) ready to hike in about a mile!  It was a fun time and I think we might try it again.  Thanks Brant and Ty for letting us borrow your equipment! 

A fun tree to stop and pose at

The whole crew just messing around.

Rolling Thunder Run

There are lots of grubby tourists festivities in town for Memorial Day. One of the events, quite possibly the coolest one, is the Rolling Thunder Run, which is a massive line of motorcycles that wind their way from the Pentagon, around the National Mall, and end at the Vietnam Memorial. It's especially huge this year because of the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

Part of the staging area in the Pentagon parking lots.
ALL motorcycles waiting to ride.

The police escort preparing to start the run.
I guess if you have to be a cop, you might as well ride a motorcycle. Matt. 

No shortage of characters in this event.
Characters and awesome bikes. And less awesome bikes.

Obama having a look at the run from Marine 1? I like to think so. 

This old dude stood at attention in the boiling heat and sticky humidity and saluted everyone who passed.
For at least 45 minutes. He was still going strong when we left.

It Was a Slow News Week

Early in the week Scott Billy (Moscow Fire Department Safety Officer) called and asked if it would be OK to stage some fire equipment and trucks in the church parking lot for a demonstration they were doing for the graduating seniors.  It is to make them think twice before drinking and driving.

 Everett Paul brought in a couple of junkers from his wrecking yard.  They had several people in the cars and laying on the ground.

 Five buses of seniors arrived from the high school.

 Then about every couple of minutes another emergency vehicle arrived.

 They must have had half the units from town at the site.

 They staged some of the vehicles in the church parking lot.

 Just when you thought everyone was there the helicopter arrived.

They loaded up the victim and away they went.  The guy standing beside me watching said the victim was his wife.  Lots of people were rubber-necking and some stopped to asked what had happened.  Scott came over after it was done and thanked me for letting them park at the church.  He said it took lots of hours and he had to call in a lot of favors but it turned out well.

We built a playground

Our stake built a playground a few weeks ago.  I was skeptical when we arrived and found two trailers of parts that still needed unwrapped and then two semi-loads of mulch showed up, but it all worked out.  By the end of the day, the playground was built and  cemented in and the mulch had all been installed.  It was a lot of fun working together as a stake. 

Here is a video of our project.  I'm near the start and the kids show up near the end.

Brant