A Saturday in the Cache Valley

In our down weekend between visits, vacations, marathons, and our trip home to Kentucky / Ohio, we were graced with a beautiful weekend in the Cache Valley…so took full advantage of it.

Saturday morning, I got back to running the trails for the first time since the fall.  My legs were still tender from the marathon so my pace was slow, but I was excited about being back on the trails so had to hold myself back from running for too long (to prolong recovery).

Back at home, Susan was just getting up so we made a quick turnaround and drove to the American West Heritage Center for baby animal days!

Bonus!: Susan with our Baby Animal – Halfway through the pregnancy bump.

Historic Farm w/ mountain backdrop (top left), baby ducks (top right), peafowl on a hill (bottom left), chicken coop (bottom right)

Jeff and bunny pounding it (top left), Susan stealing ducklings (top right), horse talk (bottom left), tiny goats! (bottom right)

After talking to the animals, we stopped by The Crepery (it was Susan’s first time) for lunch and I got a chance to try the syphon coffee…it was good, but I didn’t notice any flavor differences making it worth the trouble.

Back at the apartment, Susan took it easy while Derby and I suited up and prepared to walk up a mountain.  We hiked for about 2.7 miles in total with 1700 feet elevation gain in the first half (it was an out and back).  The mountain was steeper than I remembered so we didn’t make it to the peak, but still got some great views of the valley on a sunny day.

Derby ready to hike (top left), our starting view of the valley (top right), heading up (bottom left), looking across Green Canyon (bottom right)

Our turnaround view (top left), a Wellsvilles backdrop (top right), soaring over the valley (bottom left), and it’s been a tough winter (bottom right)

Early in the evening I recharged my batteries poolside while Derby crashed in the apartment (he’s out of shape).  Then Susan and I went out for a hibachi dinner at Kabuki before calling it a day.

Since Sunday was also great weather, I got up for a long bike ride to Hardware Ranch, but with it being spring the elk were all gone.  We head into another work week (finals week for Utah State) with only a few more days on the countdown before a week back home seeing family and friends.