After an unusual summer season because of Jan’s broken toe, when camping and hiking were not in order, it was nice to return to normal summer activities in early September. Dave and Jan planned to camp at a favorite campground at Navajo Lake on the Markagunt Plateau twenty five miles east along Highway 14. The internet indicated that all campgrounds were open, but most were closed after Labor Day, so Plan B was to camp at Duck Creek Campground – the only forest service camp still open in the area.

The campsite chosen was ideally located on a nice meadow where some deer were immediately seen grazing (not pictures) and the surrounding forest provided a very attractive setting.

On Friday morning Dave and Jan drove a few miles to take a hike on a portion of the 31 mile long Virgin River Rim Trail which they had not hiked before. It was a good trail for a test of Jan’s foot – where the broken bone has healed, but there is still some swelling, which the doctor says is normal.

The trail climbed steadily for most of a mile before leveling out as many parts of the Rim Trail do.

As the trail sign promised, there were nice views in the direction of Zion National Park along the path.

There were some very interesting examples of complex root systems and some twisted Aspen tree configurations to be seen at various places along the trail.

As the trail sign also predicted, there were some nice displays of the red rocks which are characteristic of the area and frequently visible along the Virgin River Rim Trail.

At noon a fallen Pine tree log provided suitable seating in a pleasant meadow to enjoy a picnic lunch.

Jan’s foot managed the hike of around five or six miles very well. It was very pleasant to get back to camping and hiking, something Dave and Jan have enjoyed doing each summer for much of the time they have lived in the high desert and mountain country of Southwest Utah. Their hikes often bring to mind the words of a familiar chorus which quotes the Psalmist David in Psalm 8:1 and 9: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”

Dave and Jan decided it was time to pay a visit to South Dakota – camping along the way and back in their camping trailer. It was a busy time for the Crandall family, with Alissa nearing the end of her studies to become an accredited mid-wife, and the four Crandall boys about to return to classes, but Andrew and family graciously accommodated the visit.

The first stop on the trip was at Wasatch Mountain State Park in Midway, Utah – a town with a decidedly Swiss flavor to it, because early settlers thought the nearby mountains reminded them of Switzerland.

Alissa made camping arrangements for her parents at a campground in a city park on the James River. It was a very pleasant stay, with many park amenities nearby (grassy fields, walking/biking trails, regular and disk golf courses, etc., and the James River just over a levee behind the campground.

On a day when Alissa was working on her studies, Andrew led Dave and Jan, with the boys, to an interesting recreation area on Osceola Lake not too far from Huron. Because the state decided not to maintain the area, the local Mennonite community took on the responsibility and made it a very nice place to spend a part of the day.

Back in Huron the boys assembled a model airplane, while Andrew and Alissa worked at assembling a long list of school supplies which teachers at James Valley Christian School were requesting for their classes.

Andrew and the boys enjoyed doing some fishing on the James River where Silas got the catch of the day.

Levi and Elijah are both competing with their school’s track teams, and Dave and Jan caught a picture of Levi completing a practice cross country run as he returned to the James Valley Christian campus.

It was a busy time for the Crandall family, but Dave and Jan enjoyed the chance to attend worship (where Andrew is pastor at First Presbyterian) and spend time in and around Huron, South Dakota with (L to R) Levi, Andrew, Silas, Elijah, Alissa and Ephraim.

Dave and Jan are very grateful to the Lord for the blessing of their two children and their families!