Picnic at the Pit

Jory, Sarah, Grandma, Allan & I took advantage of the free Visit the Kennecott Copper Mine offered last week. We viewed the 'can be seen from outer space' hole, watched the video and took a picnic dinner.

Sarah admitted going here on a field trip in elementary. If you haven't been to the Bingham Copper Mine pit lately, it is only $5 per car load. Open from 8am to 8pm although no one is admitted after 7pm and shooed out the door at 7:45. It can be reached from the south west end of Salt Lake Valley by taking 11800, 12300 South, Old or New Bingham Highway to 80th west, turn south (12300 turn north) until you come to the Rio Tinto entrance on the west side of the road.

The view from the top is out of this world as you watch the two story building size trucks inch their way up from the bottom of the pit to dump a load bigger than your house into the crusher. Take binoculars to see the 'ugly bug crawl'. Then look for the lone porta potty in a field of clay dirt on the north end as you arrive at the parking lot.

Nice and New on Nintieth

A new office building was recently opened on 90th South. It is just west of the big power plant by the Jordan River. The front of the building is a classy stone and brick one story. The east side has offices on two levels with a walk out basement. A long tree lined drive leads to it with 360' parking. An exit road with a new bridge crossing the overflow canal leads in front of the power plant (seen in the rear) to the highway.

This neglected property had a for sale sign by the old gravel road on the north side of 90th for a long time. Now a beautiful office building with prime suites and fancy landscaping graces this once weedy property.

Maybe we'll be lucky enough to have an appointment with a doctor or physical therapy there. Better yet, stay healthy and just drop by to see the new digs.

Gilgal Gardens

On a balmy summer evening I visited the restored Gilgal Gardens in Salt Lake on 5th South and 750 East. As a college student seeing this visionary's artist depiction of a long ago era, for the first time brought confusion and questions.

Over the years I wondered what reaction it would have on me visiting it now. The sphinx with Joseph Smith's head, stone archway, scriptural references and more hold deep meanings we may never understand. What is this pleasant name, Gilgal?

Mentioned in the Old Testament: 1 Sam. 11: 14-15
14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

The Book of Mormon lists it at the end of the Nephite era in 400 AD:
3 Ne. 9: 6 And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, & the inhabitants thereof to be buried in the depths of the earth;
Morm. 6: 14 And Lamah had fallen with his ten thousand; and Gilgal had fallen with his ten thousand; as both a city and a brave captain.

What significance the name has for the artist, LDS businessman Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. (1888-1963) is not known. His desire was that the garden would make people think: "You don't have to agree with me," he said. "You may think I am a nut, but I hope I have aroused your thinking and curiosity."

It's a peaceful place begun in 1945 and recently restored by many donors where one can go to contemplate life.

Surely, I'm Early

07:59 07:59 07:54 07:53
07:56 07:57 07:57 07:55

Just look at these ‘punch-in’ times, for the past two weeks. Notice that every one of them is before 8am. This is a first for me. What changed, you ask. No I am not leaving earlier. Why would I do that? It might mess up my morning routine. There will be construction on 13th West for a month. Now taking Redwood Road, it is easy to see that the 45 MPH speed limit and a main thoroughfare street provide longer green lights to move the masses.
It is like a checkers game as the commuters shift from lane to lane in order to move one, three or five car lengths ahead. I only made eight lane changes in forty-five blocks today. Squeaking through yet another intersection on a pink light, makes you want to shout, ‘King Me!’
Success is getting to work early. Winning the game is having a full pay period of early punches. Redwood Road may be my new route. With the extra time saved, I can leave even later or continue to be early.
As Red Green would say, “We’re all in this together!”

What's Up With 114

Take a look at 11400 South as it prepares to be a main artery to the I-15 freeway. This little two lane road now has a new bridge over the Jordan River which looks like the Rocky Mountain Raceway as it reaches over the span. A new walking bridge is shown in the background (middle photo) connecting the twenty plus miles of parkway all the way from Bluffdale to Salt Lake.

It won't be long until the great West finally meets up with the proud East, in their six lane trek to the interstate and beyond. Next year come try out the ten million dollar road while making your way to Sandy, Salt Lake or Santa Quin. If you have any money left after paying taxes for the road, shop at The District, Downtown or Draper.