The drive out and three days at the Villa

We left home on Thursday about noon and got into Omaha in time to join my nephew and his family for dinner. I have two nephews in Omaha but could only see one at a time since they are not speaking to each other. They are my brother Joe's boys. The oldest is 3 years older than me. He said that he felt like I was more like a sister than an aunt because I spent allot of my summers with them and we are so close in age.

The next morning we had breakfast with my other nephew...this one is two years younger than me. I met his daughter for the first time. She is only seven and adorable. He had her later in age because his first wife was not able to have kids.

Friday we were on to Denver. Again...in time for dinner with Rich's Aunt and Uncle. At the end of the night, his Uncle started to cry a little. He is the last one of his generation alive. It is Rich's, mom's, brother. He is 89 years old. We stayed in Denver and got on the road early Saturday morning.

We stopped at Arches National Park. It was very hot that day and after a few hours we were ready to go. If you click on the picture to zoom in, you can see 2 arches in the distance.

We stayed in Richfield, UT Saturday night. The next day we headed to Vegas.

Interstate 15 runs through the north west corner of AZ. That stretch of highway runs through the Virgin River Gorge. The highway runs through the Gorge along the river. It's looks like you are going to drive right into the mountain. I would love to do that road on the bike. I remember going through there 32 years ago on our way to visit my sister and brothers in CA and it was just as I remembered it. To remember a stretch of highway that long tells you how spectacular it really is. Of course, pictures can't do it justice. You look up and it's like looking up to the top of a rock sky scraper.

We stopped in Vegas for a couple hours. Rich lost $40 and I left $45 ahead. He said he should have just took the money out of his pocket and handed it to me but that would be no fun.

Sunday evening got into CA and visited with my sister and her family and my late brother, Lester's family for a few hours over pizza and then stayed in Temecula, CA.

We drove into San Diego and took a walk on the beach and watched some people surfing. Then we drove past the Villa we would be staying at to get a look see. We couldn't check in till the next day, so we got checked into a motel for the night and then went to meet Rich's daughter, his ex brother-in-law and his partner for dinner...pizza.

The next day we checked into the Villa...IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!

We had the whole place to ourselves. The views of the ocean were beautiful. If you click on the pictures with the rocks you will see Rich exploring with his new step grandson. The second picture on the rock, Rich had just jumped off the rock and was waiting for Kameron to jump.

In the next picture, they were looking into a cave. They said that someone had a mattress in there. They said that it looked like someone was living in there. I don't know how they could because the tide comes right up to it.

The proud father and Bride.

And now, for the highlight of the trip...the bride and groom!