FAMILY REUNION AT THE GORGE!

The skit is about to begin.

The McKea family reunion was held this year at Flaming Gorge, Utah.  Joe and Andy were the hosting couple, and what a great job they did!  Everyone had activity and food assignments.


Good entertainment!

 

"Ride um," cowgirl!





Nobody juggles like this.




Andy & Joe



We are going on a dam tour!

 Perhaps the main event was the float trip on Friday morning.  We launched our three rafts, each holding 6 or so people, from a point just below the dam.  Almost immediately the water started to fly.  Even the people in the so called, "dry raft," got soaked.


Watch it!


The "water wars" were continual, and about 3 hours later we reached the docking area absolutely soaked and cold, but with big smiles.  Even Katie, who inhaled some water as she fell off the raft, recovered quickly after getting some food.


Sherry won the cheese ball contest!




Rachael is looking good!


The rapids were great, as were the "Minute to Win It" games that were held later that evening.  Everyone was assigned to a team, and a competition was held.  Lots of fun and laughter was had by all!

One thing that will not be forgotten was the 50 mile bike ride that Mike, Joe, Andy, and Jeff took to Manila and back.  The leg cramps really got to these hardy bikers.   



Julie always has a smile!



As for me, I only made one trip down the Green River, then Grandma and I, with the younger kids, made a beeline back to our rooms at the resort, for showers, snacks, and games.  All the others were brave enough to make a second trip on the river.

What happens next?



Is he really going to pour water!


What makes a great family reunion?  Lots of fun and laughter, I am sure.

Grandma and I are in charge of organizing the next one in three years.  We will let you know where, but first you have got to give us a least a year to recover from this one.  Ha ha.



You better be careful, Rachael!




Grandpa loves a good breakfast!



The water's great.  Come on in!





Breakfast in the breezeway!



Ek' Balam


If you say "Ek' Balam" quickly three times, it sounds as if you are having an attack of hiccups.  Actually "Ek' Balam" means black jaguar in Mayan.  This site of ruins is  one of newest excavated - only open about 13 years.  Jack Marshall, our expert tour guide was excited to take us there, because it is not as well known as Tulum or Chichen Itza, therefore less tourist traffic.  Jack also was allowed to give on-site lectures.

Sign by the visitor's center

I believe he was fair and open-minded in his assessments. He did humorously mention on more than one occasion that his ideas were "the gospel according to Jack."



A directional sign



Entrance arch

 From the visitor's center to the actual ruins, our group followed a rather long path.  When I saw a rather corny, pictured sign marking the way, I began to wonder if this was going to be a legitimate ruin site; but soon, my wondering was put to rest, as I saw a magnificent Mayan arch at the entrance.  Looking at the buildings through this arch, really got me excited about being in this wonderful place.



Ceiba tree

The tree of life, as spoken of in ancient records, is found on buildings at different sites, and Jack seemed to think that this particular species of tree (Ceiba tree) could have been the model used on mesmoamerica temples.  Notice the big roots.  They symbolize the journey to the underworld.  The limbs represent rising to the 13 heavens.  It is believed that the blood-letting by scraping the tongues of Mayan royalty, was accomplished by using the thorns found on the upper side of the limbs.


Steps of Mayan temple


At the east east side of the site was the largest ruin.  It had over 100 steps from the base to the top.  The steps were uneven and very steep - I know because I climbed them.  This climb was dangerous as the rock was slippery, and handrails were not available.  I took every step with great care, knowing that a slip would likely result with my ending up in a pile at the bottom.


Royalty





Mayan male



Mayan female

Halfway up the pyramid is a display with life size figures sculpted into a rock panel.  Obviously the most predominate figures were royal representations.  Notice how dignified the male is.  Now, look at the female and observe how she is holding her hands in a most feminine way.



Biggest pyramid



font used for cleansing

 The above sculptures are located about half the way up the steps of the great pyramid.  The Mayan religion must have placed great emphasis on ritual cleansing, as it seems that fonts, with steps are located in strategic locations on the site. 


Be sure to check back in a few days for an exciting update!

TROPICAL STORM ARLENE BEGINS!





Tropical storm Arlene begins!

 What a trip!  And I don't mean on drugs or anything like that!  I mean our most excellent adventure to the land of the Mayans.  The Yucatan was not only hot and humid, but also wet!  We were lucky enough to get into the action of Arlene, the first tropical storm of the 2011 season, which really started to form over us while we were visiting the ruins of Tulum.  You can see the squall moving in over the water.  Soon I, with a couple hundred others, was running for cover.



Relax, we had no tequila!

 I found Bev waiting for me back at the shopping center, which, by the way, was hopping with aggressive vendors, anxious to sell their stuff.  Bev did make it all the way into the ruins, before returning.  We had to pass through a wall that was constructed with an exact 33 degree slant (This may be meaningful to Masons). 


John, before the storm hit.


Our guide explained that this is the exact place where the early explorers landed and met the Mayans.  The Mayans were not only impressed with the christian cross carried by the sailors, but also by their white appearance.  You see, the Indians were looking for the return of Quetzalcoatl, the white, bearded God.



The train at Tulum!  Totally worth the fare!


The Spaniards thought the Mayans were a bunch of savages, which they were.  Human sacrifice was part of the religion.  The unfortunate thing is that instead of trying to study the culture, they sought to destroy it.  In the process they destroyed over 15,000 records.  Only 20 codices remain today, in a museum in Germany. 

My next post will be of Ek Balam.  This is a most exciting place, because I was able to climb all the ruins I wanted, even the big pyramid.  Be sure to check back in a few days.  Thanks.