Antelope Island

I haven’t been to Antelope Island since I was a teenager. The water sure receded and the walk from the top, down to the lake took 15 minutes in the scorching sand and sun.  We were wondering why no one was really staying very long, we found that out fast. The water is The Great Salt Lake and it’s very salty, there were tiny flying bugs everywhere and the sand was hot. We toughed it out and put up our umbrellas, played in the salty water and ate our lunch with bugs all around us.
The walk from the lake to our car was tortuous, by this time the sun was blistering hot and the sand was even hotter. All of us were dying of thirst and our cheeks were red. Once at the top we showered in their freezing cold water to get all the sand and salt off our bodies.

Playing in the Great Salt Lake



Even though it was salty, Ryker sure had fun in the water throwing rocks, looking at the tiny bugs and playing in the bubbles.



This picture melts my heart, they sure love each other.


Ryker  figured out that he was getting dirty, he really didn't like the fact that the sand was stuck on his finger and toes. I had to wipe them off as best I could then he was happy.

Ryker loved it when Spencer would pour water on the sand and it would form a water puddle. He would giggle, splash and stomp in it.

This water we had to cross to get to the main lake. It was warm, salty, ankle high and very murky. They liked this a lot more then the big lake.

Me, to prove that I was there also.

We saw a White tailed deer

Buffalo

On our drive to Fielding Garr Ranch Ryker fell asleep. Couldn't pass up a peaceful picture.

History about this Ranch:
The Fielding Garr Ranch was first settled in 1848 and represents 133 years of western ranching.  In 1893, buffalo were introduced to the Island.  The Garr Ranch is located at Garr Springs, one of the strongest and most consistent of the 40 springs on Antelope Island. Today, bison and deer can be seen at the springs.



Sheep Camp:
This wagon, called a sheep camp, they would travel with the herd from summer rant to winter range. This wagon carried the herder’s bed and personal items, as well as food and cooking utensils. From it’s look it’s apparent that it was pulled by horses and had a canvas cover.





Ranch House:

The Kitchen is furnished as it might have appeared in 1973.  It has all the amenities you would find in any other home on the Watch Front; gas, electricity, running hot water, appliances, etc.


Spring House:
This building dates to the 1880’s before refrigeration. They used this spring  house to preserve milk, cheese, meat or fresh fruits and vegetables from the orchards or garden.




Taking pictures by this darling old farm fence.
 
It was so hot, Ryker would be sad when water hit the ground. He wasn't very happy that it was getting wasted.


My mom went here when she was a little girl and stay with her Uncle while he was the ranger at the Ranch. She said that she would have nightmares that the buffalo would come into her room and eat her during the night.
It’s always fun to go explore places with my family and of course it’s  great to learn about the history around Utah.