September 10, 2013

Antelope Island State Park, UT

Monte woke up to the sound of a coyote howling. 

 

 

 

 

  

He opened up the shade and was able to grab his camera in time to get a few shots.

 

 

 

  

Just as the coyote disappeared in the brush, this jack rabbit appeared. 

We had a very leisurely morning.  In the early afternoon we packed our bathing suits, towels and toiletries because we planned on swimming later on and then taking advantage of the hot showers.

But first we headed to the Visitor Center. 

 

We paid for a second night of camping and then watched a short film about the history of Antelope Island.

 

 

 

We found a lovely spot to eat lunch and then headed over to the parking area with a beach access.

 

 

It was a loooooong walk down to the water. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we finally made it to the water we had to walk out a looooong way because it was so shallow.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

I gave up but Monte continued on. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 That dot way in the distance is him and he is still only up to this waist.

 

He skipped stones for a while

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and when he was ready to get out of the water discovered that the thousands of flies on the sand moved in concert as he walked.

 

 

 

 

When he noticed some sea foam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

he couldn’t resist making foam angels.

 

 

We took advantage of the very hot showers (a bargain at 4 minutes for a dollar.)

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Our next stop was at Buffalo Point high above our campground.

 

 

 

A silent movie entitled, The Covered Wagon, was filmed on the Island in 1923.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At almost every turn we encountered bison.

 

 

 

 

  

 

We found this one guy rolling around in the dirt very entertaining.

 

In 1848 a ranch was established on the Island. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fielding Garr had been assigned by the Mormon Church to establish a ranch as a stronghold for managing the church tithing herds.

 

 

 

 

 

The ranch, that at one time had over 10,000 sheep, changed hands several times until it became a state park in 1981.

 

 

 

 

Shearing Barn-In the 1850’s sheep were all shorn once each year by hand.  In the 1920’s, with the mechanization of the shearing process, a sheep could be shorn in just a few minutes as compared to almost half an hour.

 

 

 

 

Jayhawk Stacker-Before hay at the ranch was baled, a machine called the Jayhawk Stacker accomplished the task of lifting hay from the ground to build a stack.

 

 

 

 

 

Mechanic’s Pit-Before electricity came to the Island in the 1950s, trucks and other farm equipment could not be power lifted on a hoist for repair.  This pit enabled a mechanic to change oil or perform other needed maintenance.

 

 

 

 

Monte trying to lasso this stubborn little “doggie.”

 

 

 

  

 

 

The ranch house-as it appeared in the 1970’s. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheep Camp-This wagon played an important part in sheep ranching in the west.  A sheep camp like this one would have been used in the spring at the lambing sheds. 

The wagon contained the herder’s bed and personal items.  

Monte spotted this owl in the tree. 

 At first it refused to look his way but after hooting at it for a while he turned his head.

 

We were rewarded with another spectacular sunset-the perfect ending to a wonderful day.