Headed out to Ophir, just to see how it's been doing since I last visited it in 1977. It's still there. Not really a ghost town anymore - bunch of brand new houses, fixed up the old town hall and made it look all spiffy. Also looks more like a tourist attraction than a ghost town. Just like they say - you never can g
o back. One thing I did notice while driving out there (I went the southern way, through Utah County and around the mountains that way). It may not seem like there are many untouched areas here along the Wasatch Front, same as coming from I-80 south to Tooele. But on that side of the Oquirrhs, south of Tooele, there's a whole lot of nothing. It was kind of nice, driving along the old Faust Road between SR 73 and SR 36, straight, flat and all alone. Got the car up to 100 MPH, no one in sight to say otherwise. And for about 20 miles they didn't even throw in a curve to slow me down. Oh, I did have to stop at the Pony Express marker ha
lfway across the valley. But other than that nada. Then I get to the "town" of Faust, right where the road crosses the railroad. One old farmhouse, one newer double-wide looking home and a couple barns. So much for the double-mocha-latte I was going to get there.
new online learning thing where they do grades throughout the sememster one place (where students can see their progress), but at the end of the term, then have to post them officially. So even though the conversation with the lady at Financail Aid took a whole 5 minutes, she already knew of the problem and just had to get my name and student ID#, because of all the calls I was on hold for 25 minutes. 
6 comments:
I'd be interested to know about your FIRST visit to Ophir in 77.
My dad was born in Sego, Utah (outside of Moab). We went there last summer. If you want a ghost town, I'll be happy to go with you and give you the tour. It's a real ghost town. The only thing new within the last 50 years is litter by jerks and a grave of a Viet Nam vet in the town graveyard. (I'm not sure why he wanted to be buried there -- perhaps relatives had once lived in the town.)
That's an offer I can't refuse - I'd love to go see it. Sometime this summer we'll have to plan a trip down there. And, as you probably have noticed, I posted about my first trip to Ophir on the front page....
How about June? I'm probably all booked up for July and August -- but it's hotter than Satan's backside in Moab in July and August anyway.
I'm off to read your Ophir story now.
June? Cool. I'll be out of school by then, and if we go the first or second week after school is out, summer semester at the U won't have started yet.
Uh, yeah. Max, we still teach in the same school district. I KNOW when you get out of school.
However, I did not know you were attending summer term at the U, so that is useful info.
Okay, let's both try not to forget about this trip, as it sounds quite fun. (Hey, if you wanna rent a jeep with me, we can do the Shafer trail off Dead Horse Point. THAT will test your driving skills, buddy. Almost a full lane wide, dirt, switchback, off a sheer cliff. My parents like to joke, however, that you haven't really done the Trail unless you've ridden in a pick up with my grandfather driving down the trail. "See over there? That's where I used to take the cattle in the --" "Grandpa, watch the road!")
Ok, you're on. Questioning my driving skills? I took my Wagoneer up Elephant Hill, I drove my 1979 Mazda GLC down the Burr Trail (both before the "improvements" that were done to them), I even watched people drive up Lion's Back Ridge. But that sounds like a lot of fun, and specific reason you chose the "Shafer" Trail? I mean, other than it will be challenging?
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