Hodgkinson Reunions in Vernal Utah

Since we have been talking about the Hodgkinson Reunion being around Mina Hodgkinson's birthday which was just a few days ago, I have a couple of pictures from that great annual event.   The reunions were held in Vernal Utah until Mina Hodgkinson died and then they alternated between Vernal and Murray every other year.  It was about a 182 mile trip from Bountiful to Vernal.  Of course we would need to stop and have a picnic (picture above).  The route to Vernal is out US 40 through Heber Utah.  My mom tells of one story that one time on the road to Vernal our car broke down in Heber.  My dad wasn't very mechanically minded.  He walked into the car dealership, turned in the broken car, bought a new one and off we went.  Yeah, I didn't marry someone like my dad in that department.

 We didn't ever stay with family, always a motel.  This was a fun one - Antler's Motel.  This was in 1960.  Barb had been born in April (19th) and this was probably June 24th and 25th.  My mom was pretty brave to take a new born on vacation.  We were probably all in one room.  Barb would have been just  the age Walter will be in Nauvoo.  Way to go Reesa and Bev.

I think my dad loved to have us stay at the motel because of the swimming pool.  It was probably nice to retreat there after reunion activities.Terri would have just turned eleven.  I was two.  It has always been pretty terrific to have an amazing big sister.

 In case you didn't know, Vernal is the home of the Dinosaur National Monument.  Because of that there are many dinosaur attractions.   Because I grew up with this image below, it seemed entirely normal to see a dinosaur in a swimming suit.  The internet thinks it is a bit unique.

We would, on occasion, go to see some of the dinosaur excavation sites and to the museum.  In those days you could also get a dinosaur hunting license.  I am not sure if I ever got one, but I remember seeing one or two of these around the house.