A surprise visit, tour of Fillmore and heading further north

April 7 (Saturday)
We had a pleasant surprise this morning. Ken and Shirley from Seeing America with Ken and Shirley came over to visit. Turns out they were camped just a few sites down from us. They are on their way to their home in western Nevada from visiting family and friends in Tennessee. We were so happy to see them and had a very nice visit although it wasn't long enough. They are such a great couple and we enjoy their company. Hope they have a safe trip home.

Ken and Shirley's rig. Sitting pretty!.....and level. Ken loves the new weight distribution hitch.

Cheryl, Ken, Shirley

Today was a good day to look around Fillmore. It was raining off and on and we had a museum in our sights.

Back in 1851 Fillmore was named the capital of the Utah Territory mostly due to its geographic centre of the area. In 1852 they began construction of a capital building here. The original plan for a three wing building was never realized. The south wing was completed in 1853 and the only legislative session was held in 1855 before the capital was changed to the present Salt Lake City in 1858. Since then the building was used as a civic centre, religious house, jail, school and theatre. It was saved from the wrecking ball in 1920 and finally was designated a State Park in 1957. Today it is well restored and has an impressive collection of artifacts from the history of the State.

The basement level. The stonework is impressive. Even the floor has stone. The walls are lined with old pictures of the early pioneers of the day. The frames are 150 years old in some cases.

The walls are two feet thick. The place was built to last.

Heavy floor joists. Likely Ponderosa Pine.

This is what the completed structure was to look like. Only the section in red was built.

Civil War era artifacts.

Some rooms were used as the jail.

Native American artifacts.

Cameras have come a long way!

The main floor.

Depiction of what the completed structure was to look like.

The top floor. They still use this for weddings and meetings. The floors are creaky but so well preserved for a building that is almost 170 years old.

Arched ceiling that must be 25 feet high.

The Town has a number of historic buildings and for the most part have been well kept and restored. Here are a few of our favorites.

This home is covered in various colours of volcanic rock. Notice the flowers on the walls? All rock.

Lots of Daffodils around.

This fence is made from volcanic rocks with holes drilled through them.......

..........and strung on re-bar. Very ingenious.

Wood art. Hard to tell but this is a cowboy riding a bull.

Interesting tree with twists.

Looks a Tyrannosaurus.

A boy riding an Ostrich.

Main Street right on the edge of town. Nice scenery.

Cluff's Drive-in. Very popular.

Some townsfolk have chickens and geese roaming their yards.

Daffodils. White with a sandy coloured centre.

White with yellow centres.

Stevens Hotel

One of the newer buildings

War Memorial

County Court

A Legion Hall.

Schoolhouse

Sunday we head north up I15, through Salt Lake and up to Fort Hall, Idaho just north of Pocatello. Hopefully the rain has quit and we'll have a dry highway. The wind is another matter and I suspect we will be heading into it or across our path for most of the way. Monday, our plan is to head through to Butte, then Helena and stay in Great Falls on Monday night. If all goes well we will be in Red Deer late Tuesday. We have a narrow weather window we are trying to make work in our favour.

The clouds cleared up to give us a very nice sunset.

.......and that was Our View From Here!