The Goblins of Goblin Valley

All right, after a few blog posts of me trying to be serious and/or funny (and often being confused myself as to which I was attempting) I thought I would do a simple blog post with the Hansen kiddies.  This is a quick and dirty post, meaning that I am dictating it with very little attempts at editing.  Just imagine you are reading a text from a friend and AutoCorrect has gone haywire. Filling in those odd gaps with the correct words should be enough training to understand whatever it is I'm trying to communicate here.  If you cannot figure it out, just look at the pictures. That is how I read National Geographic anyway.

For those not aware, Goblin Valley is a small state park in central Utah featuring all sorts of little hoodoos in a neat confined area. Unlike Bryce Canyon where the rock formations are huge, the formations and Goblin Valley are much more manageable and climbable.  Now let's establish an etiquette towards the hoodoos.  

Can you climb them?  A reading of the sign at the entrance to the park recommends against climbing the hoodoos (voice recognition inserted the word "Hooters" here, I suspect the state might discourage that in the park too) for your own safety.  It also included a statement about a study to determine whether climbing on the hoodoos causes any damage to the hoodoos. It said that at present the study was not completed. My lawyer conclusion, we are free to climb... but not free to push them over, no matter how unsafe they appear to be - right scoutmaster Billy?

Good thing we could climb because this was the first sight that greeted me as I got down the hill into the valley.

Ronin was in heaven and climbed anything he could reach.  Of course the big boys would not miss out on the fun either.

I took the occasion to pose for a "hero shot." (can I cue some Gladiator music or something?)

The kids joined in and I got some good here are shots of the big three.

Patrick (top), Locke, and Olivia (bottom).

Charlotte opted for the "villain shot."  It seemed to fit her anyway.

...and I have no idea Ronin was at this point, but he would either fit in the villain shot for the mascot shot.

We played hide and go seek with the family in the hoodoos (again Dragon tried to insert the word "Hooters" here once more... this would be frowned upon). It was surprisingly difficult to find anyone who is not hiding with Ronin. Ronin seem to enjoy giving away whomever he was hiding with.  Siri nearly gave me a way as I bumped my iPhone as I was tryingto hide in the crevice.

It was a fun day trip and it was nice of Adrienne to let me tag along on a trip she had planned herself with the kiddies on my workday. It was extra nice of her to drive most the time so I could work in the car.

For my final shot as the sun was setting, I chose to go for the "dorkie," it is like a selfie, but of a dork with and SLR camera - perfect.

Happy hiking.