Marathon Bike Tour 2015

Macroglossum Stellatarum

We went to Saint George for this latest Conference Holiday Weekend. I've been wanting to go visit my parents. But, with mom's operation in December and my Saturday shift at the Temple it's been difficult. We decided to take advantage of the Temple being closed on 4 April. Laney was also not scheduled to work on 3 April. She was a little grumpy about losing a full day off lalapoloozing around the house rather than driving in the car. But, she got over it.

Once again the drive was very convenient. It's nice that Utah has raised the speed limit to 80mph for most of the way. It's quick, fairly comfortable, and we got 28mpg for the outgoing leg while using the climate control and going as fast as I dared.

When we arrived at the house, I noticed what I thought were very small hummingbirds feeding on some flowers in the front yard. They were about 2/3rds size of what you would expect. It was very hard to get a good look at them though. Finally, I was able to look at one on axis rather than from the side and it was not a humming bird, but a hummingbird moth. Very interesting creatures. The biggest visual differences once you can get a clear view of one is they have no tail feathers and they have antennae.

We woke up early in the morning on Saturday to get a look at the lunar eclipse, the third of the current tetrad. The sky was very clear. Venus was very bright in the early night sky.

I took a bike ride in the morning on the river trail. I like to get out early and enjoy the sunrise. But, it was too cold for that. Left about 8am. I had a minor accident (pun intended). I ran into a kid about 14 years old when he slowed and then made a u-turn right as I was passing. I was able to almost completely stop before hitting the side of his bike. Neither of us was hurt and neither bike had any damage. My chain did drop. All I could muster as I was trying to stop was “Dude!” He apologized profusely. But, I was angry enough I figured I'd better not say anything else for fear I would say something mean or petty. So, I am sorry I didn't ease his shame by explicitely accepting his apology.

The trail was pretty well travelled that morning. I also almost ran into another couple who had stopped to chat on the trail right behind a blind curve. There were a couple of hot-air balloons in the sky down east of River road. One came very low (about 10 feet off the ground) while only about 30 feet off the trail as I rode by.

Dad and I did some shopping at Costco and saw the Coxes there. I think I've run into them before in Saint George. They own a condo there.

Conference was very nice. Several very good talks and others I will have to hear again. One quibble with the choir. Lately the style is to sing very soft and light. They have 300 voice choirs and never sing over “mezzo” volume. It's a little like having a 1200 horsepower Bugatti Veyron that you drive around at 30 miles an hour max, never leaving the parking lot. On occasion, I would like to hear and anthem or two sung with lots of volume and gusto. Ailsa likened the songs to lullabies. Let them sing for goodness sake.

On the topic of the “opposeurs”: We need some instruction in the Church. Sustaining or opposing are not opposites in our context. You sustain someone in their calling. Or, if you know of some reason they are not worthy or possibly otherwise not suitable for their calling, you raise that concern. I see what happened at Conference as a little bit of grandstanding.

The opposers are upset about Kate Kelly and John Dehlin. I expect one of their claims is that the top Church leadership orchestrates or is otherwise more directly involved in these disciplinary councils of high profile cases. The councils are held on a Ward or Stake level, no higher. They appealed their excommunications to the First Presidency. But, if they grant the appeal, they give a vote of no confidence to the Bishop or Stake President who held the council, and thereby confirm their direct influence on the process. The person whose calling they should be opposing is the leader of the council. It's a jurisdictional problem.