Sometimes, Adventure comes to you. Over the weekend, I was fortunate enough to have a recently made friend from California come out and visit Utah, giving opportunity to show him some of Utah he might not have thought to look for.
Although planned, it was still an exciting surprise to see Viet, a friend I'd made last summer in Vegas, one of Molly's friends that met up with everyone for her birthday. The night started with a typical karaoke night at our Thursday place, Harp and Hound/Funk N Dive. This night was Harp, and it was a really good night, nothing too stressful or crazy, just enjoying Viet being in town with everyone. He definitely got into it when he sang, I can't do it the way he can haha I'm still just too shy I guess. Anyway, it was a good night, definitely a fun one.
The following morning, Friday, Molly dropped Viet off at my house, fairly early in the morning, so we decided to take advantage of the cool morning and go for a hike. He actually suggested Donut Falls, one I'd never heard of, let alone been on, but after seeing a few pictures of it, I was up for it. After a bit of a drive, we made it to the trail, and after a pit stop at the restrooms just at the entrance, we were ready haha. It wasn't a crazy hard hike, or even a long one, but I could tell how much of a toll life and being lazy had taken on me, because breaks were definitely had by both of us. I would say Viet is generally in better shape than I am, a little taller too, but he has a heart condition, so hiking can be strenuous for him. To raise awareness, he wears a lion onesie and travels around, going generally wherever he can to show that even with a disability, you can still live a fulfilling life. You can actually follow him on Instagram @imjustlionaround, he'll be tackling Japan and Taiwan this December, a trip I would give anything be a part of, but it seems it's just not in the cards. Upon reaching the "donut," a waterfall that's worn into the roof of a cave, resulting in a donut shaped opening, we braved the freezing cold water to explore the small cave, taking pictures of the falling water and open sky. After the hike, we headed back into Salt Lake City to grab lunch with Molly, I want to say we went to Red Rock Brewing, a personal favorite of mine. Later that night, and after a shower, the three of us headed to 25th street to grab dinner with a mutual friend, Rod, a bro-mance between the two having started in Las Vegas the previous year. We originally had plans to go bar hopping on 25th street in Ogden on the following day, Rod would be unable to make it due to his work schedule. We met up and grabbed dinner at Rooster's, a local brewery with some delicious beers. The three of us spent the night generally being guys, something that's nice to do once in a while with the right crowd. The four of us ended up going to Fat Cat's and bowled a couple games, Viet spending much of the second game learning how to curve the ball, an impressive feat considering he had it down pretty well by the 5th frame. We checked out City Club, a bar inspired by The Beatles. At some point in the night, we found out about Midget Wrestling, which is exactly what it sounds like, happening at Kamikaze, a church converted into a bar, and went to investigate. Unfortunately we didn't stay long, nor did we see the show, and ended the night as we said our goodbyes and Rod left, while I was dropped off at home.
Saturday would see us on an adventure to the Salt Flats for a photo shoot before catching up with everyone that night for dinner and drinks, bar hopping to celebrate Viet being in town. We got there in the early afternoon, stopping in Wendover for a couple 40oz and snacks, figuring this being a good time to take some fun pictures, having stopped at a dollar store to get little plastic animals. It couldn't be a straight shot, on to the flats, this is my life we're talking about, so when approaching the edge of the paved road, we were stopped by several people representing the speed testing and racing going on at that point in time. We were informed we couldn't drive out due to their course being right in the middle of everything, a real frustrating point in the day. Undeterred we decided to take the long way around... and let me tell you, it was a long way around, through unpaved roads, through large rocks, plants, and boulders, taking special consideration for sink spots in the dirt and salt. I ended up hanging outside the window and directed Viet in the drive, watching the tires to ensure we didn't end up sinking. After what felt like hours, we made it to the salt, and proceeded to just have fun. We tried to do forced perspective shots, but it wasn't something either of us could say we were familiar with, just felt like a fun idea. From there we started heading back to town, blowing through the race course since they were done that day, and got back on to the main road. We learned that many of the group decided to bail, something fairly typical for the ones that had, but Kelly, Rod's wife, came out with us as we hit up 25th street once again. As it turns out, Kelly had a terrible hangover from Karaoke night, so she was not up for drinking, leaving it to pretty much myself and Viet, being guys and hanging out while Molly and Kelly took it relatively easy. We hit up Lighthouse, were they had a band playing and Brewskis, a personal favorite of mine. Nothing too crazy, though Kelly did end up getting a shot that night, just one, took it like a champ. After Brewskis, Molly and Kelly had tacos at a new restaurant that just opened up, a Philly Cheese-steak place with a surprisingly good street tacos. It was this night Viet really convinced me to go to Japan with him in December.
Sunday was my nephew Vincenzo's Baptismal, and due to the long night before, I missed Mass, but I did make it to the Baptismal itself. My brother and sister-in-law asked me to do pictures and video for it, so I couldn't miss it, not that I would have, there are few family things I am a part of, my own personal choice, and his Baptismal was one I wanted to be there for. From the Baptismal, I caught up with Molly and Viet and we went for a drive around Antelope Island to checkout the Bison, Viet having never seen them before jumped at the opportunity to see them. It took some driving, but eventually we found them, herds of them here and there and one that was fairly close to the road, perfect for pictures. It's funny, I sometimes take for granted all that Utah has to offer, Karaoke on Thursdays in town, a gorgeous hike Friday, the salt flats Saturday, and then Antelope Island Sunday. Anyway, after exploring the island as a whole, we found a little spot for food, Bison Burgers being on the menu; Viet being as adventurous as I am when it comes to food, we both split one and try it, a simple burger but with a tasty patty, the taste not over powering but lingering nonetheless. From there we headed to Brighamn for a get together, a BBQ for Viet to celebrate his last night in town, the ones missing from bar hopping night hosting the party, they having also been a part of the Vegas group for Molly's birthday the year before. We finished the night with the season finale for Game of Thrones, the whole group squished together in the living room, minus a few that skipped watching and went with Molly to her room to watch a movie.
It was a fun visit, having Viet in town, made me excitined for adventures, and pushed me to want to see and do more, not only out in the world, but even right here in Utah, a place with so many various kinds of places and things to see, all hidden in plain sight. It was later that I found out Viet thought it was going to be like Vegas, a ton of drinking and lots of bar hopping, but instead was able to enjoy Utah at a slower pace, along with everyone able to visit, just a casual visit with a bit of bro-mance haha.
I had made plans to go to Japan, but family obligations changed those plans and I will no longer be going; it's frustrating, it really is, but there's not much I can do about it now.
“Bad kids all my friends are bad kids
Product of no dad kids
Kids like you and me
Bad kids ain’t no college grad kids
Livin life out on the skids
Kids like you and me”