Yesterday morning I was working on the Smith Family Reunion website, I decided it would be good to go look at a couple of alternatives for where the reunion might be held. It was a very nice day out with warm temperatures and no rain forecast. So, we abandoned all the other Very Important and Necessary tasks, gathered cameras, loaded the car, and headed out. We drove south on US91 through Downey and into Preston. We stopped there at the Arctic Circle to pick up a hamburger for my lunch (Nina brought her own lunch with her). Our first stop was nine miles up Cub River right at the National Forest. There is a guest ranch there that could possibly be a venue for the reunion. I’ve never been on that road before. There were some lovely sights along the road, including an old steam tractor and a house with all kinds of old farm equipment on display, fenced in with a plethora of old metal wheels. Very impressive!

We returned to Preston and drove out to Riverdale. This water park resort could be a very good location. We need to get the date firm and an attendance figure. What if a hundred people are coming? That would overwhelm any of the venues we’re currently considering.

On the way back up route 91, we went off the main road over a steep, winding, rutted dirt road over to Twin Lakes Reservoir. This turned out to be a very pretty place. Nina took a lot of pictures (see her picture album). On these excursions, I navigate and Nina drives. That allows her to stop wherever she wishes to take pictures. We will want to go back there again. For the bird lovers, this area is a bird refuge and there were plenty of birds to watch and photograph.

My final stop was at Downata Hot Springs near Downey. I know of another large family who held their large family reunion there and were quite pleased with the location. Right now this place is fourth of four locations in my opinion, but probably the place that could accomodate the most people of the four.

I would like to do a family history tour as part of this reunion. There is the Smith home in Preston to visit (perhaps the current owner might let us in?). Then up route 91 to Banida where the Nathan and Hannah Smith home is preserved. then over to Treasureton (dirt and gravel road) where the calacite business was located. From there to Cleveland and the old farm house. Finally to the cemetery where they are buried. We could have each of the family heads tell the story of that location. I think this could be very informative. I’d videotape these events and have them for family members on a DVD after the reunion and in a small way pass along this history to future generations.

We had a very good day. I’m looking forward to the reunion and meeting family members. The day was fun. Nina got a lot of great pictures. The reunion is starting to come together in my mind. Indeed a Wonderful Saturday.