We gathered together in Idaho Falls, ID Friday-Monday, June 27-30, 2008 and had a wonderful time, thanks to Gerald "Ike" Ikard. We stayed at the Shilo Inn, located on the Snake River. On Friday, we traveled west from Idaho Falls through the Arco Desert to the Experimental Breeder Reactor #1. EBR-1 was the first atomic reactor in the world to generate usable amounts of electricity. The historic accomplishment took place on December 20, 1951. Today, EBR-1 is a Registered National Historic Landmark. While there, we also saw the scientists' attempts at producing a nuclear-powered aircraft engine. The entire place is a real testament to engineering and ingenuity. We ate lunch in Arco, where we met up with some Montana Ikards whom we had never met. It was WONDERFUL! We then proceeded to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. This is an interesting area, full of the remains of volcanic activity from many years ago. I was amazed to see the diversity of plants that are thriving in the volcanic soil. We then returned to Idaho Falls via Blackfoot, a town about 20 miles south and also where Uncle Gerald resides. Upon return to the Shioh, we gathered in room 227 and had a wonderful evening of "catching up."

On Saturday, we traveled to Rexburg, ID, where we toured the Yellowstone Bear World Park. We drove through some of the park and were able to view bears, elk, and wolves. We then parked our vehicles and spent time in the petting zoo area and were able to pet many of the smaller animals. I was expecially taken by a pig. There were quarter machines that dispensed food for the animals. As I walked by one of the machines, the pig was there and started grunting at me. I think he/she wanted me to drop a quarter in the machine and feed him (smart). After spending a couple of hours at the park, we returned to the hotel, changed clothes, and then traveled to Blackfoot for a meal and camaraderie at the Shilling House, a national historic site. After a wonderful dinner, we celebrated a belated "20th" birthday party for Gerald Ikard. In case you do not know, Gerald is a leap year baby, born on February 29, so though he is 80 years young, he celebrated his "actual" 20th birthday this year. Gerald received some ribbing about not being old enough, yet, to drink alcohol! After dinner, we returned to the hotel, where we again gathered in room 227 for another round of wonderful visiting. Sunday arrived too soon, and we said goodbye to several family members. A few of us (myself included) traveled to Blackfoot to stay with "Uncle Gerald" for the next several days, and we had a wonderful visit the next several days.

Plan now to attend the next get-together, to be held in Wichita Falls, TX some time in October 2009 (NOTE: this will NOT be scheduled the same weekend as the University of Oklahoma vs. University of Texas football clash). Please check back for updated information.

Photos - 2008 Activities (If you have photos you would like included here, please click here: 2008 Photos.

Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the photos. In addition to photos taken during the weekend's activities, there are also several photos that were taken when four of us went on a whitewater raft trip on Monday, June 30. (We all survived!)