Picto Diary - 28 to 31 January 2026 - Koessler at Federalist Society Event in Florida.
Above: Federalist Society Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL. 30 January 2025.
Koessler, attorney at Clyde Snow law firm in Salt Lake City, UT, also practices law in Florida, where he was an Assistant State Attorney, for several years in the early 2000's. Koessler is a graduate of The University of Miami, and The University of Miami Law School.
Above: El Mexicana Restaurant, Salina, UT. 31 January 2026.
Bishop, Monk and Monk, Jr.
I joined Monk and Monk, Jr. for lunch while making my way in the Sprinter, with Freddie (but not TIMDT), from Ivins, UT to Park City, UT. This route, via Sanpete County, about 370 miles.
The two Bar J cattle ranchers were taking a lunch break from a busy day. They had supervised the birth of fifty-five calves over the last week. Water prospects during the draught are grim, but the price of beef is up. It will be a good year for the Bar J. Cattle ranching has been in Monk's blood since, as a teen, he helped his dad manage the LDS Church cattle ranch in Florida during the mid 1950's. Deseret Cattle Ranches in Florida is one of the largest cattle ranches in the US comprising over 300 thousand acres.
Above: City Park, Salina, UT. 31 January 2026.
Out and about in the Sprinter.
Freddie took a break here.
Mom's Cafe in Salina has somewhat iconic status as a long-standing Utah eatery.
Above: Mt. Nebo. Juab County, Utah, 31 January 2026.
Out and about in the Sprinter.
Image taken from UT SR 135. Images looks NW in late afternoon lighting. Pretty good photo for a Samsung smart phone!
Above: Monument for Salt Creek Canyon Massacre. UT SR 135. Juab County, UT. 31 January 2026.
Out and about in the Sprinter.
Earlier at lunch I had told Monk and Monk, Jr. about the day trip TIMDT and Mwah (sic) had recently taken to the Sun Tunnels in NE Box Elder County, UT. Neither of the Monks had heard of the Nancy Holt's land art, the Sun Tunnels. "What," I exclaimed, "you guys are supposed to know this state in and out." The Monks got back at me by asking me if I knew about the Salt Creek Canyon Massacre monument. Touche. I hadn't. That error has now been redressed.
Grok. The Salt Creek Canyon Massacre occurred on June 4, 1858, in Salt Creek Canyon, Juab County, Utah, when four unarmed Danish Mormon immigrants—Jens Jergensen and his wife, Jens Terkelsen, and Christian E. Kjerulf—were ambushed and killed by unidentified Native Americans while traveling by wagon from the north toward Sanpete Valley to settle in Ephraim. The group had camped at the head of the canyon, and after resuming their journey, they were attacked about a mile and a half down; two men were shot and burned in the wagon, one man was killed nearby, and the woman was found dead close by, with only one companion, John Ericksen, escaping to report the incident in Ephraim, where the bodies were later recovered and buried. The perpetrators were never definitively identified, though the event is sometimes linked to broader tensions during Utah's pioneer era and Native American relations, preceding the later Black Hawk War. A historical marker now stands near Nephi commemorating the victims.
Addendum:
Glad all Enjoyed don’t recognize the hotel you stayed in. Is it new? 😎
Thanks, Mr. Z3,
Las Vegas, NV
Not new. Down market from where we stayed before, Furnace Creek Inn, where rooms are going for $850 a night.
Thank you for sharing. Looks like a great trip!
JR,
Massapequa, NY
Great trip! You’re an inspiration!
Tony
Park City, UT
Nice to catch up and see that Henry the 1st is still ridding. Our last trip was an archaeological tour from Rome south to Sicily was September 2024. At our Farewell Dinner, I announced that it was actually the Final Edition as I found myself putting my bike in the support van after lunch – my hands were tingling and felt numb. Wrists and back of my neck achie. At 87 perhaps that was a message to self that it was time to slow down. No international trips since then, which is OK with me.
Also, this week for the 1st time in over 25 years, I am not in Las Vegas for the Mecum Auction. Even though in 2024, I promised myself no more motorcycles. Wrong – this is the one that wound up in Chicago. No, I have zero intention of riding it, I just like to look at it!
Last January, again pledging no more motorcycles, a rare Velocette Vouge made it back to Chicago. It is an interesting styling exercise for light weight touring – liquid cooled, shaft drive, boxer twin – a miniature BMW, perfect for a 130# 5’-5” pilot!
Pls give our best to Margaret,
Isetta,
Chicago, IL
Cool bikes! SDT