Bluff, Utah. Got up fairly early and had breakfast at Denny's, where we were
terrorized by one of the most energetic and cheerful servers I have ever encountered. He has come to symbolize the "just want to have fun"
Moabites in my mind. We left
Moab and about 20 miles before Bluff we turned west for our first encounter with a Canyon. Fifteen miles west is Mule Canyon and my goal of Firehouse ruin. After some preparation we started down the side of the canyon, very debris filled. About halfway down Chuck had to turn back (issues: balance, vision and bad knees). I continued down to the bottom and headed
upcanyon to Firehouse ruin. I looked up after rounding a bend, climbed up and was soaking in the beautiful brisk day and the home of some ancients, when I was completely overwhelmed with emotion. This was one of my primary goals in life since my failure three years ago and I couldn't share it with the one person I wanted to. The full impact of being truly alone in this life washed over me but, unbelievably, I also felt
exhilarated and full of power and energy. I have some thoughts about this but don't really want to discuss it further at this time.
After a hike further up the canyon, I returned to the point of entry and almost floated up the slope. After meeting up with Chuck I found out he had his own adventure of getting lost in the walk back from the rim. Somehow he ended up two miles down the road from our car and was wandering out in the noonday sun like mad dogs and Englishmen (I've always wanted to use that phrase). He found his way back and we shared our separate adventures.
Items:
- While having dinner Chuck had a beer with the name "Polygamy Porter" whose catchphrase is "Why have just one". We ARE in Utah.
- After dinner I sold some of my greeting cards to the owner of the restaurant/gift store.
- Chuck is officially a redneck after his wanderings in the noonday sun.
- We photographed in the Valley of the Gods before dinner and I saw a Butte that I thought looked like a "hiker dude" but as we came around to the side there was a front protrusion the turned the dude into a dudette. Chuck thought it looked like a parachutist with front and back chutes (he is much older than I am you know).
That's all I've got, back at you tomorrow. Jon
Jon;
ReplyDeletecongratulations on making one of your goals in going down the canyon. glad to hear you actually sold something. sounds like you are having fun. Good, continue to have a great time and keep filling your goals.
Of course sometime we just need to stand back and observe and take it all in and not worry about goals. Maybe we will discover that some other important things that we want to do.
Maybe you'll share your "failure three years ago" with me someday. I've had so many that sharing them would take days. Dad always says, "the man who never failed never did anything". I must have done a lot.
ReplyDeleteWatch out for those cheerful terrorist breakfast servers.