Here we are again! It
is 2017 and I have finally decided to hit the road again. I decided that the heat in the desert didn’t
deserve me and I had kids to see, places to be, just to prove I’m still free.
It was 121 degrees in the Cochella Valley and I thought it
might be better elsewhere. This is one
HOT summer start for the West! I left at
night to baby the Motorhome and headed to ‘Vegas to see my friend from kindergarten,
Mike Dennie. He is the one who talked me
into the Navy, most definitely saving my life (tho I did everything I could to
challenge that in Key West). He also
stood for me at my wedding along with my friend from diapers, Bob Stroup. I don’t forget who my people are, tho I am
distant from them.
Ok, so we had a reunion, and a fine time smoozing Las Vegas
over the 4th of July…and yes, the beer was fine!
There was a dark side, and I wish it was just the dark beer,
but alas I am naive. Mike works with the
Teamsters and at the local 14 union hall.
Seemed like a perfect spot to leave the RV while I stayed with him at
his home and we ‘Painted the Town’.
Gated Iron fenced concrete walled compound should be safe and what was
at stake, really?!
REALLY?
How about the Passport and jewelry that I decided not to
leave in California for safety? Forgot
about them, right?
They broke in and trashed the RV and found paydirt in those
items but forgot the SLR digital camera and computer. Got no cash cause I
forgot to stash any, and did no real damage BECAUSE I LEFT A WINDOW OPEN FOR
AIR! C’mon, it was over 110 in the
SHADE! OK, that’s the story, all
reported and done with…..page two…
Not going to mention the fact that I broke down on the
Interstate after leaving ‘Vegas because it was boiling and the fuel in my fuel
line did just that….called vapor lock… happened before and I should learn not
to travel in the heat. Got a tow via
GIECO to the next RV park and chilled til the early morning light (Help Me Make
it Through The Night) and took off for Utah while the temp was down.
Finally for the good part.
Snow Canyon State Park near St. George…sort of the gateway to SW Utah.
Here there is no snow….it’s 107 but cools to under 95 at
nite! One HOT summer start! I hike early and late and have what would be
construed as a pathetic RV air-conditioner that keeps the RV at 90 when it is
that hot during the day. At night I can
breath and sleep so…a silver lining!
I needed to get out so here is an idea of what surrounds
Snow Canyon State Park. And by the way,
this seems to dominate Utah
From afar
Or from close up
The Red Sandstone Beauty
is everywhere
So now I start my pictorial with this picture of..
A Penguin….or a Raven or a crow or whatever you see. No there are no Penguins in Utah but did nature
know that when it became the artist?
The combinations of layers and formations that make up the
landscape took about 180 million to get to this point
Nestled on top of the red sand and sandstone is a layer of
lava that reminds me of Hawaii. I guess
technically Basalt, it is volcanic and is the most recent layer to be added to
this canvass. 27,000 years ago and 1.4
mil years ago there were eruptions.
The sandstone goes
back to almost 200 million years ago when the wind brought the sand together,
later to be compacted, washed by massive rivers that eroded the layers into
steps only to be partially covered by lava flows. Or that’s the way they tell it.
Try to imagine these layers developing.
Pretty phenomenal how the layers developed and left such an
interesting pattern.
Mother nature had some pretty powerful tools but like a
prisoner doing time, that’s what you have,….time.
At the top, on top that lava cap, you get quite a view of the
‘scape below that rivers cut.
Layer by layer lie tree rings they tell a story of age
Next?
ZION
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