Hands down: Utah

And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.

William Shakespeare

Oh, Billy, you have such a way with words and an ability to find truth that is simply genius.  I noticed that, for the most part, our 2013 summer trip consisted of adventures outdoors.  Lakes and oceans and rivers and forests and trees and rock formations and caves…we were able to feel and see a little bit of everything.  My appetite has not been completely sated for travel, I doubt it ever will be, but I certainly feel as though I have little notches to add to my belt of beautiful places I have seen.  One of the best places we went over the summer has not received the attention it should have.  In all honesty, the Arches National Park was one of the most breathtaking (physical exertion and scenery induced) places we visited on our journey. 

Our plans took a major shift after our stay in Colorado.  One of our last nights in Colorado Springs we were all sitting in the camper, getting ready to head to bed, and, without warning, the camper took a huge slump forward and down.  One of the jacks in the front had given out completely.  Seeing as that is the main support for raising, lowering and resting the camper on, we were a little concerned.  But, daddy didn’t raise no fool and the thought of jack stands and working on cars with my father came to mind.  I knew they made jack stands that would hold the weight of the camper and would provide the same function as the stands that were built in on the camper in the first place.  That night, Andrew engineered a stand with some things he found in the camper and a few pieces of firewood to keep the camper where it should be and the next day we bought the jack stands. 

When things start to break down, it’s usually a good time to reevaluate what you’re going to be doing next.  The plan from Colorado had been to travel through the southern part of Utah, through Nevada with a stop in Vegas, then on to California where we would have visited with Emily before heading north to San Francisco and a trip to Alcatraz, and finally heading north to be with Nora for a visit in Oregon.  Big plans.  Reality also stepped in and helped us to realize that we were running out of time, finances and energy.  Being on the move daily, setting up and taking down camp every few days, and, for me, the heat of summer was really starting to take its toll.  I guess you could say we needed a break from our vacation.  Wah wah wah.  I’m such a spoiled girl…

The change took us north into Utah and that meant looking for different places to camp and set up and blah blah blah.  Through my usual hunting for places to visit and stay I had already discovered that Utah was crazy beautiful in a carved out of rock kind of way.  The one snag we kept coming across were available camping locations.  We decided we would aim for the Arches National Park, spend some time there and then decide what we would be doing next.

My only regret on this part of the trip was that we didn’t have/make more time for more exploration through this amazing park.  I have never seen land like this before or seen rocks so massive and shaped in such bizarre ways.  I found myself frequently standing and staring at some giant boulder balanced on this thin column of rock and I would be shaking my head, marveling at how nature just DOES things.  I know that we now have a way to know how things happened and how the earth shifts and moves and climate plays a role and all that scientific brilliance that also boggles my brain but for that moment, it was the gorgeousness of nature that held me captivated and science was being told to hush.

If there are words, read it.  That's what we attempt to do as much as possible.  I figure all that information has to be out there for a reason. 

Elephant :) 

From the base of the cavernous area...

to the back and up a ways. 

From me to Aydan. 

From me to Andrew. 

And me...after dashing up to the back of the formation with the dogs. 

Me and Andrew. 

Me and Aydan. 

Look up...

This was the second decent hike of the day we took.  It was an attempt to see Delicate Arch but once we got to this point here, maybe a mile in,...it started raining.  I don't know if you can tell from some of the pictures how dark and thick the clouds were but we knew that we didn't want to be stuck out on a trail if it really started to pour.  We made it back to the car and were all packed up and ready to go before the first heavy rain drops started to fall.  Before we even got back to the main road of the park the sky was nearly black and the wind was pushing against the car with a force we could feel from inside.  This was a moment of our trip here that couldn't be captured with photos.  The quietness inside the car with only the sound of the rain and the engine making noise and those giant rock formations being starkly illuminated under the harsh lightning that came with the storm.  

Sometimes we get to see how primal our world really is.  Sometimes, without street lights, without the radio, without even the sound of our voices, we can see the same scene that has been playing on repeat for thousands of years. This is when I feel like the insignificant intruder that I am.  I am this microscopic speck of nothing, as far as the timing of our universe is concerned, and yet I get to humbly partake in the world around me, a world that reveals and hides and shares and one that I fear and hope for.  I am grateful for this life of mine.  I hope to be worthy of my time here. 

Annnnddd...that wraps that up!  I know that we will be planning trips to go to the places that we missed along the way, LA is definitely towards the top as I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see where my sister in law lives and works and I have a very dear friend that lives there that has offered me a tour of his beyond cool place of employment and I just can't miss out on either of those things.  Plus, I have yet to see Alcatraz, the Winchester Mansion, or the Redwoods.  All west coast destinations and on the get-there list.  

BUT...we will have to wait for a while now until after Arthur is born.  There are many, many plans still unfolding and our little group gets more excited about our move to Bend every day.  Although, for Aydan, it's the trip to Fort Wayne that gets him all kinds of giddy.  Much is happening and I'm sure there will be many more postings and photos to come.