P+M Hit The Road

How to describe a monumental sized wrinkle in the sunken earth?  Not like the pile of dirty laundry in your closet, but a gigantic groove in the earth that extends through a sizeable portion of the tremendous state of Utah.  Over one hundred miles of twisted, warped mass so diverse, so bizarre there is nothing else like it on the planet.    A mingling of soil, rocks, mountains and canyons.  Next a collision of fault lines thousands of feet high sliding ever so slightly collapsing into each other over millions of years.  A massive chain of waterpockets and folds rise from the ravaged landscape.  Eerily stretched, distorted pockets are scattered throughout mountainsides and along gorges.   Your imagination takes hold, you see the disfigured, horrific Ghostface from Scream! its face, sliding, melting before you.  You summon the courage to open your eyes, heart racing, hands trembling as you witness the unobstructed drama ...

Since returning from sunbird heaven the end of March, we haven't come by the insulated winter skin that most souls around these parts have already mastered. As a result we're (I am) extremely wimpy, whining about Iowa's unpredictable/predictable nasty weather regardless of the calendar. My brain tells me it won't last, but still there are goosebumps … and doubt. Bright green buds push through crusty snow, fragile daffodils and tulips unquestionably heartier and braver than me stand undeterred against the merciless insanity of Iowa in the Spring. I am in awe of their tenacity, their fearless grit. Observing them from the comfort of my warm oasis, still cozy in my well-worn fleece, the air surrounding those buds plunges and still they stand strong against the relentless elements.  It is always refreshing to return after being away for a spell. Checking back in, my bones relax, thoughts settle, I'm comfortable, I'm home. People know us here, some are even exc...

T here is nothing quite like blasting Frank Sinatra "Come Fly With Me" on the radio as we speed along Historic Scenic Byway 12 in Southwest Utah, RV bouncing close behind.  Slender white birch trees stand sentinel alongside the route.  Coral rocks, jagged boulders and snow capped mountains dominate the landscape. The beauty all around has a nasty flip side.  The route itself is a wicked, snaky highway with slick icy patches hidden here and there, hairpin turns tightly squeeze the road ahead.  Inclines appear like ski slopes on the pavement, running 65 you can only see the sky ahead and hope the road continues on the other side.  My gut tells me I'm on a roller coaster. I hear the distinctive rumble of the double yellow warning as we cross the center line on a sharp curve. This is the Wild West and I've got white line fever from the passenger side.  We wind through canyons, old west towns, abandoned rail stations and worn out main streets.  An occasiona...

I mentioned a while back we ran into old/new friends Judy and Jeff while trekking an Arizona mountainside. We arranged to meet for a hike at the Lost Dog Trail to Ringtail Loop in the Sonoran desert near Scottsdale. We didn't know anything about the trail but who can resist a walk in a circle in search of a lost pet in the desert? The guys were blazing the trail ahead, while keeping a safe distance behind Judy and I were discussing the latest kitchen design trends and appetizer recipes.  We were just a few steps back when we heard screaming, shuffling and a distinct rattling sound.  Yep, it was a rattlesnake for sure, extremely real and oh so close.  There was anxious tension as the snake separated Judy and I from the guys.  As we all stared at the snake and each other I could sense there were serious thoughts of who could run the fastest.  A hiker behind us said  "Oh he won't hurt you just go ahead."   There are so many times in my life when I wou...

Back home now, we're settling but my mind continues to wander, Utah, can't get it out of my head. It's one of the most gorgeous stretches of land I have ever seen.  Utah is a mysterious contradiction.  The basins offer quiet respite for the perfect walk in amazing canyons, or a boots up happy hour at a local rusty dive bar.  If you've got the time I've a few more Wild West Utah tales to share. I imagine Bryce Canyon National Park sometimes feels like the forgotten little sister.  Zion is gorgeous, popular, it's the place to be.  Huge crowds tell the tale.  But Bryce is not a spoiled sibling, she's a shining star, maybe a little more tarnished than big Sis, colder, rugged and weirdly cool with a HooDoo vibe.  There is even a Queen Victoria HooDoo and her HooDoo garden, sounds pretty strange but it's surprisingly incredible.   Something about the isolation and of course, those mysterious stones that make Bryce perfectly quirky....