Pioche, NV
tonight we stay at Cathedral Valley SP, which is a miniature of Bryce in pink. And I begin to become aware of a different sea..that of time. here the bones of the earth are laid bare, and we begin our descent through rock, back 350 million years, to the Colorado River canyon at Vermilion Cliffs in Utah.Perhaps Vine Deloria would disagree with me here. Maybe this place isn't that old. Perhaps humans cavorted here with the last of the dinosaurs in Flintsoney paradise.I don't think so. I find great comfort in the idea of deep time, that creation is immense, that we will never understand it, but only grow in our appreciation of its grand mystery.
Today, we took the time to do what I wish we had done more, but for the helter skelter to get wherever we have been going the last couple of weeks. that is, we talked at length to a stranger. Here it is the campground host couple.. they are driving a converted city bus, and it is fitted out nice. They have been doing this for 24 years. They are not exactly what I would have considered to be "geritol gypsys", but they have been roadkids for a very long time. They like to hang out in Quartzite, AZ, for the winters, then head up to a gig they do at a museum in ID. and here's the best part: their rig only cost them $6400, plus the work they've put into it. It's a nice bus that he's fixed up with a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living room and office. They tow a smaller 4 wheel drive vehicle that they can drive into rougher country. Now, I know many places where this would work well, including the Mojave, utah, Nevada, etc. And, we could travel around more to visit our far-flung family members. and our minds are calculating: could this be the next vehicle for the road kids? Stay tuned for our tales of Quartzite, appearing in January.
Here are a few pictures of a couple of places where we've camped, and some rocks from lost coast beach.
Tomorrow, Nancy and I will part company for a couple of days; she to join her friend, Pattycakes, in Kanab, UT to visit the Best Friends animal sanctuary, and I to hike The Wave. Talk to you again in a couple of days.