We so wanted to go away for a little trip. Or even a big trip. Airfares have made that impractical. The dropping markets that have affected our little investments had also made that impractical. So we've both been casting around for ideas for some fun.
Finally settled on a little road trip. Somewhere within a few hours that wouldn't cost a ton. Ended up at Bryce Canyon for our 52nd anniversary. Neither of us had ever been there before that we remember. I seem to recall that a couple decades ago The Husband took both the boys on a camp-out to Southern Utah and they might possibly have been to Bryce, but we don't rightly know for sure.
Anyway, packed up and headed out Sunday after church. Did our best to keep the Sabbath even though we were driving. We didn't stop for any purchases of any kind but thoroughly enjoyed the drive down. After checking in at the hotel we ate our dinner of pre-packed peanut butter sammiches, and bananas. Then hit the road again. Went to the Mossy Cave hike. The late afternoon sunlight on all the gorgeous rocks was just lovely. We even went down to the creek (should have been a small river but the drought, you know), bumbling my way down the steep section in full view of the bridge (got an applause from an oldster on the bridge for not slipping and falling ) to the waterfall that flows all year long. Pretty even if it was small.
Didn't have to talk very long to convince The Husband to head out about nine p.m. to Inspiration Point. A few years ago Bryce Canyon was designated an International Dark Sky Park - partly due to the park's efforts to keep ambient light levels low and their efforts to promote star watching. Off we went to see the stars. And it was stunning. We stood by the car in the parking lot and craned our heads back to take in the vast array of sparkles and light. The Husband even caught a very impressive shooting star which we could hear the people up on the bluff also saw (loud oohs/aahs). So quiet. Peaceful. Soothing. It was worth the temporary neck ache from all that looking up. Our drive there and back was filled with deer sightings. They were very active near the road and so fun to see.
We spent our actual anniversary in the park. Oohing and aahing ourselves at the beyond-description beauties. We stood at several stops along the way far longer than some other people it was just so beautiful. For years we've seen pictures of the canyon - but those are not even a fraction of the impact that I felt in person. We even noticed at a couple of the spots how quiet people were, speaking in soft voices, low levels almost as though there was an instinctive reverence for the scenery. (And by the way - several of these pictures were taken through the windshield - so glad The Husband always keeps it clean!)
My arthritic knees were an issue. I really wanted to do some of the hikes down into the canyon, and I'm sure that would have pleased The Husband. But he was, as always, a really good sport about taking the high road this time. The elevation was a killer for our breathing. Brought me up short as I realized I'm not in near as good a physical shape as I thought I was. Though when we had to stop for a minute to really catch our breath, we had plenty of company.
We also took highway 12 (An American Scenic Byway) over to Escalante and loved the drive.
Dinner was at Ebenezer's Barn and Grill for food and country music - great fun.
Coming home we took the back way. The non-freeway drive. Didn't take too much longer and was well worth the reduction in stress by using the roads much less traveled. It made all the difference.
So grateful to come home to a mostly peaceful situation. (Once the blasted cement trucks are finished it might kinda sorta return to peaceful.) So grateful for a couple loved ones that take such good care of things while we are away. So grateful for sightings of wildlife: antelope, deer, a coyote running across the highway, chipmunks (never feed the animals!!) plenty of pretty birds with blue on their wings. We know those beings are important for this earth. Grateful for food in the cupboard, an already vacuumed out car. And most importantly for The Husband. 52 years with my bestest, I am richly blessed.
No comments:
Post a Comment