At the end of July Craig and I packed our recently purchased backpacks for a full month of US travel. We started in Pittsburgh for a wonderful weekend with my sister-in-law and her fiance. We had a wonderful time kayaking the river, meeting Mr. Rogers and his newly knitted red sweater, eating fabulous food and meeting their dynamic friends. Pittsburgh has far more to offer than I ever imagined passed the Stealers, and amongst my favorite was the Strip District. The streets are lined with open and in-door markets where you can get anything from fresh meat butchered that day to hundreds of types of cheeses from all regions of the world. The produce is fresh and local and there is more black and gold sports paraphernalia than any non Stealers fan would care to experience. We enjoyed some remarkably delicious tacos de lengua from a street stand where I got to practice my spanish skills on the highly surprised chavo behind the wagon. This is where we bought everything needed for the spanish flare meal Craig prepared for a us and a group of Jenny and Todd's friends. I'm so spoiled to be able to take him and his skill wherever we go.
So after a bit in utah visiting family, we packed our rental Nissan Versa with the 2 coolers, a small grill, pot, pan, plates, silverware, auxiliary cord, a bin to hold all this and there must have been something else we bought at DI (the Utah version of Salvation Army or Good Will) for a meager $23.00. We bought some food, ice and packed our things for a camping adventure through Southern Utah.
The drive to Bryce Canyon National Park was far more comfortable than expected only because the cheapest care we could get had begun to surprise us it's smallness but masses of space available on the inside. We got to the park and after a short search the perfect camp site fell upon us. No one near us, a hillside behind us and better bathrooms than I've seen in any public location in a very long time only 150 yards away. This backyard hillside lead us straight to an overlook of a valley of Hoodoo below and all the way around to the next valley. Hoodoo are the unique formations in the rock formed over hundreds of years of corrosion and weather found in the Bryce Canyon. We watched the sun set on the deep pinks and oranges on these pillars of dirt and decided to not only enjoy a different view the following day from the valley over but also to explore and find our way to the distant ridge called Table Top Plateau. This would give us a view looking straight at Bryce instead of down from above. This is when the Versa really proved her magnificence!
First step, find a map. Second step, find the road. Final step, live through it to tell the tale. The road to the trail was not too bad. 4 wheel drive recommended but we had the confidence and determination to see it through. The trail was farther walk than we thought and much longer but very worth the view and beauty at the top. The perspective from that elevation is priceless and to think just hrs before we were standing hundreds of miles across the valley looking at the point we were now standing on. The trek back was just as fun as the hike up with lots of laughs, creativity and silent moments to look within. The Versa was still there with her thick layer of dust, well rested and ready for the journey down the mountain. But why go down the way you came and knew when you can take another way that would bring us closer to our next destination? Not knowing what the road would bring we made our way farther up to go down. It was Craig's turn to drive now and he was doing very well through treachery until we crept up on a slope of big rocks and gravel. Volunteering to scope it out I walked down about a 1/4 mile of pure rock of all sizes which made up the road now. The slope being about an 8% grade and extremely narrow with a cliff on one side there was no way we could make it back up or turn around if we decided to take the plunge, so it was turn around or take the chance! Having no clue wether or not the road got worse down the way, he put the Versa in low gear and I started chucking rocks, boulders and whatever else obstructed our way. Careful guiding, several hundred squat thrusts and hours of nail biting conditions later, we made it through what we came to find out was actually an ATV trail. Thanks map that clearly needs to be updated! We survived and actually had a hell of a good time doing it!
Just south of Boulder Utah theres a lovely campground nestled into a rock canyon called Calf Creek. It sits next to a stream thats fed by a waterfall only three miles into the canyon and cost us a mere $7.00 to camp.
Camping just outside of Moab Utah next to he Colorado river meant rinsing off. It's cold but very refreshing and surprisingly cleansing after not showering for 3 days. Arches in the morning and then the drive to desolate but breathtaking Monument Valley where my dad lives and works.
Utah is a marvel to be sure offering the most diverse landscape within it's milage than any other state i've visited. Showing Craig the State brought a new and bright perspective of a place I spend so many of my growing up years.
And so our journey continues in Durango Co for the next few days before we fly off to West Hollywood to spend some time with a couple of good friends.
So far this trip has proved to be the testing ground for our year or so journey around the world. There's so many things to consider when traveling out of one back pack for an extended period of time with one person that you love before you start and hope they can still tolerate you by the end. We're learning that we still love to travel together and have lots to learn about and from the other.
