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| *How does a HOT Bike, get that cold?* |
Uh Huh... time to run south 'fore my scooter gets frozen so solid she fossilizes!
The Box Canyon artists are wandering their way toward Zion, so we just retreated to there ahead of 'em hopin' to link up before we pull farther south ahead of 'em.
One of the definitions of Zion is; "an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal" ... So Zion is imaginary... and Yamaha is Real... curious. ;)
Only, the Zion we know sure ain't imaginary. The feeling we get here is for sure and for certain. It brings us back again and again. Just 80 miles or so south of that frigid camp in Red Canyon... and we're back on sunny slopes...
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| *The Grotto in Zion* |
... and warm leafy sanctuaries...
Wanting to chase the chill of last night away we went up to the emerald pools for an afternoon walk...
It's been a fairly dry summer I guess. The falls into the basin are much reduced from the storms that came through in the spring when we hurried to get here from Ash Creek in Arizona.
It's a routine we seem to be falling into... wandering along some familiar trails... seeing the land in different seasons... and over the years. You can't learn a place in a single day... or a single year... you have to keep coming back to see all it has to give.
The fall up higher is well advanced. The cold there has been strong enough to bring out the sharp color in the maples and the oak brush... here in the sheltered canyon, I don't think the color will be as vibrant this year.
It's staying too warm and turning cold too slowly... and this Ol' drifter ain't complaining! I can do cold, I've proven it over the years... But being Able to... and Wanting to are two VERY different things! :) Yes Sir... and Ma'am... I have become a lover of the Sun as I gain in years.
I park the rig in the sun... I point my radiator in the direction of where it's gone... when it fades away from the camp I'm in...
Chasing the sun on a ribbon of highway... Kind of has a nice ring to it.
You walk along, passing through a few thickets of canyon maple, juniper and canyon scrub that shelters a quiet and peaceful place...
Your feet move slower... not wanting just yet to continue south. trying to hang on to what is...
You try to resist the change, wishing the good things could last longer... working hard to engrave the visions, and scents and sounds of the canyon on your brain... like a photograph...
But... Like it or not... you've no choice... continue you must... and down the canyon through the trees toward camp you go...
All the way to the river... to another bridge you must cross...
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| *A bridge over the Virgin river that leads to...* |
... always moving toward Zion... that imaginary place of perfection and sunny slopes...
Life on the Road... in Search of Zion
Brian
4 comments:
Hi Brian and Heidi,
I've been enjoying your photography lately. We've just got to get to that part of Utah one day. I'm curious if you're able to take your dogs with you on those lovely trails. Thanks, Grace (in Tucson)
Grace; As is generally the rule inside National Parks, dogs are prohibited on the trails. I expect Too many people didn't clean up after them and allowed them to be ill mannered so they ruined things for those that did do it right:(
Kind of like screaming kids in the grocery store ;)
And how hard is it? They put poo bag containers all over the place on convenient posts in campgrounds and along permitted trails...
There is one trail in Zion, the Pa'rus Trail that runs for nearly two miles along the Virgin river where you can walk with your leashed dog. We take that nearly every morning/evening when we're here for their benefit.
It's been years since we've been to Zion. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos and reminding me to revisit. Snowed in CO yesterday...we need to get outta here before it gets too bad. Stay warm! Ingrid
Brrrr... 15 is way too cold. Hope Mark & Bobbie catch up to you soon in Zion, that place that isn't really there.
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