Distance = 65 Miles; People Met = 14
OK, this will probably be one of our biggest “downer” posts. While traversing National Forests and Parks we were greeted with daily rain and thunderstorms. Now that we are road walking through the desert those days are gone and every day has been 100+ degree heat. Yet the recent rains hit the desert as well before we arrived, creating lots of standing water, increasing both the humidity and the bugs. During this stretch a Utah DOT worker informed us that the road temperature was 132 degrees … as we swat away biting insects from our legs and gnats that love the shade under your visor and will, on occasion, fly into your eyes.
Caring Utah DOT Worker
Add to that a sameness that is shaping up through Utah. Sandstone buttes and spires are spectacular! Yet they remain sandstone buttes and spires nonetheless with little other type of scenery in between. There is a spectacular but sameness quality to the culture as well. We’ve received tremendous hospitality, yet every small Utah town we go through has the one, same Mormon Church and no other. Philosophies are much the same through these small towns.
Desert Road Walking
Add to that still some pressing issues affecting us. We are somewhat low on funds. We can not sustain the current rate of gas/maintenance/campsite consumption for the entirety of the trip. Will we be able to sell some books/CDs/T-shirts at Moab and beyond? Only time will tell. I guess this would be an opportune time to mention that in the lower left hand corner of the footers for this web site you can donate to our cause.
But the money issue pales in comparison to the news that our son Noah is still struggling with his issues. That has led to a little reversal of roles. My mood usually does not fluctuate much throughout the day. On the other hand Cindy starts out each day very chipper, eager to see the new flowers, rocks and scenery. We could be lost and it does not matter to her. In fact, one day I was beating myself up for making a wrong turn that added six miles to our day. Cindy merely commented “You’ll find the way, you always do.” Towards the end of the day, as Cindy gets tired, her mood will worsen and I have to be the stabilizer.
Yet now Cindy does not start the mornings well. The sameness is a problem, but the real cause of her concern is about Noah, a concern that has affected her health in the past. So I get out of my stoic mode and try to comfort her in the early morning. Later in the afternoon, in the hundred degree heat, I’m not capable of comforting anyone. My thermostat is set high, Cindy’s low. She handles the extreme heat better than I do.
Meeting people continues to lift our spirits; that is what this trip is about, humanity. We met Jessica, who works at the Rodeway Inn near Caineville and gave us some tips for what to do in Hanksville. She also informed us that Hanksville holds the record for hottest day in Utah.
Jessica at the Rodeway Inn
We met, Elliott, owner of the Red Rock Restaurant in Hanksville, where we were using their wifi. Elliott has Alzheimer’s and no longer manages the combined RV Park and restaurant, but he enjoys walking around talking to the guests and sharing the story of how he ended up buying his Hanksville property after having a few to many beers 40 years ago.
Elliott, Owner of Red Rock Restaurant in Hanksville
We met Kathy and Phil from Grand Junction, who camped next to us at Green River State Park. Phil was in radio and gave us some tips for contacting broadcast media in that city, where I am scheduled to give my next presentation after Moab. They also informed us of all the good works done by the Lions Club in Grand Junction, and the close knit community of Leadville, where they are from. Phil and Kathy are humanitarians as well. We all sat around the same picnic table well into the evening having a really nice chat with them.
Phil and Kathy from Grand Junction
So even in what I suspect might be the worst stretch of the trip for us (or at least for me, we’ll see how Cindy does in winter), there is always the silver lining of the people we meet along the way. Humanity is indeed good … under the right conditions.
