That's me on the right, in the picture of the canyon.
Not quite feeling myself today, kind of tired and low energy. Carr feels the same. Rumbly stomachs, too. Maybe it's some kind of bug we caught or the aftereffect of too many days of hiking or maybe we've been spoiled by too much insanely raw beauty (if there can be such a thing), but the area around Page, AZ (and especially Page itself) has failed to inspire us much. Or perhaps it's the howling winds and the threat of rain and the ominous skies above. In any case, we're feeling a bit blah, so we're just chillin' at our camp and waiting for the winds to change, literally and figuratively.
Years ago while traveling in Europe I heard several musical pieces by Karl Orff in his Carmina Burana series. Epic music. One of the pieces was titled "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi" - latin for "Fortune, Empress of the World". To me this means that no matter how bad things get, they can quickly get better (and vice versa!). So just wait, and be open to change and shifts, and don't make a big story about it. The ancient Greeks called this Rhythmos - the up and down rhythm of life. To paraphrase the ancient Greek poet Archilochus: don't get too down when things are hard, but don't get too up when things are up - all of life is rhythmos.
Several cool things:
1. Our camp. When we got here we explored several expensive and unattractive options around Lake Powell to pitch our tent, none of which we found appealing. We thought of getting a hotel room. Then at the last moment - Fortune strikes again - we saw some RVs parked on a hill and found a whole area of really nice public land you can camp on for free. See below for some pictures of our camp, our green tent under a small butte or rock formation. If you're ever trying to find this place: leave Page towards the dam on the Colorado river, and take the first dirt road on the left right after the dam bridge;
2. The Toadstools, aka the Enchanted Rock Fungi. If you continue 30 min down the highway from Page you'll come across a sign for the Toadstools in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. It's a pretty easy hike up a cool dry river bed to a large open area reminiscent of a Martian landscape. This area is also home to several bizarre rock formations resembling (among other things) giant mushrooms or toadstools. Check out the pictures!;
3. Horseshoe Bend Canyon. If you head out from Page in the other direction (toward the Grand Canyon) you'll come upon this impressive canyon. Not for those with vertigo, fear of heights or a faint heart - the sheer cliffs drop down 1,000 feet to the river below. Very cool place, check out the pictures.
Not quite feeling myself today, kind of tired and low energy. Carr feels the same. Rumbly stomachs, too. Maybe it's some kind of bug we caught or the aftereffect of too many days of hiking or maybe we've been spoiled by too much insanely raw beauty (if there can be such a thing), but the area around Page, AZ (and especially Page itself) has failed to inspire us much. Or perhaps it's the howling winds and the threat of rain and the ominous skies above. In any case, we're feeling a bit blah, so we're just chillin' at our camp and waiting for the winds to change, literally and figuratively.
Years ago while traveling in Europe I heard several musical pieces by Karl Orff in his Carmina Burana series. Epic music. One of the pieces was titled "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi" - latin for "Fortune, Empress of the World". To me this means that no matter how bad things get, they can quickly get better (and vice versa!). So just wait, and be open to change and shifts, and don't make a big story about it. The ancient Greeks called this Rhythmos - the up and down rhythm of life. To paraphrase the ancient Greek poet Archilochus: don't get too down when things are hard, but don't get too up when things are up - all of life is rhythmos.
Several cool things:
1. Our camp. When we got here we explored several expensive and unattractive options around Lake Powell to pitch our tent, none of which we found appealing. We thought of getting a hotel room. Then at the last moment - Fortune strikes again - we saw some RVs parked on a hill and found a whole area of really nice public land you can camp on for free. See below for some pictures of our camp, our green tent under a small butte or rock formation. If you're ever trying to find this place: leave Page towards the dam on the Colorado river, and take the first dirt road on the left right after the dam bridge;
2. The Toadstools, aka the Enchanted Rock Fungi. If you continue 30 min down the highway from Page you'll come across a sign for the Toadstools in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. It's a pretty easy hike up a cool dry river bed to a large open area reminiscent of a Martian landscape. This area is also home to several bizarre rock formations resembling (among other things) giant mushrooms or toadstools. Check out the pictures!;
3. Horseshoe Bend Canyon. If you head out from Page in the other direction (toward the Grand Canyon) you'll come upon this impressive canyon. Not for those with vertigo, fear of heights or a faint heart - the sheer cliffs drop down 1,000 feet to the river below. Very cool place, check out the pictures.