Utah

So thankful to drive off interstates and see more rural settings.

Route 20 through Idaho on my way to Utah was a beautiful landscape mixed with hay bales on the farms, and reminders of some great memories of my mom's side of the family. Les Proulx - from solid farm stock. Cows, hay baling, and maple syrup. I spent an entire summer on the family farm in Canada with my Godparents MaTante Rita, MonOncle Aime and 7 cousins, all boys except for France. It was a summer to remember - it was my 8th grade summer going into high school. Learned how to milk a cow, chug a beer, and many things in between. It was memorable and probably a bit ahead of my time, but those boy cousins of mine had a field day with their American cousin...not sure who enjoyed that summer more. Bonjour fille! (C'est pour vous France!)

Back to the trip - it got pretty warm today. Not 113 degrees like Portland, Oregon warm today - but worthy of the AC and cooling pad for Sassenach. As the landscape changed and had to drive through Salt Lake City, I can't help but mention the 7 lanes of highway. That was insane and I was thankful to be in the right lane at the right time - or at least I thought I was in the right place. I don't mind driving in traffic, but when you aren't familiar with the territory and you are faced with seven lanes in which to choose - fast and steady was the appropriate choice. I got off that 7-laned highway (or interstate - what you call it depends on where you grew up), and quickly discovered I was NOT in the right place. GPS is great until you get to your destination and find you are not at the right location. I pulled up my camping reservations, found the map coordinates, copy/pasted and was on my way to a location 50 miles further South. Mischief managed.

Utah landscape is extraordinary. The colors and sharpness of the plateaus are so very different than New England or the PNW. Really an amazing drive through this area and then into Colorado, which then transitions back into those luscious mountains. Didn't get pictures off the highway - I was to focused on my redirection after the 7-laned highway incident. The campground was a mix of mostly chiseled red rocks and little greenery. Barely any cover so it was warm - even though the temps only read around low 80s. Made sure Sassenach and I hydrated and then set up camp.

Once set up, hydrated and snacked, we went exploring to find the river. Sassenach loved it and unfortunately lost the one orange ChuckIt ball we had with us as it got whisked down the river more quickly than she cared to chase. No worries, I have around 8 other backup balls in the car. I also enjoyed walking through the river (in my Tevas), until a HUGE snake swam across my path. The scream quickly turned into laughing - I think I scared Sassenach more than the snake scared me! (Ok, so the snake was probably only a foot and a half BUT is swam really fast!)

I am tired - but plan to stay out of the tent until bugs show up. Shade is sparse, but we manage to hang out close enough to the tent and the one bush that are casting shade. We are thankful for the many clouds overhead that give us the quick natural blast of nature's AC. Sassenach figures out how to use the cooling pad and she seems pretty comfortable.

This is were I am finally able to sit. Really just sit. I pull out a couple books from the stash I brought for this exact purpose. I'm drawn to "Just One Word" and leaf through the pages and find this one. It's appropriate. My mind quiets. I'm not what you consider a "hard core" Catholic, but I think contemplation and being thankful for your blessings is important. This "Relax" word, coupled with the absolute beauty of this space, and the privacy - yep, you guessed it. Here come the waterworks. Good Lord - it has been a day of emotional releasing. I'll need to up my hydration game at this rate.

Best part of the day? Worst part of the day?

Best: I'm getting a handle on letting go to enjoy the moment and space around me.

Worst: No, not the snake. Those 7-lanes? Maybe. Or the screaming child until 1 AM? Perhaps, but I wondered why he was so unsettled in this space I found so comforting. Not sure, but a car snuck out shortly thereafter probably with parent and child to remove the angst from the quiet camping area. Thank you Parent. Now - let's work on those couple hours of sleep.

Lesson Learned: I should have gotten myself some sort of cooling mat!