Officially in uniform at Bryce Canyon

Last Monday I went to work officially in uniform at Bryce Canyon and I was glad to start at the end of the holiday weekend when the crowds were thinning.  After working two days I had three days off to take care of my own business.

That first day off started as a clusterfuck.  In the morning while I was thinking about all that had to be done to unpack the small camper and where I should go to grocery shop—30 mins, 1 1/2 or 2 hours away from Bryce Canyon—my boss called needing me to sign a teleworking agreement, that should have been done weeks ago, or I wouldn’t get paid.  So I rushed to admin to take care of that.  When I returned home I noticed water dripping from under the front of the 5th-wheel.  Turned out the washer hook up in the closet was leaking.  Fortunately it hadn’t been for long so the carpeting on the floor was only damp.  I turned off the water outside, opened the faucets, took the cap off and added teflon tape.  That seems to have done the trick.  In the process I was in the storage basement looking for a turn-off valve to that source, and there isn’t one even at the T-junction I found under the bathroom sink.  That turned into moving a lot of things around in the basement that basically wasn’t organized from last falls move when many people were helping me get packed.  Then that lead to finally hooking up the sewer hose.  And when I took the cap off to put on the hose, gray water jettisoned in my face as I struggled to get the hose on.  Seems the valves were left open.  My bad for not looking.  Thank goodness it wasn’t the black water.  Yet still not the best water for a morning shower, which is what I did next but with clean hot clean water.

The second day off proved much better even if I had to drive to Panguitch, only 30 minutes away.  I finally got a haircut!  Lost about eight inches and feel a whole lot better.  Went to lunch at the Big Fish, a hairdresser recommendation, and enjoyed a huge plate of fish and chips.  Tables were at a more than acceptable 10 feet apart.  They sometimes serve catfish on Friday’s so I’d like to go back.  Picked up a RV water pressure valve as I think the city water at Bryce Canyon is way over pressured and may be causing problems.  Then groceries at the little-too-tiny store to get everything on my list.

Third day off I did more chores and moved more stuff out of the little camper.  I’m still not quite done and need to vacuum it something terrible.  Everything is fuzzy with Sierra cat hair.  Really need to come up with a small vacuum that can handle both our hair.

Returning to work, my Monday on Saturday, the schedule had me roving at Sunset Point, an overlook in Bryce Canyon.  Except right now we are table roving in order to keep physical distance which means setting up folding tables to create a barrier.  Enjoyed two hours of hanging out, answering questions, and gave four condensed 5-minute hoodoo geology talks.  Made contact with 102 visitors and only had to ask one to step back out of my space.

After lunch I returned to the visitor center to cover for others’ lunch in the outdoor plaza and was still there when a huge monsoon-like storm kicked up causing a quick shut down of outdoor activities.  Yet we still had to limit people in the visitor center to 40.  That proved interesting because of course, everybody wanted in out of the rain.  Lightning and thunder were within three to 10 miles for a couple hours.  Being set up outside for information means setting tables, covers, and maps under popup canopies every morning and taking them down every night.  Plus the History Association offers products both outside and in and we try to help them with set up and break down also.

The next day I helped open our info station and staffed it for several hours.  Although all us Rangers are glad to be at Bryce Canyon and working, we all miss being in the field, roving for real, answering questions, and presenting programs about the park.  I did take advantage of some afternoon office time to rework my Grand Staircase geology talk, and hope that I can give that 20 minute talk in the future.

Not taking many photos, other than the phone, because I’m not getting out much other than the visitor center.  But I did have a visitor nearby the RV worthy of a few pictures, munching away about 30 feet from my door.

Changes continue to occur daily in Bryce.  Monday afternoon the shuttle buses started running the amphitheater overlooks loop.  They are limited to 20 passengers with an attendant onboard and the driver is in a plexiglass box.  It was a pretty quiet day and the parking lots didn’t fill so was good practice.  I am happy it’s not overly busy but it does feel good to be officially in uniform at Bryce Canyon.