Though it feels like summer has barely begun, especially at 8000 feet, mid July marks half the summer season at Bryce Canyon. Does it seem like I’m counting the days? Maybe so. I’m ready for a vacation.
SR20 east Utah
Not like I don’t get days off, but they seem mundanely filled with chores like a long drive for shopping, and laundry at least a little closer to home. Last week on a day off I avoided the dignitary visit of the second gentleman, Doug Emhoff. Fellow park staff reported all went smoothly as he and the entourage were taken to the small out of the way Paria View overlook easily blocked to the public. He is presumably visiting many national parks and meeting with staff. Instead, I ended up in the holiday weekend busy town of Cedar City. What was I thinking?
I returned to work on Independence Day wondering if we’d be extra busy or not. Remote national parks are often less busy on 4th of July because of the fireworks’ restrictions. Didn’t feel any busier than any other day of the week. Not even much of a noticeable difference between weekends and weekdays this busy summer. I started at noon and due to nearby lightning worked information inside the visitor center. Later, after closing the visitor center at 8pm scattered clouds made roving near Sunset Point for sunset a nice way to end the day. I did hear a few boomers from my home under the Pines that night but am too far from Bryce Canyon City for their show.
After the next day’s 11am Hoodoo geology talk I engaged with a small group of visitors in conversation that went from geology, to cultural history, to archeology and anthropology, and genetics. I love when this happens. An approaching storm sent us different directions, me for lunch in the camper. And that’s where I weathered the storm that came with a vengeance of wind and hard rain. But not for more than 30 minutes. I might have taken a nap.
Sunrise view from RV door
The next day started hard and felt long. I’m loosing another friend to cancer. I’ve known Eddie since high school over 50 years. Not long ago he was diagnosed Stage 4 and resigned himself to the last journey. Yet he recently came around and decided not to lie in bed and wait for the end. Instead he’s getting his RV home ready to roll and travel with family chauffeurs. He called that morning to share the latest news. Good news. And I hope to cross his trail somewhere along the way. The work day started with opening the visitor center and covering the information desk for an hour. Then I did a practice run of a revised program from my Oregon Caves days called “I Dig Rocks” to learn how easy it is to identify rocks. I was thinking of doing this program Saturday during the weekend’s GeologyFest, an annual event that happens at about half the summer season. But at ten minutes the program is too long for today’s short attention span. Glad I tried it out first. After lunch I returned to the information desk for several hours and went home tired and thankful the next day was my Friday, even if it was an early start.
After opening and working two hours at the information desk it was time to drive to Yovimpa Point, the southern end of Bryce’s Paunsaugunt Plateau, my happy place. Away from the hubbub and non-stop busy around the visitor center. Grand Staircase geology talks are scheduled for 12:30 and 1:30, and sometimes they actually happen at those times. I do short 10-15 minute versions whenever visitors show interest and lost count that day of how many times. I talked as much if not more about fire ecology as visitors want to know about the fire evidence they see along the drive and Bristlecone Loop trail. Two different stories. A little boy maybe nine-years old asked why we fight fire with fire and not water. I try to explain how a backburn works in this dry environment when water is readily handy and he quickly figures it out. Seeing the lightbulb go off over his head is what makes my job so great. A young (25) man hangs out conversing for over an hour in between my answering visitor questions. In fact I get back late because we are engaged in good conversation for almost an hour in the parking lot.
And then two days off. Felt good not to have to go anywhere and feel a little lazy. Finished a post, labeled a whole lot of photos, did a minimal amount of housework, and cleaned the camper fridge. The last, because I’m planning a road trip for my next days off. It’s about time after half the summer season. And so after four days work it’s four days off and I’m going to #PlanLikeAParkRanger, because I am, and head to…
Linking to Our World Tuesday
Ha ha, a teaser ending. I am tired out just reading of your busy life. Hope you get to meet up with your friend.
LOL! Too busy. Sure am looking forward to these days off.
Cancer is so cruel, I lost one friend in Natal last year and now another one is on chemo yet again. As if they do not have enough problems with the present riots.
Love this post, great photos as always and I can image how rewarding it is to answer children satisfactorily and the light switches on.
Take care and looking forward to hearing where you go to for your 4 days off, sounds interesting. Hugs from us both, Diane and Nigel
I hope everyone we know, and don’t know, stays safe in SA.
Enjoy your days off wherever you are going and I hope the weather is good for you. So sorry to hear of your friends illness I lost my sister a few years ago with cancer and my eldest son had it but has survived thank goodness. So I know that feeling of loss.
Love all the photo’s here Gaelyn Thanks for sharing and stay safe.
Thanks. I am almost packed. Guess we’ve all lost people to the big C. Glad your son beat it.
Laundry, As I recall, the North Rim had laundry facilities. Surprised Bryce doesn’t.
There are some very good small or RV/Marine combo Washer & Dryer units these days, though, you would have to make space and plumb/wire for one.
It will be interesting to see how your off-season thoughts and decision(s) manifest themselves, a new direction, or… plugging along a bit longer as before. I’m kind of in the same state, not sure what I’m up to these days.”Life is what happens when your planning other things” Not sure who to attribute that to… John Lennon?
2047 _ The year I hope to live to, but few more would be welcomed.
Bryce has laundry facilities but it’s difficult for me to park by it and often used. Easier to do it in town. My 5th-wheel is plumbed and wired for machines but they are so small I’d be doing laundry every day. No thanks.
I assume #2047 is your number choice for Foto Friday Fun so look for it there on Friday.
Sunsets, giving and receiving with park visitors…. this is what I believe the best part of a Ranger experience would be. You are quite the Ranger. If you end the Ranger path after this season you can rest assured you’ve impacted a lot of people in wonderful, meaningful ways that they will likely carry with them for a long time. I am very sorry to hear of your friend’s cancer but am glad to hear he is going to make the most of his time & hope you get to cross paths too. Can’t wait to see where your 4 day adventure leads!! Enjoy!!
Rangers get paid in sunsets. And all those wonderful visitors have impacted me too.
Stunning views out there!
Thank you.
Sorry about your friend, cancer sucks definitely.
Your job sure is socially intense at times.
You have such a breadth and depth of knowledge, amazing.
Thank you. I joke about us being “Wiki Rangers”.
I thought of you this week while we were out camping. There was a ranger roving at the end of the trail on the Big Obsidian Flow at Newberry Crater. But he only had to do it three days a week for a few hours, a volunteer. I took his photo and will post it for you in my next blog. He reminded me of you somehow, great guy. Talking geology. I hope you get a great vacation. I remember my last year of working. Somehow it got harder and harder to do anything more than work and catch up laundry on the days off. I was so ready. I was 64 when I retired, and then only worked half time for a few years after that, and even just 1/4 time. It was plenty. I can feel in my bones how tired you might be. Looking forward to seeing where the next steps lead for you. Big hugs and travel safe.
I’ve considered volunteering for less hours but right now still feel like I should get paid for my skills if it’s 40 hours a week. Had a great mini vaca that I’ll post about soon. Thanks for the hugs.
A cliff hanger — !! Again, can’t wait. Enjoyed your work week (like the old joke says i love work — I could watch it all day)’ Kind of appalled that people’s attention span is so bad nowadays that 10 minutes of learning is too much. (But I can’t read long articles in magazines any more, so, yeah I get it. However I am pretty sure — in fact positive — that I could listen to you for way longer than that. I’d be the person in the parking lot keeping you from going home )))
Had a great time, hopefully new post going out today to share that. Can’t imagine how school teachers hold students’ attention. I’m sure we could chat anywhere for a while.
I’m glad you have these people who make your day! They make up slightly for those whose attention span is less than 10 minutes! I’m exhausted just reading about your work day. Keep healthy.
Most visitors are awesome. Days are busy but seems to be slowing down a little.