Working September while making a winter plan

Half the month gone already working September at Bryce Canyon and time is flying along while getting last minute season things done and making a winter plan.

After ten days off I struggled a bit finishing up August’s work schedule.  That started with a Sunday working two two-hour shifts at the information desk, closing the visitor center, and ended with presenting the 9pm evening program.  My program is about the wildlife at Bryce Canyon and includes audio/sound effects of rodents, birds, and large mammals ending with Cougar and Black Bear.  I often jest about the nearby North Campground guests wondering what is wandering around.

The next day I presented the 11am Hoodoo geology talk which morphed into geology 101 and staircase geology for an additional hour.  Then I roved another hour at Sunset Point before ending the day with a 2 1/2 hour shift at the information desk.

Tuesday, my Friday, after opening the visitor center I covered the information desk a couple hours.  A man came to the desk and told me about a rumored Cougar sighting in North Campground over the weekend.  I assured him this was a false report.  So, I present one more of those wildlife programs before the season ends, wonder if I should turn the volume up or down.  Made for a good chuckle as I drove in a light rain to my happy place for the afternoon at the end of the scenic road, Rainbow and Yovimpa Points.  The sky stayed dark all afternoon and I half expected to get chased out early but instead didn’t leave until 5:15.

It rained all night and into Wednesday afternoon when I drove to Tropic to drop off my truck for new rear shocks and front brake pads.  April followed me and brought me back the next morning.

Smoky haze hung over Cedar City

From Tropic I drove the almost two hours to Cedar City for groceries.  Didn’t want to put that off another day which would have been the crowded Friday beginning Labor Day weekend.  Sure glad it’s a pretty drive and I don’t do it weekly but makes for a long day.  Also treated myself to lunch at the Asian Bistro and dinner at Big Fish in Panguitch on the return home.

Nice that I still had another day off and managed to climb on the RV roof to check for damage as there’s a water leak in the shower after the hard rains.  All the plastic vents are old, sun baked and need to be replaced.  Looks like some dead branches fell on the shower skylight and it’s cracked a little.  Hoping a quick fix of silicone will solve the problem until I can replace the covers.  So many things that need to be fixed. Good thing I worked this summer and saved some money.

Trail crew

I knew it would be crazy busy at work Saturday of Labor Day weekend and thank goodness the Wall Street side of Navajo Loop trail had been repaired enough to reopen.  The couple hours at the information desk flew by and I went to the rim to present the 2pm Hoodoo Geology talk.  Then I roved a couple hours and returned to the desk after lunch.  It threatened to rain all afternoon but only a few drops fell.

Sunday I opened the visitor center at 8am to a line of people who mostly wanted to use the bathroom.  Within the next hour a long line also formed to ask us Rangers the typical question, “I just got here what should I do?”  I sure wish people knew how to read a map or do a little pre-planning.  Thank goodness I was only there a couple hours that went by lightning fast.  Then off to Yovimpa Point for the afternoon, if I could find a place to park.  I parked out of the way yet illegally hoping to move but before I could finish eating lunch while sitting in the truck was hemmed in front and back.  Spent from noon to 4:30 at Yovimpa and the new supervisor Mike came out to watch and stayed for several hours. I lost track of how many times I did short talks about geology and fire ecology. I just pulled them in when folks came to the point.  One couple asked at the desk if I was going to Yovimpa because their son had visited last week and told them to see me specifically. That sure felt good. My ego loves those kinds of strokes. I’ll miss that. Had to ask two kids from separate families not to throw rocks over the fence and down on a possible trail while parents stood and said nothing. Them, I won’t miss. But out of at least 93 contacts today most were amazing.  I almost ran out of water and finally got back to the visitor center about 30 minutes after my day should have been over.

3” Horned lizard

Sure was glad Monday slowed down as people returned home to their lives after the last hurray holiday weekend in America.  I opened by myself with intentional slowness and answered a lot less questions than the morning before.  Then it was back out to Yovimpa Point again with a hotdog along the way at the Dawg House food wagon at Farview Overlook.  They hadn’t been there in a while due to family medical issues but plan to stay several days a week into early October.  That means I might get my punch card filled to earn a free hotdog.

No problem parking at Rainbow Point.  Spent about three hours at Yovimpa with almost constant mini talks yet not quite so enthusiastic as the day before. Lips were sunburn and throat a little sore from so much talking.  By 3:30 I felt baked so went back to Farview for an ice cream cone, and it was free. Stood at the rim eating and answering questions. I always forget what a nice viewpoint that is.

After work a neighbor came over and loaded the 5th-wheel hitch back into the bed of the truck.  I am another step closer to getting ready to roll.

Tuesday morning started off at a cool 46°F but by the time I got to the rim for the 11am Hoodoo geology talk it had warmed up significantly and even though the high was only 84°F it felt scorching.  Had a large crowd at the talk then only hung out afterwards for 1 1/2 hours roving at Sunset Point and racked up over 100 contacts. After lunch, finished the day with several hours getting sun-baked at the desk.

My first of four days off became taking care of business while staying home.  That includes ordering a few things to be delivered at Bryce before I’m gone.  Figured to put the new sewer gate on but it’s huge and will hang down rather close to the ground so I’m concerned about driving with it on. Did order just a cap with water hose attachment.  But if I use water or toilet while on the road I’ll have sewage in the tanks.  Kitchen gray-water tank doesn’t open all the way and bathroom gray and black waters won’t close.  I don’t want to take a shit bath putting the hose on at my next place.

My space is just off the aerial photo on right center

Winter plan coming together after several changes of ideas.  I truly thought I’d make the 25th my last day working September, two weeks before my official NPS EOD (National Park Service end of duty).  However, then I’d have to resign and not be eligible for unemployment.  So the current plan is moving the 5th-wheel from September 23-24 (one night in Cameron, Arizona) on days off work to it’s new home-base on a 300 acre ranch in Skull Valley located between Prescott and Yarnell, Arizona.  I’ll have almost a week of combination sick leave and annual leave (vacation pay) to settle in there then drive 361 miles nonstop with Sierra cat in a carrier to St George, Utah to reload the repaired camper on the truck and finish off my season working October 4, 5, and 6 followed by days off until EOD the 9th.  Of course I can leave before the 9th and hope the weather is conducive to exploring some of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  Feels real good to have a winter plan and leave fall open to travel.

But an even better “feel good” happened Wednesday night at the going away party for our supervisor who is moving on to Canyonlands National Park.  Although only at Bryce for about a year she was amazing and will be sorely missed.  Yet totally unexpected when staff gave me a small wooden arrowhead “In recognition of twenty-nine seasons of federal service.” People signed the back.  I cried like a baby. I’ve wanted one forever and it took special people to make that dream come true.  The arrowhead has traditionally been given to permanent employees when they leave their first permanent park.  Not something seasonals traditionally receive.  An amazing start to retiring as a Park Ranger.  But I’ll continue working September for a little while longer and continue dreaming of winter plans to the Sonoran Desert.