Temperatures on the rise at Bryce Canyon last week with highs ranging from low 70s to low 90s and intense UV rays, easily a 40° spread during the day.  Summer has arrived a little early in the Southwest.  Still chilly-for me-in the mornings then getting hot in the afternoons.

Nice having two days off in my airconditioned home and no place to go.  Managed to get the last Foto Friday Fun post loaded in the morning when I sometimes have a signal.  Then continued musing about my future.  What do I want to be when I retire?  I started a document, because that’s what I do, I write.  Went to save the file and discovered a long forgotten folder called “Self” that included my “Personal Timeline” from 1954-84.  It’s brief, not book length like I write now.  I brought it almost up to date.  And I turned purple.

Thinking out loud here:
With January being the busy snowbird month near Quartzsite, I wonder if USFWS (Fish & Wildlife Service) would let me volunteer leading Palm Canyon hikes maybe once or twice a week in exchange for a month, or more, of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge camping instead of their regulated 14 days.
September 2022 marks my 50th high school reunion in Illinois.  That might round out a summer road trip eastward for something different.

Back to work on a busy Saturday starting with a morning hour at the information tables before the most crowded time from 11am-3pm with temperatures on the rise.  I presented the 11am Hoodoo geology talk to a small crowd and after lunch roved at Sunrise Point overlook along the rim for two hours under the mid-day sun at 84°F with no shade.  Mistake even drinking lots of water.  Then ended the day with two more hours of information tables.

Crashed early and slept in with a late starting work day.  After two hours at the information tables, I rode the shuttle to Inspiration Point and took an hour to walk the .7 miles along the rim with some shade to Sunset Point then a little beyond to the Lodge where I picked up the shuttle back to the visitor center and went to dinner.  After closing the information tables down at 8pm I presented the 9pm outside evening program with PowerPoint about wildlife at Bryce Canyon.

The next day while roving Yovimpa Point two young women from the night before thanked me as they had identified, avoided, and pointed out to others, a Great Basin rattlesnake on the Peekaboo trail because of my presentation.  Nice to be of service.  And glad it wasn’t me.

I spent three windy hours with temperatures on the rise at Yovimpa Point that day presenting mini-talks about Grand Staircase geology and fire ecology plus answering other questions.

Finally the wind chased me to Rainbow Point for a couple hours followed by another 1 1/2 hours at Natural Bridge overlook finishing up at 7pm.

Had almost the same schedule the following day with an earlier start and finish.  After opening the visitor center I attended a two-hour session of “all employee training” filled with updates of projects and news from all divisions.  I’m sure visitors will be happy the new bathroom is open on Peekaboo trail.  When I asked why we don’t have any internet at the RV living area admin acted like they didn’t know.  Hahahaha!  Heard a new phrase about the age diversity of employees referred to as “boomers to zoomers” and didn’t get it until later when a young visitor said it referred to the school age kids zooming classes from home.

I enjoyed another amazing four-hour afternoon at Yovimpa Point with more mini-programs and visitor contacts.  It’s my happy place.  Yet the view was diminished because of smoke from surrounding fires.

Best of the day was watching a Peregrine Falcon for about 40 minutes as it soared, swooped, stooped, and almost gave one visitor a new hair part.  First time this season seeing the Falcon and was surprised during the middle of a 90° day.  Not a great shot but enough to document the sighting.

Sadly all that time under the intense UV rays and temperatures on the rise, even with a large-brimmed hat and liberal amounts of lip balm, caused sunburned lips to the point of blisters and swelling, and a sick leave day home to recover.  Thank goodness I had the next three days off even if I did have to go to town for supplies.  And in Kanab, 1 1/2 hours away where the temperatures on the rise over 100°.

“One day you’ll tell your story of how you’ve overcome what you’re going through now, and it will become part of someone else’s survival guide.”
Attributed to Kim Garst, seen on Facebook