Utah to Colorado

I had thought that today (Sunday) would not bring any adventures as we began our trip from Utah to Colorado. The only mildy interesting thing was our 'car wash' in the middle of the farmlands - stopping our car amid a crop-watering sprinkler system to clean us up. And so to was a sign advertising "Dried Worms" for $1.50. "mmm, I said - these folk in Utah eat strange things - must be a delicacy of some sort, just like biltong!" ... only to be told that the worms were for bait. I apologize to all those fishermen out there. And onto Colorado we travelled, arriving in Grand Junction in searing heat and our next climb.

Contribution by Jeff.....(for which I humbly thank him)

We left Utah on Sunday, although each day but the Sabbath, seems the same for us. Why not? We hike, we climb, we undertake business, we see wonderful sights, we meet mountain people, sometimes even wild animals; we visit towns, galleries and supermarkets and then collapse into bed. As you know by now, we sometimes ponder, we sometimes think and occasionally, we have an intelligent thought. The problem is we often forget our occasional wisdom. We don’t worry too much about that because we know it makes no difference in a world that is upside-down in its value system. We have a lot to say about that but my editor demands that we stay apolitical. So instead, we discuss other things although every now and again, I slip something past her. It’s not that easy because she watches me closely these days.

I am very proud of my editor –also my friend, confidante, lover and wife, inter alia. Today she surpassed my expectations and made me think about myself. It’s probably a good idea instead of worrying a about the world’s issues. We went hiking just outside Grand Junction in Colorado—Garfield Mountain. We think it rates as one of the most strenuous climbs we have undertaken. It is far from pretty but then nor are we. >From the beginning, it is one steep challenge. In the first half-mile or so, we gained most of the 2,000 feet elevation change. It was also slippery as it is not a maintained trail.

Now why I am I so proud. I realized that Jenni is supposedly less muscular than me, weighs less, is not as strong as I am and yet she does whatever I do. I proudly concede then that she is in fact superior in all departments as she is able to match me without all the male physical attributes of strength. For the record, I don’t have that many either but I think the point stands.

The climb today was really tough. We sweated, we battled the gnats, the slopes and mostly, ourselves. At the lowest moment which was close to the highest point, we realized why we were there and it all made sense. Of course, in a convoluted sort of way. Now we sit after dinner and feel the satisfaction of achieving something today—the battle within. We like that.

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