One of the reasons we’re back in Bryce is that before our last visit, our editor hurt her ankle.
That will teach her to hike in a river. A river? Is there not sufficient dry land? What’s with the lass?
The worst part is that she drags us with her. Our editor had to sit still for a few days while her husband,
against his fervent wishes and desires, hiked on his own. We have learned just how far to push the protest.
This time, it’s Jenni’s opportunity to view Bryce from a different perspective, not from the rim. We’ll go
with her if we have nothing better to do.
Bryce is all about ‘hoodoos’. On our last visit, we wrote about these strange but captivating
characters. In fact, we went against current thinking and introduced an alternate theory of their
formation. Sure we’re disappointed that no journals had the ‘guts’ to publish our theory. We will
not repeat it here; instead we included a link at the end of this missive for those interested.
Don’t be shy, Mom, you go right ahead.
After the swamp hike, which consists of a mere trickle of water, we sat on the patio and enjoyed the sunset while drinking a nameless drink, tea for the editor. Next to us was a couple of fairly loud experts on all matters, particularly Bryce. Their conversation went something like this, not that we were eavesdropping.
Paiute Indian: Where do they get such a name? Hoo doo this?
Texan: Who do what?
Paiute Indian: Hoo doo this, not hoo doo what.
Texan: Y’all not making much sense. Okay, okay. Who do this? Do what?
Paiute Indian: Who do hoodoo?
Texan: Oh. Now I get it. You want to know who makes hoodoo.
Paiute Indian: How!
Texan: I thought you wanted to know hoo, I mean who, not how.
Paiute Indian: Forgive me. I use the traditional Indian greeting like ’Hello, you awake out there?’
We say ‘How!’ instead.
Texan: I get it. We say ‘Ho down’ in Texas.
Paiute Indian: I thought that’s a dance. We talking hoodoos, not dancing. By the way, we’ve not met
yet. Me Tontoo. Hoo yoo?
Texan: Chuckles as he realizes a joke might be on him. ‘Hoo doo yoo doo. I’m Tex’.
Tontoo: I repeat: Who do hoodoos?
Tex: The French were the first people to make hoodoos. In fact, I was reading a blog the other day.
Apparently, the two original designers of the hoodoos are Ut and Ah, the famous de Gaul twins.
Tontoo: Really. Hoo doo you say writes the blog?
Tex: I do not say. I only heard about the editor. Apparently she’s too doo-lightful.
Tontoo: Hoo doo you know that?
Tex: Check out this link when you get on your computer tonight.
http://lazarowhike.blogspot.com/2011/08/507-peek-boo-loop-and-queens-garden.html
At that stage, we left the table, abandoning half a glass of Diet Coke. However, it was worth it—worth
getting away from those doo doos…um dodos.
Today’s Fairytale journey was wonderful as well as strenuous. It took us 8.5 miles to complete with a
cumulative elevation of approximately 1,600 feet. The latter is an estimate because of the many ups-and-downs.
It truly looks like a fantasy land.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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