Its Nice in Bryce, as this Land is Grand

So for the record, we have seen a lot of rock.  It's like the different types of prepared shrimp dishes described by Bubba in Forrest Gump I hear that mono-tone voice ringing through my head.

• Layered Rock
• Armored Rock
• Capped Rock (Stone could even be used)
• Bed Rock
• Monolith Rock
• Sandstone Rock
• Red Rock
• Granite Rock
• Basement Rock
• Eroded Rock
• Calcified Rock
• Pink Rock
• Old Rock and New Rock...

Yep, again our earth.  So our road trip has brought us to smiley park rangers in drab green and brown, in little gate houses handing us maps and guides as formula 1 style dip in and out of turnoff overlooks, hiking loops. So from turnoff to turnoff and gaze at these wonders - oh right ROCK, totally beautiful, a special place with Cindy and Char.

Bryce Canyon

So, pink, white and oranges flare out.  A vast cavern of human like columns.  We are again awe struck by how small we feel, insignificant as we look for miles across these divides.  I breathe, laugh with my traveling com-padres, enjoying these places with many others here visiting as well.

We hear splashes of foreign languages, accents, everyone has a common interests and shares the attraction to the sights.  We hike the Bristlecone Loop Trail, and have a realization; it's not only the rock, but, the plants trees and vegetation that catches my eye as well.

 
There are quotes from a familiar east coast writer, Henry David Thoreau, along these lines:

"How vast and profound is the influence of the subtle powers of Heaven and of Earth!"

Although he never visited Bryce, it touches on this commonality, this unspoken understanding of how one, anyone, experiences these places as an individual.  So, even surrounded by buses, people and living with others as a global populous, these places allow us to feel, express and understand our own solitude. This nature brings that out.


And then there is inspiration here. The fun.  I just had to cause that's what came over me, a #radandy.

Oh Grand Canyon

I think the pictures say it here.  My mere observations.

• It is huge. I mean HUGE!
• I hadn't realized geologic scale or time frames.
• I was surprised by operations and infrastructure logistics (Nice work NPS and  others)
• The history is the backstory. I loved seeing the 'old days' and ways of how things unfolded/developed at this place Mary Colter = badass  
• I can go on and on.... but again pictures. 

Almost a week into travel, temperatures are high, tempers are easy.  Humor, fun, understanding and flexibility rule Westward Mosedales' travel culture.  We have seen many things and experienced great new people.  So the journey is not about sites but a stack of experiences that include sites but other subtle moments and interactions as well.  More of a look into the next segments world soon, RT 66, ghost towns, water rights and Joshua Tree NP.  Read on, I'll keep writing between looking, driving, connectivity up-links etc. etc..

#radandy over and out

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