May 3, 2011 Grand County Library
09:45:14 MDT, Moab, UT
…continued hiker journal…
Spent a full- day driving the western part of Colorado and over into the Dewey Bridge- Colorado River section of Utah. Was exhausted and over- tired. Arrived around 17:30 pulled the camper- chair ’outta’ the car and a book I find enjoyable.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11254947 <― [POD-CAST website
click it listen]
May 3, 2011
Jeff Goodell: Big Coal's Dirty Secrets
June 21, 2007
Jeff Goodell's book Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America's Energy Future, now out in paperback, argues that the U.S. is more dependent than ever on coal. Goodell is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine; he's also the author of Our Story: 77 Hours That Tested Our Friendship and Our Faith, based on the account of nine miners trapped underground.
I understand that I was over- tired and after about 15 minutes in the windiness there at the river- put down the book and put up the tent. Two blue pads- one I hiked out on the So. Kaibab trail one February morning from an NPS Clivis Outhouse [some over taxed hiker left it…It is Brand Spanking New and have had it stored until now. I call it “shopping”!] And the other I found on the Kaibab National Forest some summer past; left by some people against a Forest Service Galvanized Steel Garbage can. Now those Forest Service people sure are slick- A steel can for all of our convenience; heavy and capable to weather the snow and cold of winter when not in use. Anyway, both pads with a polyester blanket and a thick wool one- forgot the sheet. Car camping at its best. Heard some geese honking at night and a solitary bird cheeping before dawn this morning.
Made coffee – put away the tent and stuff, jumped into the car and rode a little on down toward Moabalonia. Took some shots of Fischer Tower from Haul Road along the escarpment. Was 37° F. at around 06:00 MDT and by the way― each time I was up relieving my self on the shrubbery there by the River, the lights from Junction to the NE lit the horizon in a subtle but unmistakable glow which as well served to faintly blot out some stars on the horizon. The Big Dipper was nearly over head around 10 or so and as the night became day the stars faded. I love this about the dark night sky- it is something we miss out on, living in a great metropolitan area.
Living in Lakewood has served to disconnect me from the night dark sky. It- the night time glow of the city lights serve to disconnect us all. Those of you which have a naturalist’s bent know exactly what this means to your spirit. Right?
Free camping at its best- Bandit Camping as the Park Service personnel like to call it over at Grand Canyon. Although I filled in the BLM registry- envelop and placed the money inside- no one came by to get it so I saved… hold yon too yer horses now- ok?
Kay…
I drove remember? 1st thing in the morning? And stopped about 20 miles further to cook coffee and take a conditioning walk. This was at the huge “OFFICIAL” BLM camper’s spot complete with Group Camping and the like. I left the car in the no- leaving the car-spot, with hot Cowboy Coffee and powdered cream in the double- bagger inmate cup. Left shortly after 7 and on the walk I prayed I would “meet’ somebody. Well guess WHAT?
I did!
The “OFFICIAL” camp-town host, in other circles he might be referred to as the Condo- Commander of a local Home Owners Association. The Enforcer. Well I met the enforcer, the controller of the camping contingent. He was complete with threats of citations and a BLM uniform with cute little day- glow striped vest like you see the highway flaggers wearing out there. I believed he must hate giving tickets and did not seem too awful friendly. He mentioned I should either pay him the 12 bucks for leaving my car on the coffee- run there for an hour and a half, or pay the citation that “will be mailed to you.” I was his “part” that needed greasing. A lot like the “parts” at my job that come in every day a bit dry and “need the dose”.
I think he was all- trained- up to the Official Dictum and exhibited the finest in black and white thinking. He was directive without becoming too aggressive and actually was an interesting dialogue between us two. He was the 1st person I talked with and the usual pleasantries such as Howdy there or How-Dee or What’s Supp or even Good Morning were done away from his end, from the Get- Go- without a sense of loss and he delved right into the matter at hand. So guess what? I paid for camping THERE even though I parked in the no- parking- IT’S A Group Parking Space- space. Most expensive home-brewed Cowboy- Coffee I ever made! DAMNED delicious I must say!
Now, I’m here. And with face washed in the Library bathroom and Day –ll- jumping off to a very relaxing start I am looking ahead in the day to a nice time.
The J.O.B. -Methadone Drug Clinic-
The clinic has taken its toll on my spiritual being.
Along with the no- dark night sky <― [a mouth- full huh?] of living in close proximity to the 05:30 MDT start there- along with the lo-wage earner mentality and the no- go social life I understand that living this way only closets me further INSIDE my head.
Could be the closed-ness of the Counselors’ animus there along with the “parts’’…the Patients who require the dose of methadone daily. Ever work, managing a case-load of addicts, for whom the notion of cleaning up from the leash of addiction is a nebulous and nefarious concept at its best?
Guess who is done living and working the All- American Job with those in such resistance to the spiritual ness of it all? You guessed it correct pardner―> none other than lil’ ole MOI!
DAY –ll-
This is a good day, beginning it by writing and giving you some anecdotal info. You like the 411, I take it?
I miss most; the creativeness of writing. The job curtails this creativeness and I have found that through- out all my years, I have been at the point of creative thoughts and expression when I write like this. And, as well, walking without Ellie- Mae, keeps my brain from locking into a linear sense of thought habit. I do not have to be concerned with her behavior as you might be accustomed to in a city with traffic and people who may not care for a big- black dog.
Am looking ahead to the afternoon as I hope to be near a place that I can either put up the tent or sleep under the dark night sky sans tent and then walk off a few conditioning miles in the morning and take some images along the way.
Tonight
NWS Grand Junction, CO Point Forecast: 6 Miles S La Sal Jct Arpt UT 38.22°N 109.42°W (Elev. 5710 ft)
Last Update: 10:00 am MDT May 3, 2011Forecast Valid: 12pm MDT May 3, 2011-6pm MDT May 9, 2011
ThisAfternoonMostlySunnyHi 72 °F
TonightMostlyClearLo 40 °F
WednesdaySunnyHi 72 °F
WednesdayNightClearLo 37 °F
ThursdaySunnyHi 77 °F
ThursdayNightMostlyClearLo 42 °F
FridaySunnyHi 81 °F
FridayNightMostlyClearLo 43 °F
SaturdayBreezyHi 82 °F
Tomorrow Night
NWS Grand Junction, CO Point Forecast: 18 Miles SSE Canyonlands Np UT 38.14°N 109.78°W (Elev. 4995 ft)
Last Update: 10:00 am MDT May 3, 2011Forecast Valid: 12pm MDT May 3, 2011-6pm MDT May 9, 2011
ThisAfternoonMostlySunnyHi 74 °F
TonightMostlyClearLo 39 °F
WednesdaySunnyHi 74 °F
WednesdayNightClearLo 37 °F
ThursdaySunnyHi 77 °F
ThursdayNightMostlyClearLo 41 °F
FridaySunnyHi 82 °F
FridayNightMostlyClearLo 44 °F
SaturdayBreezyHi 82 °F
“Craig Childs helps us understand that it is neither the journey nor the destination that is most important but rather what it is you are willing to find. Those most open, like Childs, find their souls.”
Martin Naparsteck, Salt Lake Tribune
Gently I go forth…
Well, that’s all for now my friend.
— An on-going hiker's meditation and journal—
