Beer, Sardines and a Pot Pie.

Morgan's dinner.

Out of Egypt

Last night we camped at the Egypt trailhead in anticipation of hiking to Neon Canyon and the Golden Cathedral. In the morning, however, we decided that after yesterday's long hike we just didn't know if we were up to another long hike today, especially one that started and ended with a huge hill. So, we decided to part ways with Roger and head for the Dry Fork of Coyote Gulch trailhead, which has the Spooky and Peekaboo Canyon hikes. The road out to the Egypt trailhead was very scenic, so I took several shots of the road on our way out. Here is one such photo that gives you a good idea of the type of scenery you drive through to get to these canyon hikes.

My New Ride

Made it back home yesterday afternoon. Went to the bike shop to see my new bike. At the shop, they were planning to get everything on the bike for this morning. Discussed what "extras" I wanted (computer, pedals, mirror, etc.)
This afternoon, I was time to check everything out. Did some adjustments, paid for the bike, and headed out for my ride.
The mirror needs some adjustment. Did not see how to change the mount to see better. When back, Zack figured how to re-position the mirror.
Several times the saddle moved on me. Stopped to re-adjust and tighten the mount. Back at the shop Zack put a torque wrench on the mount bolts. Hope that does the trick.
The first thing I noticed, it take a lot less effort to pedal for the same speed. What I called the speed to effort ration. Now, over the 20 miles ride I averaged about 11.4 mph, no great pace. But, I did a lot of coasting, checking out the bike handling, slow pedaling because of saddle issue, etc. My heart rate never even hit 100 bpm.
It just felt that it was much easier to ride - 12-14 mph into the wind, with the wind 16-18 mph. Another thing I noticed was the road bike is more "skittish" than my hybrid. All-in-all, I was pleased with the performance of the bike.
BTW - the new bike is a Gary Fischer, Rail Super T. Pretty bike, eh?

Thankful For The "Bad", Too

I've finished An Alter in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor. While I don't agree with many things she believes, it still was a mindful book about seeing God in everything and everywhere.
Here, in this excerpt, she talks about praying that bad things won't happen to her and giving thanks for the semi-bad things. "While I pray daily to be delivered from the most awful things that can happen to human beings-land mines, wasting illness, killing poverty, civil wars-I give thanks for even the semi-terrible things that have happened to me, since they have shown me what is really real. They have made me tell the truth. They have quashed all my illusions of control, leaving me with no alternative but to receive my life as an unmitigated gift."
Over the weekend we traveled to visit my husband's mother. While there, I talked a lot with my sister-in-law who is struggling with breast cancer. I noticed a difference in her that wasn't there BC (before cancer). She is much more real now and more intense. I've always liked her but really like her now. She even said that this horrible experience has made the unimportant fall away. And it showed in our conversation. We didn't waste time on fluff but immediately talked about what was on our hearts. I liked that.

No, you can't come inside

You wouldn't like it in here.

Comfort food

It's not pretty, as restaurants go. It's not gourmet dining. But at 3.30 on a dreary December afternoon, when you've missed lunch and have another couple of hours to put in at the office, it calls to you. Just time to point and shoot from across the busy road, too hungry to pay attention to photo composition, before hurrying inside to warmth and the aroma of frying. A few minutes later, back out into the cold with the precious parcel of chips (fries) wrapped in brown paper (newspaper sadly being outlawed now by European decree).
A few important cultural notes. The lady in grey standing at the door is taking a good pull on her cigarette before entering the restaurant, smoking being forbidden inside public places in Scotland. The neon signs proclaim that as well as fish and chips, you can have an all-day breakfast, or pizza. The pizza comes deep-fried if you want. However, I chose the healthy option...just chips, with lashings of salt and vinegar. The vinegar is an important anthropological marker. It identifies me as coming from the north of Scotland. South of a line bisecting the country from roughly Perth to Dundee, the default seasoning is 'salt'n sauce' - the sauce being a gloopy brown concoction. We northerners are purists, choosing the astringent tang of vinegar every time. Other unhealthy options I could have gone for include the battered cheeseburger - as it says, a cheeseburger dipped in batter and deep-fried - or a white pudding supper. A white pudding is a savoury sausage made from oatmeal, suet, onions and spices, and the 'supper' bit means that it comes with chips.
Comfort food indeed. But not too often...

After the Sun Came Back

A roof and a tree and some sky? Not very exciting is it? But if I'd taken a before photo, when the branches still lounged on the roof, and no sky showed through the solid wall of greenery, you'd see a big difference. The rain stopped a week ago and the sun came out, so when we pruned back the pecan trees from the house and shed roofs, it was normal weather for August 5th - humid & 95º. The garden has responded to the sunshine. I walked around with the camera after we finished to see what was new- like these buds on the yellow Plumeria, above, and the red Plumeria, below.
Both Plumeria were in full bloom last year by July 26 . I think the same cooler, rainier weather that extended the season for plants like roses, has delayed the bloom for heat and sun lovers. My garden phlox just started to form buds this week, while they're almost done in the midwest. Another plant is making its debut here - the 'Incense' passionvine has leaves and buds for the first time in several years. The tendrils grab onto anything - even a brick wall.
The Gulf Frittilary caterpillars ate every passionflower leaf, tendril and bud in previous summers - they'll probably still show up, but the vine has finally had a chance to get established - maybe larvae, food plant and gardener can all be happy in future.
The 'Celeste' fig has tripled in size from last summer, and has a few figs forming in the junctures along the branches.
I ate two figs from this tree last month - those fruits were probably formed last autumn and somehow survived the icestorm. This set of figs is forming on new wood.
Here's a plant that's looked like a big weed for a few summers - a Brugmansia, labeled as yellow. It's finally forming buds! While I'm still hoping it will turn out to be yellow, by now I'll be thrilled with any color from this Angel's Trumpet.
Hidden behind the still-flowering white hibiscus I found the purple dahlia flowers were open. The only way I could get a photo was by threading through the weary tomato patch.
This dahlia deserves a better place and should be moved in fall.
I bought a chili pequin plant last year, which did nothing all summer - didn't grow or make peppers. Although it's usually an annual, it survived the winter ice to grow and make some fiery hot fruit. I like the way it looks with Silver pony foot and decomposed granite.
The second bulb of the oft-discussed probably 'Fred Howard' amarcrinum cross is blooming again in the shady border, and a third bulb, planted in the big pot with the passalong corkscrew willow, decided to bloom for the first time this week. They look identical to me. The plant in the border has made a flower stalk twice as long as the one last year, giving it a gawky look.
In the above photo you can't even see the stalk on the amarcrinum in the container - all you can see is one happy umbrella papyrus in a year with enough water.
Chuck thinks we should have long shots as well as closeups, so this is what the back garden looks like when one is seated at the patio table, looking past the umbrella shaft, over the herb bed to the NE. The gate is around the corner to the left. The Brugmansia is at left under the overhang. The lighter green blob over the chair back is the 'Little Gem' Magnolia.
Remember when I bought those citronella incense cones last week? They work pretty well - letting us once again sit at the table in the evening.

Salt Cures Everything

"THE CURE FOR ANYTHING IS SALT WATER~ TEARS, SWEAT, OR THE SEA."

Isak Dinesen
Lucky for you I don't have a photo of sweat!

The Tree-Root Waterfall

The Tree-Root Cascade, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Here's a pretty unique waterfall.
This cascade is formed by the roots of a bigleaf maple growing through the creek bed. The water flows over the roots in a curtain and plunges into a somewhat deep pool.
This waterfall, like many others in the area, only flows during the rainy season. It's completely bone dry right now.

Moab to Torrey

Breakfast at the Moab Diner. Wanted pancakes and sausage. The diner only has the breakfast which includes eggs. I said I did not want the eggs. I was asked what kind of pancakes - opted to try the buckwheat cakes. While easting, there was a strange tast in some parts of the pancakes. A member of the staff said it was bananas - the special of buckwheat banana cakes. That's not what I ordered. He offered a new pancake(s). No, I had enough. On the bill, I paid the full price - nothing fpr no eggs or screwing up my order.

Loaded the last things in the car and racked the bikes. Waited for the motel office opening. Had to discuss rate - availability check said $69 for senior but was being changed full rate of $79. Got that settled (got the discounted rate - thanks because had the e-mails,

Things are not started very well today. Good to be on the road. Boring drive up to I-70, and down Utah 24. Took the time to make a side trip to check out Goblin Valley State Park. This park is out in the middle of nowhere! Interesting rock formations (the "goblins).

When Rt 24 turned West at Hanksville, the scenery got better. Stopped in at the Capitol Reef Visitor Center. the Ranger described the scenic road in the park. I think the visitor center and scenic drive were new since I was there some 15+ years ago.

The drive was worth it. The main scenic drive is paved. There are 2 side roads (gravel) that take you down a canyon. Great scenery!. Today's photo was taken on the Scenic Drive.

Checked into the motel - Rim Rock Inn. It was a couple miles to the town of Torrey so headed into town. Stopped at the town Visitors Information office. talked a bit with the gal un the office. She suggested the Red Cliff for food. The prices in the menu at the place i was staying was just a bit too expensice - $15 for a 1/2 pounder burger.

Solitude

"When from our better selves we have too long
Been parted by the hurrying world, and droop,
Sick of its business, of its pleasures tired,
How gracious how benign, is Solitude."
William Wordsworth