As I ran errands around town Monday–namely I got my hair cut and styled and I picked up my middle child’s eyeglasses from the optometrist–I fancied about going on another vacation. Honestly, I think all this gosh-forsaken heat is getting the best of me and making me want to actually move back to Wyoming. Okay, maybe not Wyoming, but at least a nice, cool vacation spot such as the Colorado Rockies or the Northwest coast.
Just put a fork in me already. I am done.
All my daydreaming got me thinking about our vacation out west earlier this summer. It got me thinking of that Beaver Creek campground in Arizona where our tent got sprayed by a skunk in the middle of the night. Then how we actually got up early the next morning and hauled our butts back south to Montezuma’s Castle just as they opened so we could see the cliff dwellings and the kids could chase lizards and annoy folks.
The cliff dwellings were fascinating!
We read each of the educational plaques that lines the pathway and we learned about the Sinagua Culture as it is known. I thanked God I have a Nutrimill and don’t have to use this to grind my wheat or corn.
Wait a minute! Maybe I need to go back and see if they’ll loan me one, because it seems my kids tried to grind a sheetrock screw a week ago in my Nutrimill and broke the darned thing. You should have seen me screaming and the sparks flying!
After we left Montezuma’s Castle, we then drove north through Flagstaff (where we discovered our brakes were starting to grind) and then to Lees Ferry where we stopped and took lots of photographs.
Just so you know.
The boys…all four of them. It is a good thing I am not in this photograph, because I was all sweaty and greasy and stuff and that would have embarrassed you and me both. Just thank me later.
The last leg of our trip through northern Arizona took us through a National Forest where we stopped and rested and hiked through the forest with the kids. The cool air we felt was a welcome change from the heat of the last several days. I felt so appreciative for this spot that I even left the permanent port-o-potty with a roll of toilet paper–since they were out and all. Y’all can thank me later on that one too.
Finally, after driving what seemed like forever, we made it to Utah as we passed through the border town of Kanab. I wanted to go through Colorado City and Hildale and see how a Fundie settlement looks, but my husband said I wasn’t allowed to go anyplace where my big mouth might cause me to get put into jail or worse shot. Oh well, it was probably better that way.
As we passed Kanab, we stopped at the roadside attraction, Moqui Cave. The cave itself was interesting, a former hideout and saloon turned modern artifact museum, but the best part for me were the souvenirs available to purchase. I know I am Mormon and I am not supposed to find it funny, but I can’t help cracking up when I go to Utah and see copies of the Book of Mormon for sale as souvenirs. I really wonder if non-LDS tourists actually purchase them.
It must have been bad luck to laugh though as that night we were destined to sleep on a mystery mountain in the freezing wind and cold rain somewhere north of Panguitch. What can I say? I grew up in Texas and Utah is a whole ‘nother culture to me. Y’all would probably think the same thing about Texas.
Please forgive me. I think the heat’s got to me now.
