Our last trip to Moab wasn’t nearly as much fun as this one’s been, probably because I was hobbling around on crutches last year. It’s ever-so-much easier to hike on two feet.
After learning how to play Backgammon yesterday from a YouTube video called “Backgammon for Complete Beginners” (I kept waiting for him to say “Morons”), Mike and I opted for a hike rather than a canoe and paddleboat adventure down the river because with the gale force winds and resultant waves, I would’ve been blown all the way to the Gulf before you could say “lizard!” Lizards fairly litter Moab. And bunnies.
“Oh! A dog! He’s beautiful!”
We were on our way to Corona Arch with Ranger-the-Beautiful when five lovely young gals carrying empty cans of Corona swarmed us.
“We had to drink Corona at the arch,” they explained unnecessarily. They were on a road trip from the west coast to their homes in the Midwest, and after loving on our beautiful dog for a while, asked us for hiking advice in Colorado.
“What are your names?” I asked.
“Maggie,”
“Sarah,”
“Kelly,”
“Salina,”
“Caitlyn.”
We told them about Leadville and how they should hike around the Fish Hatchery and maybe even stay at the Leadville Hostel and Inn. I told them about my novel, and Maggie said she loved to read. If I’d had a copy with me, I would’ve given it to her. I told Salina I might have to use her name in my next novel.
“Take a selfie!” I suggested, “That way you can prove you’ve met the author!”
And so a selfie was taken, and the traveling Corona Girls went on their happy-to-have-seen-a-dog way.
It’s been a challenge letting go of the control I had with my own phone, but after 3 days now sans iPhone, I’m feeling a burden lifted. I don’t have to take a picture of everything . . .
The vibrant pinks and yellows of cactus blossoms against the verdant green.
The railroad tracks’ perfect curve between towering walls of chiseled red rock.
The endless acres of slickrock canyons looking like an alien planet.
The mysterious caves high up on the ancient walls.
The river tearing toward the ocean.
The beautiful dog.
The lizards.
The bunnies.
Safe travels, Corona Girls.