MaMaLiRZ

How the Trips Are Being Funded

How am I doing it you might ask. Well, this trip and the next were paid for while I still had an income, and in the meantime I have found everything in my closet with a name on it and posted it for sale on Ebay, along with jewelry and watches that I never wear. Who knew Ebay was still a thing?

This goes along with another blog I wrote about stuff. There is so much of it in every home no matter how big or small the house, rich or poor: once treasures for you, can soon be a new treasure for someone else. Why not monetize it? I have to take it easy though because my youngest asked sarcastically if he was next to be sold on Ebay. LMAO!

But again I digress through the wonderings of my mind. I suppose Wander Through Wonder (and Lori’s mind) should be the name on my merchandise, lol, not just Wander Through Wonder. I crack myself up.

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon, number 6 in the bag. Apart from the four hour drive up from Las Vegas, the parks on this trip DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I had a scheduling SNAFU or two , but hey, most of this is on the fly and always has an “*” subject to change.

We woke Thursday morning around 8 am (11 am Tampa time!) and started off to check out the park and pick up Junior Ranger booklets. Our working rhythm that has proven successful for us, continued. Wake up, grab something for breakfast, go to the park. Stop at the Entry sign for a picture and follow that up with a chat with the Rangers at the visitors center.

With the government shutdown in full swing, I wasn’t sure that there would be anyone working to answer questions. Boy do they get the same questions over and over again and yet they stand so patiently, over and over! Hat’s off.

But to my surprise, the inside of the visitors center was buzzing like a bee hive with activity. The gift shop was open, the Rangers and volunteers were behind the desk and the pamphlets on the park’s trails remained for the scribbles by the Park Rangers for “Go Here, Don’t Go There”.

The Annoying Games

We waited, well I should say, I waited while the boys played Tag and other annoying games in the mist of roaming visitors. Perhaps I’m a bad mother to the visitors around me, especially when I am chosen to be the “Base” of the game, but hey, its their park too and they should be able to blow off some steam in non-destructive ways.

Don’t get me wrong, they know the limit and to stay out of people’s way, and when they forget, or as the frustrations become evident on the faces of the passersby, I rein them in. Sometimes I am happy to have them anywhere BUT hanging on my arms or wrapping me around the waist. Say what you want but a mother’s autonomy although mostly forgotten, needs to be protected every now and then. These same things that can tread on my last nerve are also the things I know I will miss once they are grown and gone on their own escapades. The quest for 63 in 365 (ish), far off in the rearview mirror.

Soon it was our turn to speak to the Rangers. I thanked them for being there and present regardless of the shutdown and furlough. They seemed somewhat surprised by our appreciation, similar to my experience of talking to people about the furlough, most people don’t understand the consequences of the furloughed individuals, let alone those that are deemed essential and must continue to show up to work without a pay check. How long can you pay for gas running back and forth, let alone rent, loans, etc.?

Doesn’t matter how much you love your job, I don’t know of one person that would go to work if they were not being paid. But in the society of “Its All About Me”, most don’t care, even if they understand. Eh, what’s a girl to do. Educate, then move on.

Junior Ranger Badge

Back to Bryce Canyon’s visitor center, buzzing like the hive, the boys asked for their Junior Ranger books and got to work. The primary difference between regular and shutdown Rangers are the lack of what they call “Ranger Talks”, so it made the book slightly more difficult to complete, but adjustments were made and they finished during our scenic drive. They swore their oath to protect the park and received their badge.

Missing Items

*This park the same as many others wasn’t without losing items. Somehow from the car to a picture we took on a fallen tree trunk, Benjamin managed to lose his completed Ranger book, lol. We backtracked, asked folks if they had seen it, but like the wind, it disappeared. He had to get another one and start all over. I can’t make this stuff up.

Riding on Horses and Mules into the Canyon

Next up was horseback riding. I was about to change Berin’s birthdate by 6 months, in order to take the 3 hour ride into the canyon but they were sold out so we booked the 1.5 hour trek instead, meaning he could remain nine years old instead of ten. Our butts would later thank us!

The sky started to grey and the cowboys recommended we consider whether we wanted to ride in the rain or cancel the trip. It was made clear that once the ride started the only option was to finish the ride on course and time. I took heed and ran to the car for my raincoat. Five minutes into the ride, the sky sprinkled on us. It was light and offered the land the speckling of water that enhanced the colors making it all the more special for all of us on the ride.

As we descended into the canyon leaning back on our horses in an effort to make it slightly easier on the tired beast, unannounced to us, we caused an automatic response from the horses and mules. A symphony of farting animals began. The stench floating into our nostrils. As the hoodoos, the unique and picturesque landscape, were popping up all around us, the animals answered in perfectly orchestrated fart responses, a short trumpet blast followed by a trombone slide. The sounds quickly followed by laughter echoed off the canyon walls. The eternal joke of a good fart whether from a human or an animal tickled the bellies of young and old alike.

The horses brought us safely into the canyon and continued on the trail across the canyon floor. As we began our ascension the sky opened up into a constant rain, Berin’s humor ceased. The rain affected me differently. I couldn’t help the inner smile from breeching my lips. This is nature. And its beautiful.

The ride concluded after we summited the canyon. The cowboys hurriedly gathered the animals to get them to the barn before the thunder and lightening erupted, their efficiency obvious.

The boys quickly changed their wet clothes in the car while I went to a nearby restroom, returning to the car almost was wet as I was after the ride, and we started our two hour drive to Capital Reef.