Capitol Reef Reflections

       

View from Thousand Lakes RV Park in the valley outside of Capitol Reef

Thursday, July 7, 2016, this is our second full day at the Thousand Lakes RV Park in Torrey, Utah only a few miles from Capitol Reef National Park. Yesterday, we left Rose in the care of the daughter of Park owner/employee? and spent the day exploring Capitol Reef. We heard a ranger talk at 10:00 on the geology of the park. It is a unique park for geology as it features the Waterpocket Fold which is a 100 mile wrinkle in the earth’s crust caused by the shifting two plates. One of the plates pushed under the other folding, bending and pushing upward on what were flat deposits from many ancient geological times. The result, after water erosion, is a multicolored amazing landscape.

Morning Light on the Cliffs Near our Camp

Layers Representing Dunes, Ocean Bottoms and Swamps. This Formation is called the Castle. 

The Fremont peoples lived here for centuries cultivating and hunting followed by the Mormons who settled Fruta along the Fremont River in a slender river bottom that has soil that would support the fruit trees and vegetables they grew. They were such an isolated community that electricity did not get to them until after World War II. Both cultures are represented in the Park. We listened to a ranger talk on the Fremont people near the petroglyph cliffs. Since the huge sandstone cliffs sheet off over time, some of the petroglyphs have been lost to us but some have survived for us to appreciate.  Torrey, about 11 miles from the Park Visitor Center, is a much wider valley with cultivation of alfalfa and a gardens. I took so many pictures of this landscape but the sheer massive cliffs that rise up above are very difficult to capture. In Torrey, it was about 80 degrees with a wind but in the park it was more than 10 degrees warmer.

      Today, we are catching our collective breath. It felt today like a time to reflect on the 7 weeks we have been on the road and what we have seen and experienced. One of my first thoughts was that the U.S. is made up of so many different landscapes, environment and histories. Since Jim and I have a  fascination for history and politics, we hope that what we have seen and experienced will give us more understanding of people’s positions in the upcoming election. Or Not! I guess the bottom line for me, at least, is that we have lots of beautiful space which may not grow potatoes or sustain many people but is crucial to who we are as a nation and to our spirituality. Too not continue to protect it would be more that a mere shame. Guess my politics are showing. Every state has had unique characteristics that seem to remain. Wisconsin has supper clubs. Kansas fields that go on forever dotted with the stock yards that fatten the steers that show up on plates all over the US. Michigan is full of lakes and greenness and mosquitos. Illinois glory in its verdant flatness and reflects its history as a free state. North Dakota has a feeling of space being claimed by few people. Montana is truly a big sky state where the air is clear and mountains high. 

Cottonwood Tree in Fruta, a sapling when the Mormons first came to settle, served as their postoffice. All the mail was dropped off in a box attached to it for many years. It still lives. 

Close up of door and window of cabin that housed one of the first Mormon families. this who had 13 children, 11 who survived. They lived in the one room cabin for a year before moving to the larger Fruta and building another house. In a larger house, in Fruta, lived the only polygamist family in the community. 

      This entry has been written over the day. The electricity went out about noon for the whole park as well as the town of Torrey. Jim went down to get gas and had to do on to the next town for pumps that work. We had no air conditioning, poor us, so spent the afternoon outside, planning the next six months and beyond. Tonight I am including some pictures of the inside of our abode. We are having a Creole steak, peppers and onions which is cooking outside in the electric pressure cooker. Inside sautéed potatoes with bacon are cooking. We have eaten very well, too well. Lunch is always wraps and, sometimes, coleslaw or chips.  Food seems to become more important while on the road. 

Sautéed Potatoes with a bit of bacon, calories don't count on the road. Creole steak strips with peppers and onions cooking in electric pressure cooker outside. We have an outside electric plug. Love this kitchen.

Rose holding court on the bed. All in all pretty comfortable place to hang out. Thanks Escape trailers, we have gone nearly 7000 miles and our rig is doing well. Notice the clutter of electronics and the bag for my art stuff. The table on the wall folds down at night but holds our coffee in the morning. 

     With our stops in RV parks we have met several people, tonight included, who are part of family reunions which happen annually. Tonight met a woman from Utah who is part of a 4 day family reunion. They meet at a different place each year usually an RV park close to interesting sights. Some are staying in cabins, some in tents and some in RVs. A different family does one meal each night. She said that two RV’s had blow outs on the way here. They have some families coming from Nevada. I can imagine this is a fun time for them and good way to connect. We have seen this in our travels where friends and family meet and enjoy time together. This has been a ramble today. I guess coming to the end of a trip is cause for some reflection. There is much beauty in the US, sometimes not where you might expect it. Be well all.