I took off into the desert with no real plans on returning to Durango. I wanted to hide from the sickness. Wait it out. Self isolate. Maybe jump the border back down into Mexico as soon as I could after the border opened again. Not go back until all this craziness was over and life returned to semi normal. But, I don’t think things will ever return to normal EVER AGAIN and the world as we know it has changed FOREVER! This will come to an end. But what awaits us on the flip side of this pandemic? All I know is it’s getting weirder and weirder by the day! I just hope that love and light await all of us when all this finally is over……And hopefully a JOB! Good thing I have a few bucks stashed away. Most people don’t, and that’s scary!
When I returned back to the rig after an amazing morning in Mule Canyon viewing “House on Fire” ruin I made a simple lunch and pondered where I should sleep that night. So I made the 35 minute drive to my next stop.
I had decided to visit a little known Badlands right outside of Bluff called “Recapture Pocket.” I had read that it was almost always deserted and would probably have the whole place to myself. On my drive in I did spot another #vanlife traveler with the same idea as me. I needed to social distance, so I kept driving up the rough two track another couple of miles and got lost among the hoo doos and red rock cliffs of Utah.That was exactly what I was looking for! Solitude! It reminded me of Goblin Valley that I had visited MANY years ago when I was in my late 20’s or early 30’s with Arianna. Read about her in my post “The girl who died in my kitchen.”
When I arrived early afternoon the wind was already howling. A common occurrence here in the desert during spring. I found a large Hoo Doo to use as a giant wind block and strategically parked behind! It was still and windless on the leeward side. Bonus! As the wind was blowing the sand so hard I’m sure it would have sandblasted the paint right off Annie! Once again I felt like I was on a Star Wars set…… Mars maybe? The moon definitely!
Later that afternoon I wandered around the area marveling at what wind, water and time had done to the ochre red sandstone. It was stunning!
As I watched the sunset on the cliffs in the distance I wondered what lies in store for our nation and the world in the near and distant future. I honestly think it’s going to get worse before it gets better……. And I was right! The next morning I went into the Mormon bastion of Bluff searching for a cup of Joe and maybe a bagel or danish before heading up Butler Wash to hike in to more ruins and another blissful night in the desert. I was informed by the counter girl at the gas station that San Juan county had closed ALL access to non-residents and was kicking me out??? If I did not leave on my own accord Law Enforcement would be happy to assist me! I never thought I would see the day in “the land of the free” but now it had come. What’s next? IDFK! Strange days indeed! So peculiar mama!
You can run, but I guess there is nowhere to hide! So for now I’ll go sit on my couch. Just like the rest of America!
