Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Kanab, Utah-Home of the Wave and Bob.

"The village which had been started only a year or two was laid out in the characteristic Mormon style, with wide streets and regular lots, fenced by wattling willows between stakes. Irrigation ditches ran down each side of every street. The entire settlement had a thrifty air as is the case with the Mormons. Not a grog-shop or gambling saloon, or dance hall was to be seen; ordinarily the usual disgraceful accompaniments of the frontier town."

Frederick Dellanbaugh from his book "Canyon Voyage" written in 1871

Well, Kanab hasn't changed much since those heady pioneering Mormon years. One doesn't visit Kanab for a steamy Las Vegas nightlife. It's about the Wave. 

I'm here again to test my luck in trying to score a coveted Wave permit. I went 0 for 2 last year. This year I'm hoping for a hit. I would even settle for a bunt single. From last year's sorry disappointments:



Kanab is a clean pleasant town consisting of about 4,500 friendly white folks. After dropping Barley the Van off for an oil change. I wandered around on a dappled sunshine spring day.

The Kanab tourist office drew me in. I'm a map nerd, and I needed alternative hiking information in case of more Wave disappointment. 

I was also hoping for another meet up with Jerry. (A true western character) From last year's post.


Instead of Jerry, there was Bob. He was resplendently dressed in a turquoise string tie, a western cut shirt, creased blue jeans and electric blue eyes. This picture was topped off with a black Stetson cowboy hat. He sported a welcoming grin as well.

I made small talk and asked about Jerry. 
"Jerry retired from the tourist office. He's beginning to show signs of dementia." 

This saddened me. In the course of one year how much a person's life can change from vibrant to doddering. 

However, I began to notice something about Bob. He had western character written all over him too. I donned my "cub reporter" hat and I began my interview.

"Did you grow up here?

"No, but I spent most of my life in southern Utah. I was born near Bryce National Park in an old homestead. My grandmother was a midwife. We moved to Saint George where I went to high school."

I pressed on smelling a blog scoop. "Then what?" He was warming up to me.
"I joined the Navy and worked sonar on a Destroyer in the Pacific theater. Those were good times. We once harassed a Russian sub for days until a typhoon hit. Then it wasn't much fun."

"A typhoon! What was that like?"

"We saw thirty foot waves. We just headed right into them and watched as the water crashed down on the ship. The seamen standing watch were given a shot of rum before and after their four hours of getting water logged." 

"Did you get seasick?"

"Not that time. I only got sick once and that was when I was hungover. I spent four years on ships. Later on it wasn't the same. The younger sailors were getting stoned on the fantail!" 
He mentioned that with a wry smile. 

After thanking him for his service to our country I continued. 

"What do you do now for fun?"

"Well, I've always been a thrill seeker. I've boated most of the rivers in Utah. Want to see a photo of me in the Virgin River Gorge?" 

He pulled out his I Phone and dialed up a snapshot of a younger Bob. In the photo, there he was (from the waist up), with one oar in a maelstrom of frothy water. No boat!

"Where's your boat?"

"It's there. It was a small boat and made of plastic. The whole thing was about six-feet long. I had to bail a lot. We would run the gorge a few times a day." 

What a guy! Even though his Navy days are done, this land locked westerner still found an outlet for his water needs. 

"I'll be floating the Green River in November too!" All this from a 73 year semi-retiree.

I picked up a few maps, thanked Bob for his time and continued my wandering.

Kanab is also known as "Little Hollywood." Many western/cowboy movies used this red rock country as a backdrop. Why even a Teflon-coated president once strolled these same streets. 

Wish me luck in Round Two of the Wave!
Early morning in Kanab and the coffee is brewing.

Cheers 
Jeff












Sunday, April 10, 2016

My Expanding Family...

By now all my faithful readers know about buddy Brad being my brother from another Mother. 


On this recent arduous journey through the depths of the Grand Canyon, Brad brought along his sons, plus one significant other. Between the three of them they had a total of one trip's worth of backpacking experience. In the wide world of hefting loads and humping up and down canyons, they were barely out of the candy wrapper. We are talking newbies.
Those youngsters kicked butt! 

I have now adopted all three to be my extra nephews and one niece from another Mother. 
They have given me hope for the future. They were all well mannered, smart, respectful and didn't whine! 

Max, Cassy and Sam were even considerate. They managed to stifle yawns as a doddering blogger (me) expounded on John Wesley Powell, the Kolb Brothers, Glen Canyon, the Sierra Club and Colorado River law. 

From their ever present smiles, I truly believe they were as overjoyed to be in the Big Ditch as I was. That's a lot of grins.

I'm almost sure these rookies caught the pretty places passion too. I hope so. We need young folks to stand up for wilderness, National Parks and all the good stuff that makes America worth retiring in. If
not the future for people like me isn't bright. Strong Work!

Thank you Brad/Bro/Dude for taking the task of parenting seriously. Your efforts paid off in a human's worth of winning Powerball tickets. Even a curmudgeon bachelor (your's truly) can see that.

As for me, I relearned a lesson. I'm happier in wild, stark places than overbuilt, congested cities. In  March 2017, me and Barley the Van will stay on the road and explore. 

Onto Utah today!
Cheers!
Jeff

PS. Give a shout if you happen to be behind the Zion Curtain this month and May. I'm pretty sure I have enough IPAs for guests. 









Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Three Years of Homelessness...

"And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful
wife
And you may ask yourself-Well...How did I get here?"

"Once in a Lifetime" lyrics by the Talking Heads

Our days go by and turn into years. 

It's hard for me to believe I began this lifestyle experiment 1,095 days ago. But here I am still homeless. For the "Why?" behind the story, please check out my last anniversary blog. 
 

It's been an interesting run. When I'm healthy and visiting pretty places with miles of trails to explore, all is swell. It's a simple and peaceful existence. When everything is in sync, I'm living lean, tan, well-read and happy. 


However, my days aren't always as fine as a four-pack of Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA, occasionally I gets untracked. This past month, I've been feeling derailed. 

I recently rolled a snake eyes of not only being injured (a knee that developed a mind of its own), but sick as well (cold turning into a sinus infection) and multiple stubborn nose bleeds (with a beak like mine, this could prove fatal). 

I've even felt lonely. 

At times like these, I can blurt out an unwelcome thought to myself. It's this one, "Self! What's going to become of me?" 

Yes, even Wandering, Wondering Jews get the Blues. 

TIME OUT FOR A COMMERCIAL BREAK! 

Buy any one of my Kindle Books from Amazon, and you've been kind enough to purchase one gallon of go juice for Barley the Van. That's 15 miles of downhill travel with a tailwind. 

Two Kindle books purchases will provide the author with a Happy Hour IPA (no tip included). 

Buy three e-books and its Happy Hour on me when we meet.


Have I mentioned, "Destroying Demons on the Diagonal" has won the prestigious 2012  IPPY Gold Medal Award for travel yarns?

We now return you to our regularly scheduled blog.

I know my Wandering, Wondering ways has an expiration date. It's called the aging process. As for now, I'll keep rolling along until I find a place I can call "Home." In retrospect,  I've always been restless. Could this be the trickle down affect from my ancient ancestors who wandered around the desert for 40 years? Maybe. 

One thing I know for sure, I've eliminated Tucson and any state east of Interstate 25 from my home list.

It would be a beautiful thing to have a pleasant woman to share the scenery, campfires,  my Coleman Stove cuisine and sunset Happy Hours with.
No one wishes to grow old alone. Not even me.

Besides, having a girlfriend gives me someone to nurture and fuss over. Two Jewish Mother traits I'm real good at. Clara Sambur taught me well.
For the right woman, I would even upgrade to an extended cab 4x4 Barley the Van II. See the photo.

To my readers, thanks for stopping by. If it gets your fancy, feel free to pass the link along. 

Its a mystery to me how this will all play out, then again no one is aware of what lies around the corner. 

Soon I'll be off to backpack the Grand Canyon with my brother from another mother (Brad). Please wish me and my knee Good Luck!


Cheers from the Old Pueblo
Go Syracuse!
Jeff

PS. I wasn't joking about well-read. Look at all those books on Barley's shelf. The Library of Congress borrows books from me.