Wandering Retirees

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Kanab, UT

We had a short range day. Rode a little out of town to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park to see what the hubbub was about. After paying a whopping $4 entrance fee, we parked and went onto the dunes. It was fascinating. The color was as advertised – such a striking pink caused by just the right amount of iron oxide (yes, rust) bonded to the silicates in the sand. The texture was as fine as any beach sand we’ve seen. We walked out onto some semi-stable dunes that had very hardy plants that had taken root and quite a few tiny lizards scooting about from bush to bush leaving serpentine behind them. Beginning a few yards further out and extending for miles in every direction were towering dunes that the wind kicked plumes of sand down range. Some of the dunes were open to ATV’s, and there were kids sand (snow?) boarding down the tallest dune on several sides. Just like the winter equivalent, the rides down were quick, but the slog back uphill was quite a lot of work. We were happy to watch, thanks.

We had lunch at a camp site in a grove of ponderosa pines. It was calm and peaceful place. Campsites were only $5 a night and collection was on the honor system – a collection box served as toll taker for the spot. Not something you find in NJ.

This afternoon was taken with packing, hair cuts and a nap. My barber was Ken Adams who served as an Army Ranger and medic in Vietnam. Stories he had aplenty for his captive audience. That would be me. A 15 minute trim took an hour and a half because he got so caught up in his tale he’d leave off with scissors. Snip, talk talk talk, snip, talk, so forth. But such a happy, energetic man. And his tales of growing up on a Utah cattle ranch and his time on patrol were really engaging. Best of all, he did a great job on my hair. On the way out, I thanked him for his service, his tales, and had to ask him how much. If you ever need an urgent haircut in Kanab, he’s your man.

Connie also tended to her coiffure but was done before me. We got some awesome ice cream and headed back to get ready for tomorrow when we head for Cortez, CO. The good news is it will be a beautiful day. The bad news is it’s about 300 miles on Memorial Day weekend. Not so bad, actually: we’ll be riding through beautiful country.

A reflection. When you think of a desert, what do you see in your mind’s eye? I always thought only of cacti, hot sand, boulders, rattlers and vultures, but an otherwise lifeless and bleak earth.

We have seen so much desert in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada. And there is so much diversity to desert terrain. Around Las Vegas thousands of square miles appear pounded flat and lifeless from the scorching sun. That fit my preconceptions. Here in Utah and the parts of AZ, NM and TX we’ve seen huge swaths of desert that are hot and dry, but also filled with life, from scrub to cacti to hardy trees and wildlife. Dry washes are common, indicating that at least some rainfall hits the earth. Some areas even have sufficient forage for cattle and bison herds. Horses, donkeys and mules (we assume part of domestic herds) are more common than you’d think. Yet this is still “desert”. I’m sure many of you already knew how diverse desert ecologists can be. For Connie and me, it has been eye opening. We are so fortunate to have our vantage from the back of the bike.

Well, tomorrow we leave this wonderful villa in Kanab, UT and forge onto Cortez.