In grade school parlance, I’ve been playing hooky for more than a week now. An old friend from Pittsburgh was here last week and Hubby and I took off with her to explore some of Utah’s canyons. We ogled the handsome hoodoos in Bryce, giving them our own pet names–like our Erectus Splendiferous. We skirted the ruggedly beautiful landscapes of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in our gas-friendly Honda, photographing as many of its diverse features as possible in as many roadside pull-outs as time permitted, and explored on foot for a closer-up view a few of the graceful arches of the Capitol Reef National Park.
As for our Pittsburgh friend, I met Marylou about 42 years ago during the second year I was in Pittsburgh. I read recently that everlasting friends can go long periods of time without speaking and never question the friendship. When you meet again you pick up as if you just spoke yesterday, regardless of how long it’s been or how faraway they live, and they don’t hold grudges. They understand that life is busy but it doesn’t mean you don’t love them or think about them. That’s the kind of friend ML is, plus she’s the kind who always remembers birthdays even when you don’t remember to acknowledge hers–the best kind of friend to have.
I believe I can speak with authority that we–all three of us, Hubby, ML and myself, enjoyed our canyon adventure very much. In fact, we all relished a week away from cable news and newspaper and their corresponding economic woes, religious fanatics and/or political pundits. We were happy to learn about the Chilean miners’ dramatic rescue beginning mid-week, yet not subjected 24/7 to its slow progression/drama on cable. Almost the whole week, all we did was laugh at new and really old comedy routines from the comedy channel, sang along with Broadway stars (me) or listened to “bridge” rock (Hubby). Our friend, more of the hard rock school being seven years our junior, put up with our musical choices like the trooper she is. All in all, good medicine.
Now I cannot begin to tell you how difficult it was to choose only a representational set of pictures pf our canyon explorations to show here. I’ve uploaded the whole set onto Flickr, however, for anyone who’d like to see more of one of the most beautiful areas in the southwest as well as the latest snaps of the three of us. Just scroll down the sidebar until you see my Flickr photo link and click there. In the meantime, being out of grade school for an incredible number of years, I cannot promise–nor will I–not to play hooky as often as I get the chance. Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Pam’s nipple is there somewhere–but where I dunno
Believe it or not all these colors came from the same source–iron!
colorful cliffs
erosion effects offer texture
color and texture variations
swirly swarly cliff sides
a peaceful, moo-colic pastoral setting
My Wintersong 
I have lived in Utah a mighty long time, and would you believe I have NOT visited these canyons???? G.E. and I planned to go a month ago but his shoulder surgery got in the way. He’s recovered nicely, and so I’m rescheduling for the last part of this month. Crossing my fingers!
Thanks for reminding me of what I’m missing! rbs
Well it’s high time you made the trip! I’m glad I could give you a preview. My next post will offer a recommendation for a great place to eat, and maybe one of their recipes thrown in for good measure. Always happy to please.
Old friends are like that and I’m so glad you both had such a great visit. Your photos are exceptional! What gorgeous scenery. I’ve never been to Utah, but I can see you have extraordinary vistas. Thanks for sharing them!
You never know, Terri, when you may be out this way for a book signing or conference. You know where to go and who to call.
Shucks, you made me blush! Nearly as red as the fabulous Bryce Canyon woodoos.
I write it better than I can say it. Thanks for commenting.
Friends like that are to be cherished forever. I’m always in awe of the stunning earth that is in your state. Thanks for starting our morning out right here. 🙂
You have some pretty stunning earth your way, too, Mage. Much of it covered with water, but hey those ships and marinas are quite spectacular too! Nice to hear from you.
Great photos. Thanks for reminding me how much I love Zion and Bryce. It’s probably been 40 years since I’ve been there; maybe I have to think about coming again.
Well if you do Ruthe, I hope you’ll swing by our big city here so we could meet. It is one of the most beautiful places in the parts of the world that I’ve seen so far.
A – I was wondering what you were up to and then I saw this post – first I so agree with you on the friends (FF rather than BFF) as I have good friends like that, where you pick up as if 20 years has interrupted your friendship. Great. And these photos – it looks and sounds so beautiful I wish I had been in the car with you (I have very eclectic musical taste so would have been fine with any of your selections). We’re headed to the beach in a few weeks and this time we are not going with the anticipation we went last time, when they were sealing off Dauphin Island and putting barriers up to keep BP’s oil spill away from the shoreline! But I am looking for the R&R that only nature can dish up.
BTW tell your daughters Tin wore the Indian outfit to a party last night and was a smash hit! Thank them again for thinking of him (us – you) while they were there.
I meant has not, has not interrupted your friendship. Type too fast for my own good.
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It really was a sorely needed break, and wish you could have been along for it. You would especially have enjoyed our restaurant experience which I plan to write about soon.
A friend like ML is real special. I enjoyed the fireside tour of the canyons, the colours are amazing.
We spent five years in the part of the east that boasts about their autumn colors. Except for fewer reds, I think we hold our own more than adequately here in the southwest. The reds and greens and whites in the mountains are hard to equal. Nice hearing from you.
Wow, beautiful! Your photographs make me long for the Southwest.
So next time you feel like flying–even if Mom can’t come along–head out this way.