Day 6- Up Through the Atmosphere, Up Where the Air is Clear

"When you send it flying up there, 

All at once, you're lighter than air.

You can dance on the breeze

Over houses and trees.

With your fist holding tight to the string of your kite.

Oh let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest heights

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring.

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh let's go fly a kite."

-Mary Poppins.

So I know that song isn't about riding in a hot air balloon, but it's the song that played through my mind as I was soaring above the Arches National Park in Utah.  This was one of my favorite songs as a child and I used to sing it when I would swing on the swings at the playground.  

A couple from Arkansas, 2 men from Israel, and 1 man from Paris, and I all met up at 5:30am for the balloon ride.  As the balloon was being set up, I talked with the Arkansas couple.  The man was very excited to hear that I lived near New Haven, CT- supposedly there are a bunch of guns manufactured there.  Direct quote (said in a deep southern accent), "I wish that I could live close to there.  I could drive down and get me a gun anytime that I please.  Do you own a Colt?"  I apologized that I, in fact, did not own a gun.  The man seemed very disappointed.  When we got into the balloon, he then asked the Captain if he had ever shot down deer from the balloon.  

The Captain also informed us that he was really unable to steer the balloon and that our destination would be based on where the winds would take us.  Surprisingly, this was the first flight this year where the winds brought us directly over the Arches!  He said that this only happens 1-2 times a year and that it was a very very special occasion.  The Captain even took out his camera to capture this rare event!

My morning shadow against the balloon.  "Crawl up the mountain to reach where the eagles fly... And if you put it all together, you won't have to look around. You know you cast a long shadow on the ground." Joe Strummer

Preparing the balloon for flight.

Inflating

Looking up into the balloon.  Gorgeous colors! 

6am Moon over the Utah Desert.

It reminds me of the elephant-inside-snake picture from Le Petite Prince.

Devil's Garden- Arches National Park

Balloon Shadow

Our landing site.  This is the only time that I got butterflies in my stomach.  It was the first time that I looked down.  I was solid after that!

Ready to fly! 

The ground from the basket.

Landscape Arch 

I'm a bird!  I'm flying!

Moon over the desert.

We landed!  Basically, you have to curl up in the fetal position at the bottom of the basket and hang onto the straps.  You land on your back with you feet up in the air (the basket is on its side).  Crazy fun!  It was like being in a super exhilarating bumpy rollercoaster.

There was sparkling wine waiting for us when we landed to toast a stellar flight!!!

One last picture of the ground.



More adventures to come later today!



So today was mainly a rest-up day.  I stayed in Moab, UT and walked around town with a new friend that I made.  On my way back from the balloon ride, I gave a man from Paris a ride to town.  He knew just enough English and I knew just enough French to have a semi-descent Franglish conversation.  My favorite part of traveling- meeting new people!  Over lunch, we discussed the difference in politics between France and the US and how the government and jobs stiff us out of a decent holiday break (He gets 5 weeks of paid vacation every year!).


Tomorrow will be my last day in the desert.  I'm headed toward the Rockies and Colorado!

Day 5- That's Some Dream

"There's a time in our lives, we start again on writing our part.

As the story goes on, it's the rule that we remember our lines.

I know everyone would want me to say

That I'm not afraid to be alone.

I'm gonna live. I'm alright.

I'm gonna die. It's alright. I'm okay.

Lai dai dai

I'm gonna live.  I'm alright.

I'm gonna die.  It's alright.  I'm okay.

Lai dai dai

That's some dream."

-Good Old War

I departed from Cortez, CO this morning (thank goodness!).  I was not very impressed by that town.  Walmart and Denny's... and that's about it.  I made my way to Utah, down the scenic route 95... through Glen Canyon and back up to Moab.

The rolling green and red hills in Southern Colorado.  This was taken near Dove Creek, CO.

More Colorado beauty.  I can't wait to return at the end of this week! 

Hello Utah!  

Unknown mountains outside of Monticello, UT.

Monticello, UT.

Recapture Resevoir near Blanding, UT.  I wish my camera captured the baby blue color of the water.  Truly an oasis in the middle of the desert.

Near the National Bridges Park in Utah.  I never expected Utah to be this beautiful!  Although, all of my Utah references come from SLC Punk.  

My most favorite view of the day.  Driving along 95 west in the Glen Canyon was the most BEAUTIFUL drive that I have EVER taken... it might even beat out the Red Rocks of Sedona... and maybe even the Grand Canyon.  Not that the Grand Canyon isn't beautiful and awe-inspiring... it's also so far removed.  Here, I was actually driving through a canyon for miles and miles.  I was struck down by the beauty of the red walls rising on all sides of me.  I prefer to be smack-dab IN natural beauty... not removed from it.

Zen Rocks!

Meta:  A canyon in a canyon.  "All Meta, All Day, All the Time"- Loren H. 

The Colorado River... responsible for this canyon and the Grand Canyon.  Such power in her waters.   

The obligatory face-shot of the day.  I guess I have to be in some of my pictures or else people will never believe I was there!  In front of the Colorado River.

The Dirty Devil River- I love the name! 

Fire ants! 

Jacob's Seat in Glen Canyon.  I want to know who Jacob is and why he gets a rock named after him!  Must be a biblical reference of some sort.  By the way- the ONLY radio station that I could pick up played children's Bible songs... sung by children... exclusively.  I guess we are in God's country now.

I got choked up at this view.  Blue blue blue skies.  Red red red rock.  Bliss!

This is what I drove through all day!  Unbelievable!  I can't believe I might have gone a whole lifetime without laying eyes on the wonders of the desert.  I'm so glad and grateful for this trip!

My little silver rental car among the rocks.  She has been a steady, reliable traveling companion.


I'm wiped out from all of the traveling these past two days!  I think I've spent 6-7 hours in the car on both days.  And all because I chose to take the scenic route.  So glad I did!  Stay posted because tomorrow is going to be a big day!  Hot air balloon ride time!

Take care!  I love you all.

-SnowBird 

Day 4- There's A Big, A Big Hard Sun

"When I walk beside her, I am the better man.  

When I look to leave her, I always stagger back again.

Once I built and ivory tower so I could worship from above.  

When I climbed down to be set free she took me in again.

There's a big, a big hard sun

Beating on the big people 

In the big hard world."

-Eddie Vedder

I had breakfast this morning with a woman from Denmark, a woman from Switzerland, and a man from Sweden.  The topic of conversation: Religion and the necessity of the separation of church and state.  Everyone remarked upon the Mormon presence in Utah.  When I checked into my motel in Cortez, CO, I found a Gideon's Bible along with the Book of Mormons.  Apparently the Mormons must have gotten jealous at the Beatles' hit "Rocky Raccoon" and wanted some representation in motel rooms as well.  Anyone remember the Bill Hicks skit about the Gideons?  Who are they?!?

I struck out across Northern Arizona on my way from Flagstaff to the Four Corners to Shiprock, NM, and finally to Cortez, CO.  Lots of driving!  Here are some of the red hills outside of Tuba City, AZ.

Unbelievable!  I felt as if I were on Mars.  This part of Arizona is so desolate and red!  As I drove along the highway, I let the winds carry away my worries and my fears and my pain.  I felt stripped bare by the sandy wind of the desert.  It was an unbelievable drive!  One aspect about the desert that was both liberating and terrifying is the idea that the desert holds nothing...  There are no feelings here.  They get blown away in the wind.  Part of my job as a social worker is holding all of my clients' happy, sad, mad, angry, frustrated, scared feelings... along with holding my own.  The desert is so transient and so temporary.  I felt as if nothing was ever embedded here.  Which is strange because thousands of years of history and evolution is captured in the red rocks here.

So exciting!  Not only did I see my first tumbleweed today, but I also saw my first sandstorm!  

Near Anasazi, AZ.  Old stone structure framed by the stratified red hills.

I liked the juxtaposition of the blue motel against the red hills.

Little dwelling near Anasazi, AZ.

Miles and miles and miles of beauty!

Red Mesa, AZ 

Monument Valley, AZ

Monument Valley, AZ

Finally made it to the Four Corners!  This has been on my bucket list since I was 15 years old!  

Hello New Mexico!  Definitely a contrast between the red sands of Northern AZ- everything here is browner and tanner (are those words?).  I took a random detour today to get closer to Shiprock, NM in honor of my friend Evan and the dogs Shiprock and Anchordog.  Check out the website at:  http://shiprockandanchordog.com/.  I'm going to be playing mandolin and singing in this project.  And come to see the summer camp musical, "Shiprock and Anchordog Include Everyone" on June 30th and July 1st!

There she is!  Shiprock herself.  She stands as a beacon of strength and hope against the whipping desert winds... reminding me that there is always beauty in emptiness and strength in simplicity.  She is the lighthouse in the sea of desert sands.  I can understand why this area is sacred to the Dine.

Made it to Colorado!  Wheeeewwww!  6 hours of driving done!

Ute Mountains outside of Cortez, Colorado.