On The Road Home And Other Road Trip Peculiarities

July 27, 2020
   Back from a six day roadtrip to northern Arizona. We motored home from the Canyon via Williams, Ashfork, Chino Valley, Prescott, Peeples Valley, Congress Junction, Wickenburg and on to Cave Creek.

   Lots of insights into the state of the pandemic—or, the Pandemic of the State—from the far right (Obama created the virus to derail Trump and the mask wearing is a scam and a hoax) to the far left (a petition drive to change the name of Kit Carson Campground because the frontiersman participated in Native American genocide). Of course neither one is true, but here we are:

"Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you."
—Steelers Wheel

   But all of the toxic, political BS was no match for the scenery.

Afternoon storm over the Grand Canyon

   Anyone who has been to the canyon, will tell you, this photo does not even begin to do justice to the actual view. It is overhwhelming to actually see, with the naked eye, the incomparable vastness and scope. No camera—or artist—can quite capture it.

   It rained every day we were there and it was heavenly. Made for great naps! Even a walk down the railroad tracks behind our lodge, was spectacular.

Train Tracks Thunderhead

   But the big storms over El Tovar and Hopi House still remain my favorite memories of the trip.

Storm Over Hopi House at The South Rim

   Meanwhile, not to be outdone, got this stunning vista from my friend Jay Dusard:

Portal Peak, Chiricahua Mountains,

Arizona, 2015, photograph by Jay Dusard

   And, just for grins, saw this wonderful parody of those old, cheesy, fifties-style potboiler paperbacks.

   I don't know who is doing these but they are sure damn funny. Speaking of funny, here's my favorite post-pandemic line, so far:

"When this virus thing is over there are still some of you I want to distance myself from."
—Old Pandemic Saying