WOW! This place…Kodachrome Basin State Park! What a gem. The park and campground are a 10-mile drive off the charming 2-lane highway to Cannonville from Bryce Canyon. It is immediately quiet here — no road noise, not much human noise, just the gentle breeze, a few birds, and … quiet.
We arrived early and were able to set up camp as the campground was not busy, so we had most of the day and the overnight, then a morning hike before heading out. During our time here, we experienced significant and marvelously rich weather changes. It was in the high 80s when we arrived, so we plugged Vanda in then turned on the air conditioner. As a gorgeous summer storm churned up, we watched the sky go from a lovely blue with white fluffy clouds to a dark, volatile sky, hearing thunder off in the distance. As the storm rolled in bringing a few raindrops, we noticed that the temperature had become more pleasant, so we opened up the doors and windows, preferring always a natural cooler temp than the AC (yet, always happy to have an AC to turn on in these extremes!).
I have gotten in the habit of laying down early, after cleaning up and an evening walkabout, to stretch my back and read for a while before going to sleep. I did so with the van open to the breezes as well as the vent blowing in a bit of cooler air above me, delighting in the chill down I noticed. Eventually, John closed the back door but we fell asleep, as we prefer to do, with the side door and windows open. There is something about eventually pulling on the blanket over the sheets and the snuggling into the extra warmth that brings back childhood memories of wintertime in Allentown, PA when the floor board heaters would be turned on for the first time each fall. I can still evoke that feeling of security and warmth when I would hear the creaking of the heaters bringing warmth to our chilling home — that is what I feel when I snuggle under the blanket and the sheet in Vanda. During the night, as the temperature moved into the lower 60s, we closed the side door and I turned off the vent, leaving the side window open for ventilation, as always.
Around 4 in the morning, I rolled over to turn on the heater! The ultimate in security and comfort, this little heater cranks it out, so that in a few moments, Vanda was without a chill inside, and I was able to fall back asleep. When we awakened the morning, we were toasty warm inside with an outside temp of 56 degrees! We dressed in layers, took our hot coffee with us, and did a hike on the Angel’s Palace Trail.
The Juniper trees in the desert have captured my heart. They are so very resilient, in spite of the extreme temps, droughts, and high winds. Many of them are stunted and gnarly, and what I love most about them is the fabulously complicated patterns on their trunks that manifest this capacity for resilience. When a Juniper does succumb to the elements, it leaves a haunting reminder of the harsh desert conditions in which it once thrived. I cannot get enough of the intricate bark patterns…
A few birds were present in this desert on the morning hike that brought different natural wonders as gifts. That this is the life I get to live, right now, being immersed in Mother Nature and all of her offerings, continues to bring me deep gratitude and joy.
