In Search of Giants - The Journey

Somewhere in Nevada...

"I take to the open road, healthy, free, the world before me."
        
                 -- Walt Whitman

300 miles into our journey on Day 1, the barren wonderful windswept
moonscape near Grand Junction, CO.

This is a story of adventure, a quest to meet the giants that have called to me since childhood--the GIANT SEQUOIAS OF CALIFORNIA.

Highway 128 near the ghost town of Cisco, Utah.

It is also a story of the journey that combines with the destination to create the complete story.

Therefore, in this blog post I shall regale you with the journey to meet MY GIANTS.  



In my post for my other blog, www.TobyBakerSparklingStories.blogspot.com, I will introduce you to the GIANTS that now form lasting memories and profound influences to my soul.

Following the Colorado River to Moab, Utah, our destination for
our first night.

For the last several months I have been feeling a pull to wander, a yearning for fresh adventures and a need to expand my horizons.  

Without a destination in mind I quietly set aside a couple of weeks in October for "travel," and began to hint gently and then campaign with gusto for the ROAD TRIP we have often talked about but never managed to take.

Shadows from the setting sun on landscape near Moab beckon me to
linger, to visit again tomorrow.

I am so fortunate that Ken loves to drive and has enjoyed every journey  we've taken, so it was an easy lobbying effort on my part to convince him to embrace this new adventure with me.

Now that I had the time and the wiling partner, the question was:

Where shall we go?

"Double Arches," in Arches National Park, captured my
imagination with it's thrilling shape!

With all four directions from which to choose, it can be a daunting task to actually select a destination.

With steady advice, Ken reminded me to consider a destination long on my BUCKET LIST -- 

TO FINALLY MEET THE GIANT SEQUOIAS.

What a magical experience to hike to the rocks and feel the
power of environmental artistry!

It is so easy to get lost sometimes in the bombardment of everyday noise, that when reminded of WHAT DO I REALLY WANT?, the answer is so clear and simple--

But, of course.  It's time.

In Green River, Utah, there are rocks stacked all over
town,  As a lover of rocks, I was intrigued and asked
the clerk at the gas station who the artist was.  The clerk
laughed and said it was a guy passing through who
"got stuck" in Green River for about a year and while
he was there stacked rocks and more rocks
and even more rocks!!!  (If you stop in this beautiful
community be sure to eat at the Tamarisk restaurant!)

With destination decided, the next challenge is:

How to get there?

To aid my course direction I bought a NEW 2018 North America Atlas of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

I like the feel of an atlas and visually traveling along different routes and noting possibilities for additional sightseeing stops.  

I like the way the paper gets folded and creases the spine as one state is completed and the page is turned for another.  

I like running my finger along the designated courses, spotting summit markers, historical designations and names of rivers, national forests,  and mountain ranges.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a true fan of GPS and Google Maps, but what a comfort to have an atlas within easy reach to see WHERE WE REALLY ARE.

We took Highway 14 from Cedar City into Zion National Park--
the "road less traveled" and we were grateful for it!!

We decided on a route that would take us through Colorado via I-70 into Utah so we could see two national parks also on my BUCKET LIST:

ARCHES and
ZION

We have every intention of returning to spend more time in both parks, but what a remarkable and lovely addition to our trip to be able to visit both!!

Ken in front of The Main Street Cafe in Hurricane, Utah, one of our
favorite cafes--and far from the throngs of tourists outside of Zion.

In planning this trip we decided to incorporate two aspects that are not always possible in road trips of any length.


1. Time for off-highway excursions.

2. Eat in local diners and restaurants.

The Mad Greek Cafe, a must-stop in Baker, CA. Where else will you
find a sign pointing to the Mojave Desert in one direction and authentic
delicious Greek fast food in the other??

I am happy to report that, after 2,852 miles, we were successful on both counts!!

I thank YELP for assistance in obtaining restaurant listings, reviews and directions.

I thank crazy curiosity, an adventurous imagination and my darling Ken for off-highway excursions that will forever delight my dreams and memories.

And, I thank internet service (when available) to allow me to research crazy tidbits and oddities that added historical context, better understanding and an enlightened journey.

A 9-mile dirt road off of Highway 6 in Nevada provided one of my most memorable excursions to see my first lunar crater.
Not only was the crater a breathtaking sight to behold, but the pure quiet and beauty of the surrounding countryside was
remarkable and precious.

One of my favorite art installations in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.

"All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination."
         
                    --- Earl Nightingale