Cottonwood Canyon in the Red Clifford National Recreation Area
Clifford and I have been camped on public land south of St. George Utah for he last several weeks. We spend most of our time at camp, but occasionally we go an outing.
Friday, April 21 looks to be a good day for such an outing. The temperature is mild and the sky is mostly blue. We are going with our camping neighbor David as his vehicle can carry two bicycles as well as two passengers. We are finally going to Redcliff Recreation Area in the Pine Valley Mountains northeast of St. George. Luckily, we find a spot in the day use area. Clifford and David are here to ride bikes; I am here to hike Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness Trail.
Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness TrailOn the Trail – Cottonwood Canyon
The scenery is outstanding with great red cliffs, unique formations, a creek, a waterfall, and blooming shrubs. Spraying made photos with sky a little tricky, but mostly I was able to avoid having them in my photos.
Red Cliffs on the Cottonwood Canyon TrailRed Cliffs and blooming shrubs on the Cottonwood Canyon TrailUnique Formations on the Cottonwood Canyon TrailUnique Formations on the Cottonwood Canyon TrailRed Cliffs on the Cottonwood Canyon TrailRed Cliffs on the Cottonwood Canyon Trail
I especially enjoy walking along the creek and finding a pool with a waterfall, something not to be taken for granted here in the desert of the Southwest.
Creek along the Cottonwood Canyon TrailCreek and blooming shrubs along the Cottonwood Canyon TrailPool and Waterfall on the Cottonwood Canyon Trail
There are many people on the trail today and it has been challenging to get photos without humans in the way. I need to appreciate that we are all here to enjoy nature. Can I learn to allow people to be where they are, not thinking I own the landscape? Hmmm….
Many People Walk the Cottonwood Canyon Trail
What a great hike! I feel strong and healthy. When we all return, the guys from bicycling and me from hiking, we have a good picnic in the day use area before we head back out to our campsites at Black Rock.
Clifford and I are camped in the very northwest corner of Arizona and enjoying the greenness of the spring after the winter’s snow and rain.
Green Green in the Arizona Desert
Monday April 10
I begin the day with the -ates, as I call them: Eliminate, hydrate, circulate, meditate. This reminds me to drink water early and do some tai chi moves to get energy flowing smoothly. By the time I get to meditate, Clifford is up, but I have made coffee and we sit outside for a few minutes since it is sunny and warm enough to do so. It is nice to do this, as I prefer not to jump right into breakfast. Sitting out here I feel good and happy to be alive.
The abundance of filaree gives me opportunities to play around with photo opportunities and editing. These blossoms are no bigger than my pinkie fingernail, so getting good shots of them can be challenging, but I sure enjoy time spend with these little beauties.
Playing with FilareeEditing Tricks with Filaree Blossoms
Tuesday April 11
Clifford and I go for an outing to Pioneer Park, a nature park right on the outskirts of St. George, on this beautiful blue-sky day so he can ride his bike there and I can meander about and take photos. It is a hot day, but we go later afternoon and it is fine and fun for both of us.
Meandering in Pioneer ParkMeandering in Pioneer ParkArch in Pioneer Park
Thursday April 13
It is a cloudy windy day here on Black Rock Road, so other than a walk to bury scraps, I’ve mostly been inside, enjoying the view of Pine Mountain from my table at the big window.
In regard to taking photos when the sky is streaked with chemtrails – Words of Wisdom from Ang: “It is a capture of time and space. No longer worry about it. chemtrails or not, allow the ‘This is what is and it is good’ to prevail on all your images. Deny nothing. Just rejoice in the beauty.” And Words of Wisdom from John Muir: “Everybody needs beauty… Places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.” I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given to be in nature while we are camped on this public land in the Arizona .
Friday April 14
I get up early to use the bathroom and just stay up so as not to wake Clifford. I had a nice hour of quiet time including incense burner, coffee, and quiet sitting (at least five minutes). I prepare a birthday card for Merri for her birthday today, which I will send but not quite this early.
Quiet Time
It takes awhile, but I find the Words of Wisdom from Ang regarding purpose. So good, I am going to put them into the planner where I can find them again, as often as need be. Basically it is this: “As for purpose, joy. Being happy is your purpose. If something makes you happy, do it. If it no longer makes you happy, do something else. There is no debt to be paid, no karma to observe, no task you came to do other than to be joyful in the human experience, to co-create injoy. That’s it, that’s all.” What a great thought to keep in mind and always answers my questions as to what is my purpose.
Saturday April 15
We are up late, but open the door to a gorgeous, calm, blue-day day. It is already warm enough to be outside, so I make coffee and head to my favorite spot by a friendly creosote bush. I take photos to show how green it is, surprising for this Arizona desert. I sent one to our camp neighbor David and didn’t hear back. I hope he is doing okay.
Green Green Green and Filaree in Bloom
Sunday April 16
Another gorgeous morning: blue sky, calm and green green green. The filaree blossoms are starting to wake up. I am filled with joy at the beauty and perfection of it all. Sitting outside I feel warmth on my shoulder from the sunshine, the coolest of a very light breeze on my face, birds singing. What a great time and place to be alive today.
Clifford and I are camped on public land south of St. George, Utah. We had thought to be traveling north by April, but our intended destination in northern Nevada is still too cold and and snowy. The morning temperature here on Black Rock Road is a chilly 31 degrees. The frost is so pretty on the filaree and creosote, I go straight outside to take photos rather than doing the morning routine. Perhaps it is a meditation in its own way.
Frosty Filaree
Sunday April 2
I am up in time for the sun rise. I love seeing the very instant the sun peaks above the horizon. Sometimes I am not up in time, sometimes the sky is either cloudy or hazy, but this morning was perfect.
Blessed Moment of Sunrise
Today we go on an outing with camping neighbors Rick and LeeAnn to Red Cliffs rest area and campground. It is too crowded to park where we can hike in the red rocks, but we park outside and I take photos from the outside vantage point which includes the snow-covered mountain in the background, dark hills in the middle, and red cliffs in the foreground creating interesting layers with a great blue sky beyond.
Red Cliffs, UtahClifford and Carol at Red Cliffs- Photo by LeeAnn
We go on to nearby Quail Lake State Park, which is not too crowded. We have a great afternoon there with a picnic, and Clifford plays and sings. Later, after our dinner, I go to Rick and LeeAnn’s camp to sit at a campfire with them. I’ve enjoyed their company, but they will be leaving soon. Our mutual camping neighbor, David, is in California, so he was not able to join us for the outing or the campfire. While he is away, I’ve been taking care of his beautiful cat, Ravyn.
Quail Lake State ParkQuail Lake State ParkClifford Sings and Plays
A colorful sunset is a great ending to our day.
Colorful Sunset at Black Rock Road
I will miss LeeAnn. It has been nice having her as a friend here. They invited us to go to California with them where they have property, but we are not in a position to pull it off. Too far out of our route back to Montana.
April 3 and 4. Good thing we did the outing yesterday, as it is cold with rain and wind these next two days.
Wednesday April 5
This morning I take photos of frost on the creosote again, and photos of Rick and LeeAnn as they head out on their way to the ranch in California. In the late evening, Clifford picks David up from the shuttle in St, George. David is lucky to have us to take care of Ravyn while he is gone and give him a ride back to his rig. Not sure an Uber would want to drive out to where he is camped.
Frost on Filaree
Friday April 7 our friend Lori arrives. She won’t be able to stay long as she has an appointment in Phoenix to get her truck looked at on Monday. She and I run errands in St, George and go to Pioneer Park on the edge of town. There is a lovely botanical garden there along with the native red rock formations. In the evening we say our good-byes as she will be leaving early in the morning.
Pioneer Park with Lori
Sunday April 9
I sit out for coffee as it is warm enough to do so and it is not long before Clifford comes out with the dulcimer to sing and play in the sunshine.
Singing in the Sunshine
It isn’t long before the filaree open to the sunshine. They are having a superbloom this spring and provide no end of delight.
Filaree Open to the SunFilaree Superbloom
In the afternoon, Clifford and I go on an outing to Tuacahn Ampitheather at St. George. This ampitheater has an amazing setting, being in a earthen bowl surrounded by great red cliffs. Apple trees are blooming, a wonderful contrast to the red rock cliffs and the gorgeous blue sky.
Tuacahn Ampitheater OutingApple Blossoms at TuaCahn AmpitheaterRed Rocks at TuaCahn AmpitheaterRed Rocks at TuaCahn Ampitheater
Today’s Words of Wisdom: Ang had this to say, “What a soul applies awareness to, that is what they draw to them, so try to focus on creative power, balance, and insight, be that in stories, painting, or conversation.” I can easily see that being applicable to me, maybe not in regard to painting, but in stories, journaling, photography, and conversation. A good thought to end this beautiful day.
