Thursday, March 23, 2023 is a chilly morning at 39 degrees in northwest Arizona where Clifford and I are camped on public land. An overcast sky indicates that rain is on the way, but at least there is a nice rainbow to show for it.
Two nearby camp neighbor friends, Lori and LeeAnn, and I have an outing planned to Gunlock Utah State Park outside of St George, near the Nevada border. Due to the rain this month, Gunlock Falls is quite dramatic and making the news. We get ready to go despite the overcast sky, but Lori’s truck won’t start. After considerable delay, including reading the owner’s manual and calling the Ford dealer, which didn’t help, and a tow truck arriving, the truck starts. We ponder a bit about the wisdom of traveling, but soon we are on our way to Gunlock Falls, a little over 20 miles northwest of St. George, Utah. When Gunlock Reservoir overflows, the water spills down the rock face, creating dramatic waterfalls before joining the Santa Clara River. It is raining hard when we get there and there is no place to park so we go to the nearby reservoir and I take photos in the rain, feeling quite delighted with all of it. When the rain lets up we go back to the falls, the rocks are wet, and lots of people people are still there, many of them slipping and sliding on the wet rocks.
I take photos from different angles, dodging around people of all ages, as dogs pull on leashes adding to the congestion. Because of the over-abundance of humans and their pets, (and, yes, I realize my friends and are are part of this melee), it is tricky getting the photos that I might have hoped for, but I am happy that we are able to be here, and I trust there will be photos suitable for a blog at some future time.
After spending time at the falls, we hike a bit for different views of the area.
Friday, March 24 is another chilly day with rain and sleet forecast.
Today we three gals go to Colorado City/Hildale on the Arizona-Utah border east of St George for spring water and raw milk, despite the forecast of snow at that elevation. Maxwell Park at Hildale has wonderful spring water with hydrants so people can fill their jugs with good water. After we fill our water jugs, I meander about taking photos.
The fresh snow on the red cliffs is a delight to me. Lori, as the driver, is a little uneasy, understandably, because of the forecast for more snow, so we are soon on our way with a brief stop at Finey Farm Store for really good cheese and raw milk for kefir.
On our way back to Black rock, we stop at an ice cream shop in St George where homemade ice cream is served. I probably don’t need such, but it is really good ice cream!
I am very appreciative of these outings with women friends, both for the good company and for the chance to see the beauty of nature in this part of the country.
Both outings have given me a chance to get some photos that I like, which will be fun to share in a blog someday.