Captial Reef area

The day I forgot my pen, twice, and left my brain at home in the cooler.

The day that Rex broke a record, and finished five plein air paintings.

No pen, no pencils, no mind

My day started out a little rough around the edges. After an adrenaline-spiked drive to our next plein air spot, the last bits of brains I had leftover were sucked up by the sun. And I had forgotten my pen, any pen or pencil to write with. Although one was just a short walk away, I decided to forgo the pen and spend my remaining energy making my way down to a nearby dried up riverbed. I could see tiny fish squirming their way from puddle to puddle, wiggling over rocks. I dipped my bare feet into one puddle, waiting to feel their little bodies bump up against mine. The cold water felt wonderful, and the fish show was a welcome distraction. I also noted damselflies, a hummingbird, and a myriad of other interesting bugs.

Diverted waters

Our camp spot wasn’t too far away from our plein air location, and also met the meandering riverbed, but was close to the point of diversion. A local ranch had cut off the river and diverted the water for irrigation. Along the nearly dried muddy bed, Rex found several animal tracks.

Double rainbows and biting bastards

Later a threatening but brief storm rolled through camp, and lightly dampened our things but left us with fist pumps. A double rainbow!

We dinned on another tasty homemade dehydrated meal—pasta with meat and sun-dried tomatoes.

Although we weren’t the only ones in camp who thought the meal was delicious. While stirring the pasta, a swarm of hornets came in for a closer look. The hornets tried to eat our supper. I left my stir-fork in an empty clean bowl, waiting for the food to finish cooking. When I came back to the kitchen to check the pasta status, four or five of those stinging bastards were head-deep in the pasta—they were literally eating the pasta off the fork. Tiny bites snarled from the edge of the pasta. It was one of the most gruesome scenes I’ve ever witnessed, like a tale straight from the king of horror—Stephen King. I dumped dish soap and water in the bowl, and quickly served our dinner on plates and far away from the kitchen. Rex is allergic, and we didn’t dare take a chance.