Welcome to the Desert

Sweat. There may not be much water in the desert, but there is definitely a lot of sweat.

Thanks to Jeremy (aka Opie) at Go Honda my car is up and running again! Thanks Jeremy!!!

Saturday was a long day of driving from Boulder, CO to Mesquite, NV.. Lots of beautiful country. From the high mountains in Colorado to the red desert of Utah. Sun, tunes, books on CD (thanks to John) and lots of miles.

There is something liberating and somewhat distinctly American about road trips. I've lived in Europe, and although I loved the experience, the place just isn't that big. There just aren't that many places on earth where you can get in your car and drive for days without having to use your passport or learn a foreign language. It's what brought me back from Europe, the longing for more space.

There is lots of space in Nevada from what I have seen so far. Lots of pretty barren landscape dotted by oasis's of civilization. The desert is beautiful, no doubt about it. The colors, especially in the morning and evenings, can be incredible. The stark nature of rock and cactus has an austere beauty also.

But the main characteristic of the desert on the solstice is the heat. It's incredible and relentless. I know that the 105 degrees it got up to here yesterday isn't as high as the mercury goes, but for a mountain girl it was quite a shock. I look around at all the new development in Mesquite and realize none of it would be happening if air conditioning hadn't been invented! Laying by the pool yesterday afternoon was wonderful, but eventually you have to seek respite from the sun and heat indoors.

Kodi keeps looking at me like I've lost my mind. Friday we were playing in the snow up by Diamond Lake in the Indian Peaks wilderness area above Nederland, CO., and now we're in the desert. He's definitely questioning my sanity. I'm thinking he would have been happier staying in Boulder, but I would have missed his company. I take him out here in the mornings before the heat sets in and again after the sun sets, but it's still too hot for his taste. He has also noticed a distinct lack of squirrels here. Squirrels and frisbees are like religion to Kodi. Although he finds the lizards that occasionally scurry across the sidewalk entertaining, they are not squirrels. Anyway, who has the energy to chase anything when you're in the desert wearing a fur coat? Hopefully he'll forgive me later this summer when we are back in Colorado camping and then up in Canada. I keep telling him about all the squirrels in Canada!

Tomorrow the whole family is piling in the car and heading to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I'm the only one in our clan who has been to the North Rim before and I can't wait to see it again. With beautiful views, cooler temps and fewer people, the North Rim is my favorite.

For today though, I see a swimming pool in my immediate future. I did do a bike ride this morning. Even by 9am the temperature was climbing and I was melting. Sweat was pouring off me like a waterfall.

So there is water in the desert. It's just called sweat.

Getting Started

Tom Petty wrote a song that said "waiting is the hardest part". I'm trying to leave on the first leg of my summer travels on Saturday, but right now I'm in a bit of a holding pattern.

Luckily my friend John is letting me stay at his place in Boulder. Boulder is fun and the weather has been beautiful. It's the kind to place you can ride your bike to just about anywhere, which is especially good right now since I've had to put my car in the shop. Murphy's Law right? Getting ready to take a summer-long road trip and my car decides it needs some attention. I'm just grateful it happened now, and not in the middle of nowhere on the road. Hopefully it will be all fixed up by Friday and I can leave on Saturday as planned.

The first leg of my journey will take me to Mesquite, Nevada to visit my parents. They just moved to Mesquite this month, and the timing is perfect since Sunday is Father's day. I can't remember the last time I was able to visit my dad on Father's day. My brother is also in Nevada, so it will be nice to have the whole family together. I have to admit, I'm a little afraid of the heat. I checked the forecast yesterday and it's looking like 100 degrees and lots of sun while I'm there. For a mountain girl like me, that sounds like visiting the surface of the sun! Sounds like a great time to lay by the pool and work on my tan.

I'm not particularly good at just sitting around. That's one of the reasons I decided to take the summer off. I want to learn to be a little quieter, a little more still. I normally fill my time with projects and to do lists. I want to get to know who I am when I'm not taking care of everyone and everything else. I'm curious to find out what happens when I take all the giving energy that I put out into the universe and focus it back on myself. I know it sounds a little selfish, but sometimes a little selfish is what we all need.

Waiting sometimes is the hardest part. Then again, maybe that's when the best stuff happens.