Weightshifting

S2E24: And another one.

Oct 3, 2023

A striking view of layered red rock formations under a clear sky, showcasing the natural beauty and grandeur of a canyon landscape.

Day 24: Oct 3, 2023
Apple Valley, UT
Miles: 0

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I awake after a restful slumber. The sleeping conditions were damn-near perfect: cool overnight temperatures and stillness in the air. We went to bed with a few options for the course of today, but it’s apparent to us we should settle in for an additional night.

A white SUV with a yellow rooftop tent parked in a wooded area, partially obscured by the surrounding greenery, evoking a sense of adventure and outdoor living.

We haven’t stayed here more than a night in the past and always vowed to do so when given the chance. We’ve only encountered a few camp spots that warrant a multiple-day camp, and Gooseberry Mesa ranks highly on our list.

Naz makes coffee out of the back of a white SUV equipped with an open yellow rooftop tent and a rear kitchen setup, in a natural wooded campsite.

The sun rises gently, perched lower in the sky at this time of year. I call into a Zoom meeting in the morning, sharing the view with my colleagues. The call ends with fruitful results.

A rustic wooden fence in the foreground frames a panoramic view of distant red rock cliffs under a clear blue sky.

A dusty red dirt road meanders through a serene desert landscape, flanked by shrubs under a vast blue sky.

Jen and I take a walk around the mesa. We explore the northeast side of the rim, and after a mile and a half, stumble upon a spur that ends with a campsite for the ages. The vista is what makes Utah, well, Utah. Zion is in the distance.

A panoramic view of a vast canyon with layered rock formations in various hues of red and orange, under a wide blue sky with delicate cloud trails. A pile of rocks and wood debris making up a non-active camp fire ring is in the foreground.

A rocky desert landscape with a solitary dirt road winding through the arid terrain, surrounded by sparse vegetation, under a clear blue sky.

We contemplate relocating our setup, but the open space and lack of trees, coupled with wind direction, equates to a potentially rocky evening. Jen refuses to tempt fate and also cites laziness when it comes to packing up and moving.

We stroll back, recognizing that a three-mile walk did the body some good.

Lunch prep is simple today because I’m moving slower. Fighting either extended allergies or a small cold, I know postponing our drive was the right choice.

With the mesa as a backdrop, I do some work and catch up on newsletters, while Jen dwells in the tent, reading and relaxing.

The afternoon bleeds into nighttime, and in rotates our evening routine. Cleaning up dishes from dinner, tidying up the camp area, extinguishing our Firecan, bathroom breaks for us and Barb, and finally climbing into the tent’s bevy of blankets.

We feel satisfied with today’s inertia and are confident we’ll embrace tomorrow’s migration.