Friday, May 6, 2011

Update

The weather has gotten much warmer during  the six days we've been here.  Although the days get hot, it cools down fast as the sun goes down and we appreciate the furnance at night.

Our workload has been quite light so far.  Part of the reason is that tourist season hasn't begun (many of the early-season guests are Europeans); the other aspect is that we've only been trained on cleaning rooms in the inn.  We need to learn how to do the cabins and guest house; how to prepare and serve breakfast; and how to check-in guests and take reservations.

Yesterday we went up on the mountain, at least 1000' higher, where the national park is located, for lunch at "Soup and Pie."  We didn't have soup but their sour cream and raisin pie is heavenly!  Afterwards we went into the park's visitor center and found out about the summer star parties.  Bryce has the darkest skies in the lower 48 providing exceptional opportunities for astronomy..

Late in the day we went for a very difficult run.  We found it exceptionally hard because:  #1.  injuries, weather and travel have kept us from the trails since before Christmas, #2.  the elevation here is 4000' higher than we're used to and #3.  the route out was uphill.  We're going to keep at it and maybe even do the Bryce 5K in August.

This afternoon we went to Kodakchrome Basin State Park, just 14 miles from here.  It's as indescribable as the rest of this area but in a different way.  It's often called a microcosm of the color country southern Utah is known for.  An unusual feature is the spires, which resemble concrete columns.  They are actually vents from defunct geysers that filled with fine, whitish sand which compacted into stone over the millenia.  When the softer surrounding layers eroded, the spires were exposed.   I'll attach some pictures of Kodakchrome's sights so you can see for yourself.



 
These hand impressions looked as if they were pressed into wet clay rather than incised into rock.   Wish we knew how/when they were create and by whom and why.

The Ballerina Spire


Obligatory picture of dessicated tree