The past few days have been just as jam-packed with activities as the days before. We did a tour of Anasazi cliff dwellings and a two mile hike to petroglyphs at the Mesa Verde National Park, we drove through yet another snow storm on our way toward Utah, we camped outside of Moab in a BLM campground called Ken’s lake, and now we are camped in another BLM campsite inside Moab.

When we got to Ken’s lake it wasn’t snowing but it was cold and windy. Despite the cold we each grabbed a beer and hiked our way to the lake where we watched swallows gracefully play just above the water; gliding effortlessly and almost seeming to float on the surface. A little later, armed with some warmer clothes, we climbed the main trail up to the waterfall that feeds the lake – called “faux falls” because it is a man-made diversion of the snow melt. It was thrilling to see water shooting out of the solid red rock in an environment that is so desert.

We had trouble keeping warm that night and the high winds prevented us from making a campfire but the next day promised slightly higher temperatures and a clearing sky.

After an oh-so-satisfying breakfast of bacon and eggs (my vegetarianism is wavering toward nonexistence) Yair and I left for a longer hike up the waterfall and to the top of some large rock formations where we found a damn and yet another trail. This trail we meandered down, not knowing how far to go, and ended up parking ourselves next to a small pool in the river with it’s own tiny waterfall and sat silently meditating on the sounds of the water and the feeling of the sun as it slipped through the opening clouds.

On our way back we spotted our first jack-rabbit whose black-tipped ears were visible over the brush long after it began to run from us.

That afternoon I packed a dinner and went back out on the trail – this time alone – and went much further than before. Out on the trail until the sun set I discovered hidden petroglyphs, carvings from the early 1900’s, a beaver-eaten log, a mysterious gate, and a full moon peeking out behind pink-tinged clouds over snow-covered mountains from a red canyon view. Spectacular.

It is treks like these that make me feel that the world is brimming with beauty and delight – we need only get outside to experience it. For me, even at home in a suburban neighborhood, I’ve found that taking a quick walk alone can present me with unanticipated finds that enrich my day. It could be as simple as a raccoon sighting, or a word with your neighbor, or just a flower surprising your from a crack in the sidewalk. It’s all just waiting there for you to experience.

We left the next morning and got into the famed Moab, where we found another BLM campground to stay. Nestled between the Colorado River and a giant canyon-esque red rock formation, and with tons of privacy via some trees and brush, this campground far exceeds my expectations (especially as it is only three miles off the highway). And it’s warm here!

We immediately set to climbing the rock formation, which also happens to be the most extreme off-roading trail I’ve ever seen, and once at the top (after recovering from the startlingly beautiful 360 views of the land and snow-covered mountains) Yair broke out his speakers and began juggling while I did some flow-wanding (much to the delight of some tourists).

I left him up there juggling and probably entertaining a few groups of foreign trekkers who I am sure will be surprised to find a juggler at the top of the strenuous hike that rises over 1,000ft in a mile. But I was too tempted to come back down and enjoy the windless, warm air in our campsite. Back at home I discovered that Catty Arbuckle likes to eat salted peanuts (what a weirdo!) and enjoyed a delicious chocolatey beer “Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout” by O’Dell. I’m excited to hear what stories Yair has when he returns…

PS – I missed perhaps the most mystifying part: while at Mesa Verde we stumbled across a fuzzy, red, ant-looking bug that (no-kidding) squeaked like a squeazy-toy when we got close and hid itself under a tiny pebble to escape the terror of these two “giants” that “attacked it”. An adorable bug. How often do you see that?