Weightshifting S2E24: And another one.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.