We woke up early, our souls charged with excitement as we prepared for the great 2500 mile journey through 6 national parks on their way to Washington State ("The Evergreen State" - capital, Olympia). It was an unusual southwest morning for August, cool and cloudy. Despite the clouds, the air still felt invigorating. Seish,in the previous few days was suffering from finals exhaustion and a touch of digestive discomfort. However, this morning the ailments of the previous days were gone and he felt ready for the adventure.

After final morning preps, and some energizing left over veggie Kefta Ball and fruit salad from the previous Sabbath dinner, we took to the road. It was decided that we would take highway 84 by Ghost Ranch, through Chama and Pagoasa Springs - taking the scenic route. This turned out to be a great choice - even with the road construction as a fabulous good omen was observed just south of Abiquiue - A Blue Heron took flight and crossed our path - blessing us with good fortune. This fortune was manifested as we arrived at the entrance to Arches National Park. A jolly ranger, disappointed us with the news that there was no possibility of back country camping, yet we could however take the one remaining campsite, as it's original reserver called and bailed that day. Incredulous, we happily accepted the last remaining campsite, thanking the blue heron as we thanked the ranger. This was Seish's first visit to Arches - I drove so he could gawk unimpeded at the bizarre formations. As soon as we got past the Window Arch area, I too was on new road. I had never been to the Devils Garden before, which I was certainly curious about and therefore very excited that we had by chance gotten a campsite there. It's a bizzare series of parallel vertical fins and spires, out of which many arches have formed, died, and probably many more to come. We physically claimed and paid for our campsite - which was next to a friendly swiss family who had, among many many other german speaking tourists, rented an RV with which to see the very foreign desert southwest.

After setting up our tent and a quick conversation with the Swiss we set out to do the short hike to Delicate Arch with what seemed to be every other visitor of the park that day. The trail, obviously built for serious foot-traffic was like a freeway - and we took our liberties passing, as others did with us. Of particular note were the number of lovely outdoorsy ladies with well tuned gluteus majors. A particularly attractive pair kept us going, like a carrot hung in front of a horse - another gift from the Heron. I made a mental note that evenings in national parks are potential hot-spots. At the end of the trail was a crowd of more than forty people all positioned on the northern edge of a large off-angled dish, on the south side of which stands the famed delicate arch. Only having seen this arch in photos, and on the Utah license plate, I didn't expect to be so surprised by the monumental nature of the arch. It has a real presence, the same that might be commanded by a massive buddha somewhere in ancient China. After observing with the crowd, Seish and I cruised by the arch, and over to a cliff-top on the opposite side where we snacked on crackers, cheese and salame, and toasted to a great first day with Limoncello as the sun set.

Back in camp, I tried to diminish the discomfort in my hips with some yoga as the german tourists walked by on their way to the bathroom and no-doubt made funny comments about the strange man doing yoga by the side of the road. We washed up, and decided to sleep only on the tarp next to the tent, under the sea of desert stars. At first this seemed a good idea, but at some point during the night I was woken by the realization that the wind had picked up and was about to roll my tent over us and through our camp like a futuristic tumbleweed. I quickly jumped up to stop the tent and staked it down. From this point on, the wind and periodic blasts of sand down my sleeping bag and accross face kept me awake. After a tortured hour I decided that I wouldn't get a lick of sleep unless I hid in the tent, away from the wind and sand. Seish joined me and we both slept well until the sunrise. Ironically, as is always the case in situations like this, the wind stopped to a hush as soon as we got settled in the tent.

-jesse