My poor twins had to suffer the spring-break-social-media-blitz of super fantastic traveling fun that everyone in the world were enjoying the first part of the week… except them… because mom had school. I was scheduled to give a presentation on Wednesday that I could not miss. So we planned to meet Michelle and Maruan halfway between here and New Mexico to go camping on Thursday. I was very excited to see them because it’s been way too long. I am also deeply in camping debt to B – due to all of the amazing world travel adventures we’ve been on. All the poor man really wants to do is enjoy nature, be one with the dirt, fish, camp and be outdoors preferably in the mountains. I have absolutely no problem with him going on his own, but he really wants me to go too. What can I say? Marriage is a compromise so I make the best of it.
The kids were actually very happy once we got going and even made a deal not to irritate each other on the drive ($5 must be paid to TT if Ari starts to sing and $5 must be paid to Ari if TT starts to whistle – truly a sacrifice as those are their favorite past times). It turned out that my class ran out of time for me to give my presentation and was postponed a week..arggg…..on the positive side my professor also postponed our paper due date so I didn’t have to work on my paper all weekend. We went to Canyonlands National Park/Needles area about 75 miles from Moab and camped at a spot called Hamburger Rock. Jeff and Wyatt made the drive early Saturday morning and met up with us before we hiked. 
Here’s the jist –
* We are a herd of turtles. Everything takes longer than we think
*Michelle spent her birthday with us two years in a row:)
*”This was a hiking trip not a camping trip” says B
*We hiked about 24 miles in two days and my feet really hurt at the end of the second day. 
*We were off the grid! Except for the satellite phone that B rented for emergencies or to maintain the umbilical cord that connects him to work (depending on who you ask) & the occasional multiple texts that came through on Ari’s phone at the top of peaks – oh and my phone keeping track of my steps.
*I realized just how crazy our connection is to technology – and how relaxing it is to leave it behind! except, of course, for the camera I used on my phone and the kindle app.
*Maruan is a shiatsu master anywhere he sets up.
*TT and Ari have never ending energy climbing to the highest spots possible and then can instantly fall asleep at night. It must be all the junk food they’re allowed to eat when camping. 
*B is a busy little camping bee including making dutch oven peach cobbler and home made ice cream from a camping ice cream maker gadget ball – for breakfast. If the apocalypse happened he’d be stoked. 
*God really blessed Utah with some spectacular landscape.
*I earned big time camping credit.
*Oh how I LOVE a good long hot shower
I can relate to the camping compromise! There really is something nice about getting off the grid and having to interact with each other though. Now I actually look forward to our week in the woods. Looks like a great time!
Wow. How nice it is to enjoy the margins (photos, comments, etc) from your wonderful trips, outings and birthdays. Incomparable memories will will remain through the decades to the benefit of all your friends and posterity. Love you all. Keep on truckin’!
That is magnificent scenery! I love driving through it at my age. I believe Denis preferred camping in our younger days. I’ve always been a wimp when it comes to beds and bathrooms, but love the outdoor smells and sights and being removed from the busyness of the world.