2020 - Social Distancing from The Walking Mask People Tour
Above: Hippo and Survival. Markagunt Plateau, UT. 10 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Mask People Tour..
Hippo and Survival and their back yard (they actually live in this paradise in the mountains!).
Applying #2 (being with people I really like) and #7 (Ducati) of my Covid-19 Era imperatives.
I was lucky to have picked my friends wisely. Hippo and Survival have three, college educated, married kids and ten grandchildren. True heroes of Western Civilization. — at Markagunt Plateau
PS. Treated to most excellent dinner of corned beef with special mustard sauce and veggies. Desert: Survival's famous rum cake.
Above: Duc (Markagunt Plateau) and Sunset Cliffs (Pansaguant Plateau). Garfield County, UT. 10 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from Mask People Tour
Above: Bright Angel Point, North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ. 11 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Mask People Tour
Park is virtually empty. Lodge is closed.
General store and gas are open. Perhaps 5% of Lodge parking places had vehicles parked.
Great day to be outdoors! Outdoors is good for geezers!
PS. Look carefully and you can see in the image the two nubs of the San Francisco Peaks, just north of Flagstaff.
Above: Grand Canyon National Park. North Rim. Arizona. 11 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Mask People Tour
70MM years (.015% age of earth) of multiple sea beds in this image. I try, but I always find it difficult to think in terms of geologic time. Considering mankind appears in the earth at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds, of a converted 4.6 billion year clock, we should be more humble in the face of our woeful lack of knowledge of the universe as opposed to being arrogant about what we think we know...which is still very little in the grand scheme of things. — at Grand. Canyon National Park North Rim.
Above: Bison. Kiabab Plateau, AZ, 11 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Mask People Tour
Above: Vermillion Cliffs. Northern Arizona. 11 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Mask People Tour
Condors in these cliffs.
Fathers Dominguez and Escalante first Western Culture figures to pass by this way in 1776, coming from Santa Fe, then Mexico.
Above: Lees Ferry, Arizona. Colorado River. 11 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Mask People Tour.
My maternal great grandparents, Abel Alexander and Caroline Skousen DeWitt, coming overland from Eager, AZ, 200 miles south, crossed the Colorado River here in 1877. Following the "Honeymoon Trail," they were on their way to St. George UT to be married for time and eternity in the newly completed St. George LDS temple.
Above: Monument Valley, Utah. 11 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from The Walking Mask People Tour.
Image: Duc parked at Bishop's "little house."
Bishop channels Thelma and Louise, and half of the auto commercials ever made.... not to mention umpteen John Ford movies.
Bishop does Jack out on the outdoor porch of his little house and contemplates the slowly changing shadowing on the rocks as the sun sets.
Out of 50 "little houses" at Gouldings, only 3 occupied.
Outdoors and physical separation is good for geezers.
To say the least, Gouldings is one of my favorite places.
Avoiding the restaurant this time, though. No outdoor seating and they won't deliver to my cabin 1.5 miles away. So, Nissin microwave noodles, and ham cheese convenience store sandwich for dinner.
Brand Man, if you're reading this, 'member when you and I, me on a Rocket Three and you on some Yamaha crotch rocket, circa 2008, started in Mesa, rode to Winslow, ate Mex, captured an image "standing on a corner," and then pounded ground across the rez to Gouldings? Great memories. Love this wide open country. Takes my mind off the bullshit elsewhere.
Not to mention the throaty rumble of the Duc. I looked at my Duc trip log for the 80 mile section from Page to Kayenta. Said top speed 105. Must be a broken brain on the bike. Gonna have to get it fixed.
Above: Wild horses. UT SR 251. San Juan County, UT. 12 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from Walking Mask People Tour
Wild horses couldn't keep me off this road!
Above: Motegi Dugway. UT SR 261. San Juan County, Utah. 12 June 2020.
Out and about on The Duc.
Social Distancing from the Walking Mask People Tour.
Can't see it from here, but, Mwah (sic) and the Duc about to assault a three mile long switch back dirt road climbing up the side of the cliff.
After all! That's why they call it Ducati MULTISTRADA!
Above: Bear's Ears. UT SR 262. San Juan County, UT. 12 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Walking Mask People Tour.
Above: Cheesebox Butte. UT SR 95. San Juan County, UT. 12 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from Walking Mask People Tour
Above: Jacob's Chair. UT SR 95 San Juan County, UT 12 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Walking Mask People
Above: Rafters on the Colorado River. UT SR 95. San Juan County, UT. 12 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Walking Mask People Tour
Above: Hite Marina Lookout, Lake Powell. UT SR 95. San Juan County, UT. 12 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Walking Mask People Tour
Low water still. No one is gonna launch a boat offa that ramp!
Addendum:
High adventure so close to home.
Peterbilt,
Bountiful, UT
Or else you actually went that fast!
Drummer J,
Lehi, UT
Cousin Steve,
Your adventures in Gouldings and monument valley brought back wonderful memories when mom (Aunt Joyce) and I were there. Loved that Navajo fry bread, tacos, and salmon at the lodge!
Best.
Cousin, Cyd,
Ashland, OR
Above: Wolverton Mill. Hanksville, UT 12 June 2020
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Walking Mask People Tour
Lunch spot City Park.
Nobody here. Nearby, penned dog barking his head off at me. Outdoors is good for geezers.
Built 1921 by guy hoping to find the elusive Spanish gold mine in the nearby Henry Mountains. The story board didn't explain the connection between the gold and the mill. I still haven't figured it out.
Inside, full blown mill though...water wheel, leather belts...
Water would have had to be diverted from the Fremont
River, about a mile north of this spot.
Wolverton never found the gold.
Above: Waterpocket Fold. UT SR 24. Wayne County, UT. 12 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Mask People Tour.
Image: Section of 120 mile long monocline eroded over the eons. Principal feature of Capital Reef National Park. Behind is Aquarius Plateau.
Duc, here, is east of the Park, off UT SR 24. — at Waterpocket Fold.
Above: Behunin Cabin. Capitol Reef National Park. UT SR 24. 12 June 2020.
Out an about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Box Car People Tour.
Image has less significance than what is going on in front of me as I click the shutter.
A national park ranger/cop is writing me up for doing 65 in a 45.
I knew he was turning around when I saw his brake light after we passed one another. I thought, briefly, about stepping on it and finding a place to hide... rather, I slowed to 50 and waited for him to catch up. The Behunin Cabin, in Capitol Reef National Park, provided a timely stopping place where we, the cop and Mwah (sic) were safely off the otherwise limited shoulder of UT SR 24.
I was shocked...shocked...when, after the officer left his SUV cruiser with National Park markings, he did not kneel before me, or apologize for stopping me. I thought kneeling cops was the new paradigm for police action in the US.
Rather than kneeling, which as I said, threw me off, the officer was professional in all respects, assertively enforcing the law.
Cop: You were speeding, 65 in a 45, Sir.
Bishop: You're right
Cop: License and insurance, please?
Bishop: Here they are.
Cop: Please stay by your bike for a couple of minutes. I have to return to my cruiser
Bishop: I didn't exactly stay by my bike. I walked further away from the officer to check out the Behunin cabin story board, and to capture the image seen on this post. The.officer didn't seem to notice...and, I returned to my bike when when he.left his cruiser and walked back toward my bike
Cop: Sign this citation. Its a federal speeding citation. You can pay it off or contest it in Federal Court.
Bishop: Will do. I respect the cops, particularly in these difficult times. Thank you for the work you do to keep us all safe.
Cop: Thank-you, Mr. Taylor. Drive safely.
Back on the Duc, I thought of the irony in my situation. We live in two countries today. One where police work is valued, where citizens have an understanding that the "thin blue line" is all that separates civilized society from chaos. My view.
In the other America, the police are vilified, accused of being racist. I've seen the numbers. While there may be exceptions, there is no widespread evidence of police racism in the US today.
Yet, large numbers of our population support lawless, property destructive protests as a type of virtue signaling their disdain for perceived racial bias, white supremacy, and so-called white privilege.
These virtue signaling citizens, and their political leaders, support curtailing police action against lawless property destruction.
In a New York Post Op-ed today, John Podhoretz described two thirty something Minneapolis moms who vocally supported the lawless rioters, and then had their husbands sit in front of their homes through the early morning hours to ward off neighborhood looting of their own homes. True idiots. Like the hypcritical limousine liberals before them, these Prius Wokesters signaled their virtue in opposition to putative police racism. But, unlike the limousine liberals, who had the money to hire security guards and to surround their properties with electric fences, the Prius Wokesters have no such means to protect themselves. As Podhoretz points out, they are likely to reap what they sow: destruction of their own properties.
City leaders unwilling to enforce the law leads to anarchy and destruction. Reread the accounts of the 1918 Bolshevik Revolution in Saint Petersburg. It doesn't sound much different than what we are seeing in Seattle today.
If you're willing to give up your personal freedoms and property to anarchists fine. Live like the Russian peasants did for 70 years... subjugated, poor, and unfree. Better yet, cooperate as you are led to the boxcars for harboring views not consistent with the State's views.
Pas moi. That's why I listed H and K as #1 of my Covid era priorities. When the cops are neutered, there's only you who stands between your family, property and the mob.
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” George Orwell — at Elijah Cutler Behunin Cabin.
Above: Hickman's Natural Bridge. Capitol Reef National Park. Utah. 12 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from Mask People Tour.
Two mile round trip hike. 500 vertical foot climb. 87 degrees. I was worn out on return. Consumed all 16 oz. of water I carried in my hip pocket, and then some more when I returned to the Duc.
This was a first time hike for me.
Lottsa young families and young people on the trail. Only saw two other geezers, a man and a woman, not together, each alone like Mwah (sic).
Contrary to the empty Rith Norm of the Cand Granyon, yesterday, Capital Reef National Park is very busy. The visitors center is open and the lot is full. The Hickman Natural Bridge trail head parking was maxed. I found a narrow slot for the Duc.
Some tourists were wading and dipping in the OK flow Fremont River. From what I saw, the great American road trip vacation is alive and well. I didn't do a survey of tags, but I'd expect a greater than normal number of the visitors are Wasatch Front people.
Ordinarily when I come to this place I run into some French speakers. Not this time. With Covid-19, I''d guess more locals traveling closer to home, and fewer ferners (sic) coming here.
That's how Mwah (sic) and TIMDT are thinking about the next twelve months or so. That's why we got the Sprinter. It's now being fitted out in Ogden.
Post Covid behavior on the trails is interesting. Some people give me very wide berth...others pass by as normal. Outdoors, obviously, is a good place to be for minimizing infection from aerosol transmission for any air transmitted disease. About 0.1% of Covid-19 infections occur outdoors. Considering that fact, it is a bit weird to see so many people behaving as though everyone else on the trail has bubonic plague. At least I didn't see any hikers wearing masks. That's a good sign that the "outdoors is good" message is getting through.
One of my complaints about masks (and "social" distancing) is that each changes the social paradigm of American human interaction. Even lib, Trump hater, epidemiologist Osterholm acknowledges that masks are of no efficacy outdoors, and only marginal efficacy indoors. Osterholm says, rightly, "physically distance, don't socially distance." He seems to realize the culturally harmful aspects of masks and distancing.
Above: Capitol Dome. Capitol Reef National Park. Utah. 12 June 2020 (unable to identify the rock formation at right).
Out and about on the Duc.
Hickman Natural Bridge Trail.
So that's why they call it "Capitol Reef!" — at Capitol Reef National Park.
Above: Aquarius Plateau (beyond). Garfield County, UT. 13 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Walking Mask People Tour.
Chimney Rock hike. four miles. 600 vertical feet. Image of Aquarius Plateau taken from this hike located at Capitol Reef National Park.
The Chimney Rock hike at Capital Reef National Park is a tradition for me. I've done the hike at least a dozen times in the last twenty years. Most of the "heavy lifting" of the hike happens in the first mile, a pretty steep climb of five hundred vertical feet. The trail then ranges across a plateau with expansive vistas of the Waterpocket Fold and the Aquarius Plateau before descending into a gully. There is a climb from that point of about one hundred vertical feet to the top of a knoll whereupon it is about a half mile descent to the trail head parking.
The five hundred feet, steep uphill climb, was palpably easier for me after my forty pound weight loss, accomplished since the last time I hiked here two years ago.
In the far distance of image, the Aquarius Plateau, rising above eleven thousand feet. On it grows the largest stand of ponderosa pine in the world.
Aquarius. Reminds of the sixties..."the age of Aquarius"... hippies, free love, dropping out, zoning out.
A lot of hippies, soi disant Buddhists, Socialist drop outs, and artists have moved into this area over the last fifty years, no doubt animated by its Aquarius theming and off the beaten track location.
In a way, these Aquarius drop outs are the "ancestors" of today's social protestors and property destroying anarchists. Today's social outliers are more bent on violence than their predecessors, and they have the support of main stream media outlets...the wind at their back, so to speak. It's an I'll wind that blows nobody any good.
A Dad, Mom and teen daughter arrived at the trail head at the same time as I did. I said to them, "you guys go ahead, I'm slow. I'm the Peterbilt of hikers, I huff and puff on the way up, but keep up a pretty good pace on the down hill." Dad smiled, and said something like "no problem." They lingered to read some signs and I walked on.
As I expected they kept an uphill pace that was faster than mine, and soon, I could hear them coming up behind me. I stepped aside and let them pass. "Is this your first time at Capitol Reef?" I asked. "Yes," Mom said. But, that was it. They didn't seem interested in engaging in conversation. I've noted an awkwardness on the part of many hikers who seemed to be concerned about the social distancing protocols set up in the wake of the Coronavirus scare. I've noted that normal interaction between strangers has been altered by Coronavirus distancing protocols. Many strangers you pass on the trails seem positively freaked out about getting near another hiker... so much so, that their normal instinct for being friendly seems suppressed.
Periodically the family of three would stop to take in the magnificent vistas and I would overtake them. On these occasions no words were exchanged.
Half way through the hike, at the two mile marker (the hike is a loop), I saw the family, ahead of me climb the trail to the top of a knoll and then disappear from view. At that point I sat down on a rock to take a mid hike rest and a drink of water. I sat there for two or three minutes.
After my break I resumed my hike and hiked to the top of the knoll where I had last noted the family of three. There they were standing, looking at me as I approached. "We wondered where you were," Dad said. "We were worried about you. We've been standing here waiting for you."
Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Here I had been thinking that this family was somewhat aloof and didn't want to have much to do with me. And, I find out that they were worried about me. They must have been thinking, "boy, that old geezer is out here on this remote hike all alone. I wonder if he'll be OK. We should keep an eye out for him."
Next, a very friendly conversation ensued.... at a more than six foot social distance of course. The family was from Houston. They had hoped to do an international trip this year, but on listening to President Trump call out the benefits of travelling domestically, they changed their plans to do "the great American road trip." They were bowled over by Utah's beauty. They were visiting all five Utah National Parks."
It just goes to show that quite often all is not as it seems. Its never smart to rush to judgement about people based on superficial first impressions. Stated another way, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Above: Mt. Terrill. Sevier County, UT. Gooseberry Road. 13 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc. 35 mph wind gusts at this location.
Social Distancing from The Mask People Tour
Duc parked at 10,276 feet elevation on Gooseberry Road, at 28 miles of curves and low usage, one of Utah's great motorcycle roads. Mt. Terrill, behind, stands at 11.5 thousand feet. Here, we're on the southern end of the ninety mile long Wasatch Plateau.
Feeling safe with no mask people in sight...in fact, no people in sight, period.
Speaking of The Walking Mask People, I love the zombie memes. Look. I get it that it's a stretch to conflate The Walking Mask People with The Walking Dead. But, hear me out.
I've long seen the zombie memes as a metaphor for any human population stirred up in a submissive mob frenzy. I am sure that the authors of zombie literature think the same way. That is, zombie behavior is an apt metaphor for mob or centrally controlled group human behavior
"The Walking Dead (Robert Kirkman), World War Z, (Max Brooks), and The Cell (Stephen King) all chronical evil, destructive machinations of zombies, the functional equivalent of a destructive mob of humans.
The central element of the zombie meme is control. On some level there a source of control... power... behind zombie behavior. In King's "The Cell," an otherworldly entity, in the body of a zombie, captures unwitting innocents by sending them a controlling message via their cell phones. The "entity" has control over the mob and directs the mob to accomplish his evil intent.
If zombie memes are a metaphor for real life, what is a real life functional equivalent? Start with any situation where a compliant, submissive, unquestioning population is caused to universally respond to a demand from a power source. The demand might be I innocuous or it could have sinister implications.
A demand like "wear masks," might seem innocuous. But, unquestioning compliance to mask wearing, especially when there is legitimate debate about a mask's efficacy, particularly out doors, can also be seen as a first step down a slippery slope to "zombocracy." A population that does not question authority will cease to become a free population. It will become a zombie population. Just sayin'.
Above: Bishop, Friar, and Monk. Salina, UT. 13 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from The Walking Mask People Tour
Over pizza, outdoors in the brisk breeze, the Bishop, the Friar, and The Monk talk Utah politics and cows.
Talked about Utah governor's race. I noted the frequency Greg Hughes campaign signs seen in rural Utah while on my Social Distancing from The Walking Mask People Tour. None of the other candidates had signage in places like Scipio, Junction, Panguitch, Kanab, Mexican Hat, or Bicknell. Could Hughes, the unabashed Trump supporter among the four candidates, be banking on a rural Utah vote to put him over the top if there is a close race on the highly populated Wasatch front?
We agreed that John Hunstman gave an outstanding presentation to La Societe Deux Magots a week ago. He showed great vision about the possibilities for Utah's future. But, we worried about his ruling class credentials and the possibility that his focus as governor would be on his national aspirations and not on Utah. Voire Pierre Delecto.
We liked Thomas Wright. He is well qualified. Rob Bishop, his running mate, had a solid record as US congressman for Utah District One. But, his campaign hasn't seemed to catch on. He also gave a great presentation to La Societe Deux Magots, but his focus was on more traditional issues such as taxes, education spend, development... as opposed to Huntsman's grand vision for the state.
None of us knew much about Cox. We felt that his governorship would be a clone of Herbert's. Herbert was a good steward and not a risk taker.
The Monk is a great friend. There are many things to like about him... character, sense of humor, grand, global experiences and story telling, but, what I like most is that, as a cattle rancher, he is grounded in the land. No pun intended.
The Monk raises cattle on his 7000 acre privately held cattle ranch, ranging across 5000 feet of elevation change, in central Utah.
Emerson said, "The land is the appointed remedy for whatever is false and fantastic in our culture. The continent we inhabit is to be physic and food for our mind, as well as our body. The land, with its tranquilizing, sanative influences, is to repair the errors of a scholastic and traditional education, and bring us to just relations with men and things."
The Monk, real and grounded, comes to mind when I remember this quote
— in Salina, Utah.
Above: TIMDT. Franck's Restaurant, Salt Lake City, UT. 13 June 2020.
End of the Social Distancing from The Walking Mask People Tour.
Dining out with the "Princess and the Pea," who is wearing one of her new "TIMDT Originals" knitted shawls.
Glad to be back!
Princess TIMDT waiting for the Sprinter and her Frette sheets to do road trips.
— with Margaret Taylor at Franck's Restaurant.
Addendum:
Hi Steve,
Enjoyed the pictures and narrative. It certainly is sad times here in America!…Americans need to “Guard The Gains”…Keep well.
Boeing,
Sedona, AZ
Hi Steve,
We missed you by a week......I was with Ronnie Weinzapfel from Texas riding out of Hanksville (as our base camp) and we both left for home on the 5th.
Our original plan was to ride the New Mexico BDR starting May 1 but the Dem. Governor kept moving the quarantine date back so we decided to move the trip to Utah since they opened up. The motel manager in Hanksville said they didn’t have one Covid case in the whole county.
Take Care,
Wise Man,
Colorado Springs, CO