SKY SEEKING

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

. April 18 2018 .

“It is possible from here to gaze down at the backs of soaring birds…”

~ Edward Abbey

Wrapped in blankets, coats, and shrouded against the wind, the dawn peering above the blue horizon, stars still twinkling in the west, we made our way to the arch.

A huddle of photographers were already there, and I scrambled around the rocks, seeking out a view of the sky.

Dawn came, rays over distant mountains, through a haze of windswept dust.

The desert has been breathing deeply, these past few days.

And after a few photos, I set aside my camera and watched the land emerge in pink and purple hues, letting the wind envelope me.

SMALL WONDERS OF THE CANYONS

scrambling up and over huge humps of rock, arriving breathless to look upon the landscape stretching out as far as the eye can see.

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tiny patches of scarlet Indian Paintbrush flowers, caught in cracks, shivering in the breeze.

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feeling submerged, surrounded by the wild.

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the lonely call of the wind.

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stories of rangers and cowboys told in old yellow photographs.

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the changing colours of the rocks and sky:
pink and red - yellow and blue - orange and gold.

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midday siesta; stretching like lizards, soaking up the warmth of the orange rocks.

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sun sparkles seen through a straw hat.

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a hidden cave, tucked into the cliffs, holding an ancient secret…

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and a moment of free and wild abandon, toes stamping, dust stirring, dancing in that cave…