rvsue and her canine crew

A few evenings ago I thought I heard the sound of horses’ hooves on the other side of the creek.

Early this morning the crew and I set out to explore.  When Bridget and Spike see me adjusting my walking stick, they hop around with excitement.  Spike and I ford the creek easily.  I look back and see Bridget is still on the other side.  She stands on the opposite bank staring at us.  I’ve played this staring game with her before.  Bridget always wins.

So back across the stream I go, pick her up, and carry the little princess across the terrible, raging waters.

Right away I see evidence of horses.  I take some photos of the creek from this side, as if it’s that much different!  I’m slapping the earth with my walking stick as we go.  Never hurts to give the ol’ snaky-poos some vibe that we’re coming through.  We discover a beautiful, trumpet-type flower with blooms about four inches in diameter.  I also notice wavy lines in the sand.  Hmm . . .  snake or rodent tails?  No horses are seen anywhere.

The day heats up early so I know we’re in for a scorcher.

On the way back, following the creek, Spike suddenly sprints ahead and makes a sharp right turn.  I know what he’s doing!  He ran to the opening in the trees and brush where he can shoot down the bank and run into the creek.  Bridget and I eventually catch up.  “You’re on your own, Bridget.  If you want to go home, you’re gonna have to figure out a way to get across.”

She studies the creek, walking downstream until she finds the shallowest area, and steps in.

I take photos as she goes.  She’s devised a route across the creek where she soon can place her dainty paws up on the rocks and hop from one to the next to make it the rest of the way.  Bridget may be, frankly, a bit strange, but she’s a very smart dog.

By afternoon it’s a hundred degrees.

Going anywhere is out of the question because I cannot leave the crew in the PTV.  All afternoon the three of us rotate between sitting in the shade of our trees where a slight breeze comes through, lolling in the cool of the creek, or lying inside the BLT in front of the fan.   Bridget and Spike like the cool sand underneath the BLT, too.

I’ve been here a week and haven’t turned on the television once.

I’m not optimistic about getting any channels as we are camped in a valley between two pretty high peaks.  Surprise!  Two channels!  I watch the news for the first time in several weeks and, another surprise . . .  Nothing’s changed!  I study maps to plot possible routes we might take this summer.

The crew and I will camp at higher elevations now that summer is here.

I want to hike Zion with Chuck on Monday, his day off.   After that, the crew and I will have to leave for a cooler camp!

Zion Creekside Camp — Exploring the Other Side of the Creek

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rvsue