Saturday, September 19, 2015

Day 1357: Capitol Reef mishaps

Slept in, woke with a migraine, still dehydrated from yesterday's hike.  But we tackled Hickman Bridge trail.  Just .9 miles out.  Just an increase of 400 feet of elevation.  Just 11:00 am and the sun is burning us up.  And another .9 back.  

It was a spectacular hike and we met lots of nice, unprepared people.  We were super prepared and loaded with water and Gatorade and I still got in trouble.  Wimp.  Hickman bridge was massive and dramatic, just like so much of the terrain here.  Oh, but western NY is far more beautiful.  

After a picnic in a grove on the banks of the Fremont River, we traveled the scenic drive to the Wash Basin canyon.  Paved road, then dirt road, then a short hike up the wash.  Coming toward us on the trail, a man carrying a baby in a carrier followed by a pregnant woman and four more young blonde children.  All perfectly fine and my head was exploding.  Bounced back along the dirt road, along route 24 to the hotel.  Can hardly wait for a cool room and darkness. 

I check in, get the keys, return to the car.  Steve's crazed.  The car won't move.  He tries everything, but it's locked up and the brake light is on.  He consults the driver's manual and I Google it.  There has to be an answer for this sudden failure.  Had something broken on that dusty road?

He calls Hertz to figure out what to do.  They make arrangements.  Every sound sets off lightening bolts.  In and out he goes.  Finally, he's back.  The hotel maintenance man found the problems.  Inadvertently, he had hit the emergency brake button.  Was it in the manual?  No!  And, one of the Jeep's safety features is it won't move if the door is open.  Was that in the manual or even on Google? No way! That fine gentleman saved us a fortune and tons of time and aggravation.  

In a few hours, I felt better and had energy for dinner.  The Rim Rock Inn: best restaurant we've been to in many years.  Another day filled with wonders and good fortune. 


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