Hovenweep

 Oh hi kid!

We just got home from our trip to hovenweep. It was really nice, the weather was perfect. It was further away than I remembered. We took the Buick because the jeeps still leaking. Plus, you’re brothers prefer the luxury and leg room. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if the Jeep will even be  viable for the five of us with how tall you boys are. The Buick pulls the little trailer effortlessly. It did have a couple of hiccups. The temperature gauge died momentarily and I got a check engine light. I cleared that and I’ll see if it comes back. Freaking cars.

We left earlyish on Friday and got to our campsite mid afternoon. I was glad of it because it was first-come-first-serve. The light was gorgeous so we went down to the ruins as soon as we got camp set. It seemed smaller this time, maybe because your brothers are so much bigger. The little visitors center was closed, but the the rangers had set up a little kiosk and gave us some interesting background. In that little presentation and several other places it was mentioned how these pueblos were populated by extended family units. The rooms were tiny and the architecture seemed precise. They said that it was rebuilt regularly and was continuously populated for over 400 years. I wonder with all of our stupid politics if we’ll come anywhere close to that.

The coopers got there a little before 6, and by then all the spots were taken, so they squeezed in with us. Mom made us tostadas with hamburger, beans, fresh guacamole, fresh onions ant tomatoes, fresh salsa and her famous green salsa. We eat like kings when she comes with us. Your brothers always contrast her meals with the infamous dropped ramen incident. 

Saturday morning we got up and mom again regaled us with an amazing breakfast including 2 pounds of fresh cooked bacon, fluffy cheesy scrambled eggs and pancakes. It all tasted so good in that crisp morning. We then went to explore Lowry Pueblo, which is a rebuilt structure that you could go into. It was interesting how deliberate their architecture was. From the intimacy of the circular kivas to the starkness of the outer wall with no obvious entrances. I wonder what stresses and fears they had to protect themselves from every day. 

We then visited the Anasazi cultural center, which was closed. They did have a featured excavation of a kiva on a beautiful hilltop with a 360 degree view. My hero father Escalante had come across that and mentioned it in his diary Pageant In the Wilderness.

We grabbed a delicious authentic Mexican lunch in Cortez then drove 40 miles to the 4 corners...which was closed due to Covid. Bleh.

On the way back to camp we stopped by the Sand Canyon Pueblo, which is an un excavated ruin that was originally bigger than the structures in Mesa verde. That was in a really pretty canyon. On the way back to camp, I was awestruck by the beautiful rolling farmland, the deep sky and a stunning sunset. I had fantasies of buying a little farmhouse out there just for the scenery.

Last night mom made nachos. She had a bigger meal planned, but it was late and dark, and we were still a little full from lunch. We enjoyed a second night with a great campfire, crisp but not cold temperatures I woke up that night to the sound of wildlife. The high pitch howling of coyotes and the little scratches of mice...in our freaking food box! I went over to investigate. I found a little mous at the bottom of the box munching on our bananas. I tipped the box up to let him out and at that same moment two more scurried across the table and jumped in. I thought to myself that one mouse was borderline cute, three were outright revolting. I chased them all out and covered the box. The next morning mom trashed everything and washed out the container. That nice lady is pretty dang tough. She never complains and just makes everything fun. 

This morning we got up with the simple goal of getting home in time for dinner at grandmas. We just made it. We did get snow in the canyon on the way home and winter temperatures when we got here. Autumn is short here in Utah.

In other news, BYU is 6-0 against crap teams and they’re thinking that they’re all that, it’s exhausting. 2 more weeks before the Utes finally start. The team looks promising, I can’t wait!

Well kid, take care. We love you and we’re so excited for next month.

Love,

Pops!