Day 7

Ottos Landing and arches. A day truly incredible.

Woke up a little early this morning to try and catch the sunrise coming over the mountains. Decided to head to a close trail that the views looked incredible. It was about 25 minutes away so I was a little late on getting there but the clouds covered the sun for a little extra time so I got there with time to spare. I really had no idea what was going to happen or what it would be like.

It ended up being a national monument so I bought the national park interagency pass because I’ll be hitting a few more along the way. The road starts leading way up into the mountains. Winding roads and tight turns and I come around the corner and boom slam on the brakes. It’s a big horn sheep. Only like 15 of them! As I passed them, they stared at me and I stared back. It was kind of an intimate moment because you are only a couple feet away from a beastly looking animal and they just stand their ground. Onward we go.

Corner after corner slowly we make it to the top. As the sun rises farther I start to see that I am on the plateau I was looking at from down below yesterday. It’s unreal.

I have otto’s trail still up on my maps and as I pull into the parking space I get goosebumps.

I know what’s coming just from the small gaps through the trees. As I walk down and see what’s before me I am truly shocked. A gigantic monument of red and brown rock. An unbelievable site. My morning is made and it’s a great start to the day.

After I get my pictures and head back down the mountain I am debating a decision I still have not made yet. This in turn makes the next part of the morning was very stressful. I’ve been in a mental battle over whether or not I should buy a generator. The biggest factor is they are expensive. So, I check out a few places around town and decide finally to do it. I figured if it saves me 20 nights of paying for camping it pays for itself.

So after that big stressful purchase we pack up and head to arches. A little behind schedule but we get there around 1. And I can truly say…

Arches changed my life.

In one day my soul was changed.

The story of the journey so far.

Do y’all believe in coincidence? How about things that are meant to be? Or sometimes people cross paths for a reason? Well, today something happened I can’t explain. I got a couple hikes in at arches and decided to go on one last one before I would search for a campsite for the night. (That’s a whole other story 😂) I decide to go on the landscape arch trail which I will post pictures of. I meander my way through the trails and go farther than the “heavily traveled” trail. You get up to a certain place where you can just wander all around. And that’s exactly what I did. I wanted to get to the highest point I could to get the best pictures of course! So I attempted one spot but decided to be smart I would not risk injuring myself but I sure as hell wanted to get up there. Wasn’t meant to be. I head over farther west of that attempt to a more manageable ascent. We made it.

Again, the view is unreal. Pictures to follow. But, as I turn around I see way up where I was trying to go a small figure. A solo person up there with the majestic mountains behind. So I snap a photo. Thinking I’d post it because it’s a badass picture and thinking there’s no way in hell I would find that person. I take many more pictures and videos and decide I better start heading back because the sun is setting and I don’t want to get trapped out there or lost. Well, that’s exactly what I did I took a wrong turn. I started heading down the wrong path and all of the sudden meet a fellow gentleman who says “which way is out?” Turns out we both were lost. We team up and figure out the right direction. I had turned a little too early. We get to chatting. He’s from Georgia. Living out of his car. Mountain biking for a couple weeks. Lost his landscape job due to covid. He’s out wandering just like I am. I tell him I’m from MN and why I’m here and all about my camper. Then, I tell him about being up on the top taking pictures and tell him I took one of someone way on top of the higher mountain….and sure shit he says, “that was me”. Turns out I had snapped one of the most badass pictures ever and it was of the random stranger who I bumped into after we both got lost trying to find our way back.

The chances of this to me are too crazy for this not to have been meant to be. Universe or whatever you call your higher power had a part in this plan. On my way out as I was about to leave I decided I better get one more picture. That extra picture helped time me perfectly to run into Levi. I met a new friend. A good guy just living life and having fun. Doing things differently just like me. I told the universe “thank you” after that one. I owe it one.

As I drove to find a camping spot I took in the moment. I pulled over on the way out to let a bunch of cars pass. Sure enough, Levi was the second one and honked at me as he went by. You know a good guy when you meet one. I sent him the pictures he took and he sent back this “Your the man! I’ve met some characters the past couple of weeks but you stand out. Hope your blessed w safety on the road and a smooth landing when you get there!”

As I pulled into the rest area I was going to stay at tonight I thought about this journey. What a crazy thing to do but how grateful I am. It’s been insanely stressful just as tonight I learned how to work a generator and hook up my camper for the first time. There will be many firsts on this journey some great and some stressful but today I had one of the best moments so far.

Until next time my friends,

Support the Intended

Bryce P