Those Fireside Chats

   So apparently this trip doesn't follow any law of diminishing returns. Today was our lazy day. We didn't do anything because of the rain. Sure we could've been depressed and sad, but NO! We're productive sons of God. Throughout this trip we've taken way too many photos. You've only seen a small portion of them, because it takes forever to format these photos on a post, especially when using a phone's 3G connection as a vessel to the annals of the internet. I'm reminded of a tour guide when I utter the words "If you'll look to your right, you'll see a slideshow of many of the photos taken so far." But it must be said. That is just a small portion of what we've taken so far, as everyone seems to have a trigger happy finger. That's all well and good though, as it gives us something to do on these days plagued with rain and cold.

    Today started with a dreary beginning, with the aforementioned rain. We knew it was coming and were prepared with rainy day activities to pass the time. With no hikes planned, it was time to restock. After a decently long and time-consuming trip to Walmart for provisions, and Radioshack and O'Reilly's Auto Shop to buy fuses for Rastro the Astro, we hunkered down for a bit of light reading. I say light reading because I read about 2 pages. ;) The season finale to our unanimously favorite show "Chuck" had premiered earlier in the week, and no amount of low reception and dirt could stop us from seeing the wonderful conclusion to a great season. So that was a lovely diversion for a bit of time while the worst of the rain passed.

    After finishing up with "Chuck" we decided to hunker down to going through the photos we'd taken so far. About an hour later… seriously… we had trimmed the fat from about 1000 photos, to about 500 photos. I'll reiterate that bit about the trigger happy fingers. Most were pictures of the same landscape from different angles, and it was quite hard to pick between them. I also discovered the magical "Enhance" button in iPhoto and how it makes most every picture look exactly as it did in real life. This was a blessing, as many of our pictures were taken through a car window. Now don't get down on us for being cheaters. Enhancing is a vital aspect of making our photos enjoyable for the masses.

Our Mecca

    Here is where I'm going to overlap with Keegan's post a little bit, but just roll with it. After the wonderful dinner that he mentioned in the previous post, if you could follow the run-on sentence, we headed out to find some free WiFi. Rumor had it that Zion Lodge had some of the good stuff for free. We boarded the shuttle bus alone. Everyone had had enough of Zion for the day, it seemed. After sitting in the rear car of the shuttle for a bit (Yeah, those driver's are legit. They navigate mountain roads with two-car train buses like pros.), the driver came back to the rear to ask us where we were headed. I guess he didn't want to make any unnecessary stops if he didn't have to. When we informed him of our plans, he enlightened us of greener pastures in the form of an internet café in town. For that, I am eternally grateful. Whoever you are mystery bus driver, you are a gentleman and a scholar!

    We disembarked the bus, striding triumphantly through the rain back to Rastro, with dreams of multi-megabyte speeds running through our heads. After arriving back to camp we made headway towards the little town of Springdale. Finally, we arrived at Pioneer Lodge, the best little café I've ever entered. As Keegan pulled into the first available parking spot, the van beside us must have been trying to back out as well. Through no fault of our own, the driver was inconvenienced. As such, I was made to witness the most terrifying glare from the lady driver that man has ever had to endure. That look will frequent my nightmares for the next fourteen days. Seriously, my soul began to weep. And it wasn't even my fault!

The best little cafe in Utah.

    From here on out is the real meat of the post, so don't worry too much about reading that first bit… oh, you already read it… Well as previously mentioned, this is the best little café ever visited by yours truly. Not so much from the fact that the coffee was pretty bangin' good, but from the experience of the entire stay there. This singular 2 hour experience has me so excited for the rest of the trip that I couldn't go to sleep without writing about it tonight. We noticed that they offered free WiFi with a $2.99 purchase, which was not a
huge commitment for Keegan and I, being fledgling baristas ourselves. I never miss a chance to see how differently a drink can taste when made by a different person. This is where we met Jaymes Whitmann. (Name Change for Privacy. I got your back Jaymes) This individual made our stay more than pleasant. He was so ready to make us feel welcome and at home, that I had to reassure him that I was indeed quite comfortable. If every business was run this way, I'd be broke for spending all I had in coffee shops. Seriously, man, you really made us feel at home. If any of you ever find yourselves in Springdale, Utah, be sure to stop by Pioneer Lodge and order a mocha latte. He'll set you up right.

Look how awesome that looks! And it was toasty warm in there.

    As we drank our drinks, Keegan began writing his post, and the rest of us messed around with the photos and got them up online so that lovely slideshow on the right could be made. As I was going through them all, and picking out the best of the best, a man came up and asked about our travels. We chatted a bit about Bryce Canyon, Zion, and our future endeavors, and also a bit about HDR photography. He seemed to know his stuff, but sadly, I didn't get his name. Another gentleman, who stuck around a bit longer came up and inquired about which was my favorite photograph from the trip. I showed him a few that I was especially proud of and we chatted for a bit longer. He specialized in photographing hummingbirds. So I showed him a photo of Azul, our friendly bird companion, and he handed me his card. Greg Schrodinger was his name (or half of it. Again changed for privacy). His website was on the card. We talked for another half hour or so, and eventually parted ways as the café was closing up. We said our farewells, and headed back to camp.

    This trip has been amazing so far with just the scenery and the landscapes that we've had the pleasure to view. However, I think we can all agree on the singular point that the people we have met so far have made this trip into what it is. We have made friends from all around the country. It amazes me how when you leave your hometown, where striking up a conversation with a stranger would seem strange or intimidating, and heading out into the wilds of the US countryside, can make you feel so open to a human connection. I feel that God has made us to be social creatures. In the garden, Adam became lonely. That was the first sign of man's need for human companionship. God provided for Adam in his time of need, and he has provided for us abundantly with great friendships forged over photographs and a cup of coffee. I honestly believe that the people you meet on the road become a sort of family. Sure, we don't share a last name, but we share that adventurous spirit. We have experiences that make us unique, yet bring us together. Each person on the road can positively add to the experience of another, and doing so makes up a web of mutual benefit for all those involved. I hope these encounters develop into lasting friendships, and I hope we have left these people with as great  an impression as they have left with us. If you folks are reading this, you guys rock!

-David "Cutthroat" Johnson

"Seachnaidh duiné a bhràthair, ach cha sheachain e choimh-earsnach."

A man may do without a brother, but not without a neighbor