Heading into deep Utah

Having spent several enjoyable days in moderate civilization, Paul and I have decided to head to the boonies again. So, as of tomorrow morning we’re lifting our jacks and heading North into deep Utah. It’s dry country up there so we’ve fortified our cellar with 24 bottles of wine, 3 bottles of rum and an assortment of other liquors. With a bit of luck we’ll be able to get by without rationing. We’ve also got an ample supply of cheese, so we should be properly nourished and ready for any circumstance.

 Given that we may, or may not have cellphone or internet access for the next week or so, we thought we’d leave you with a few parting shots of our fabulous time in Kanab. It’s been a wagging good time, and I could definitely see us coming back to spend more time volunteering and enjoying the red rocks and country atmosphere. If you don’t hear from us for a while, you’ll know what we’re drinking.

Gorgeous red mesa rock

View of Angel Canyon from Best Friends Sanctuary

Horse Haven at Best Friends

A very happy Nina w/ puppies at the Rescue

Sandstone, nature's art

$2 Westerns and a touch of Hollywood (Kanab, UT)

“I always heard there were three kinds of suns in Kansas, sunshine, sunflowers, and sons-of-bitches.” Josey Wales 

I have to admit I’m a sucker for old Westerns. There’s something about ruggedly handsome men sporting well-worn stubble galloping across the desert  in cowboy hats to save the day. These things speak to the hapless maiden in me. So, you can imagine my bliss when we discovered the hidden gem of Kanab. 

Set in the red mesa terraces of southern Utah, it’s a small town with a long history of good ‘ol Western Movies. Seems like many of the classics came through here from Deadwood Coach in 1924 to Gunmoke in 1955 and the fabulous Outlaw Josey Wales in 1976. The cherry on the pudding is that they kept many of the original sets and you can visit them for free in “Little Hollywood“. It’s a small sign at the side of the road so if you’ve travelled the 5 mins through town and missed it, turn back and drive the main drag again. In the back-yard of the unassuming front hides the gems of many of a good movie.  

So, you can walk the path of Clint Eastwood , peruse the set of Frank Sinatra and top the day by catching a $2 Western at the local Cinema in the PM. If you’re thoroughly in the mood you can even buy a cowboy hat at the Western store and explore the desert mesa in traditional getup. 

So, what d’ya reckon, you ready for the ride? 

Part of the Homestead set for Outlaw Josey Wales

 

Old town set at Little Hollywood

 

Good 'ol Western Props

 

Paul poses in front of the jail-set

$2 Westerns at the Local Crescent Moon Theatre

 

More Of Best Friends – where angels go to rest

As we enter our 3^rd day at Best Friends we’ve managed to frolic with puppies, play with the pigs and help out with some of the older dogs too. But, amazingly, that’s not all there is to this place. A ride around the grounds takes you to a stunning overlook of the valley at Angel Village (where you can get a $5 lunch with a view if you’re volunteering), hidden inlets, and…my absolute favorite, Angels Rest. This is where our lovlies go to rest, and it’s a gorgeous, peaceful and meditative place. The caretaker there is a lovely gentleman who started out part-time, became a care-taker and ended up staying for 8 years. The peacefulness and I guess the closure of helping people with the passing of their pets just kept him coming back.

There’s over 5,000 animals resting here of all kinds. Some have wind-chimes as memorials so you’re greeted by the soft sounds of bells as you walk around, at times becoming an opera of melodies when the wind picks up. The graves have pale red stones, and polished rocks are left for every visit, an old Hebrew tradition. In addition, each month the Rescue holds a blessing where you can share the impact a pet has had on your life. Every step here has a story and a meaning, so it’s quite a moving experience to walk around.

A fitting place for those we’ve loved and a highly recommended stop, indeed.

Don’t Weep for Me
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there
I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awaken in the mornings hush
I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet
Birds in circled flight
I am the soft star that shines at night
Do not stand by my grave and cry
I am not there
I did not die

Engraved at the entrance to Angel’s Rest

Angel's Rest

Memories of past lives in stone and chimes

Nina & one of the rescue dogs "Gunner" by one of the many memorial chime "trees"

The poem

2nd Day in Dog Town – A penchant for pigs

I’ve heard it say that pigs are smarter than dogs.

As Paul and I saw it there was really only one way to find out…and that was to send Paul over there. He saw it as entering his proper element. After all, George Clooney had a pot-bellied pig so it takes a certain suave and swagger to pull it off. So, in our 2nd day at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Paul volunteered w/ the pot-bellied pigs, while I went off gallavanting with the puppies again.

The result? Pigs are sweet, super-clean animals with ample bellies and a love of mud (which reminds me of a good many men I know). They’ll walk, follow you around and can even be taught to sit, but are not quite as interactive as our own Polly. Still, they’re quite captivating and cute in a corpulent way. At Piggy Paradise, as they call it, you can walk, talk and interact with the little lovlies. Should you become besotten you can even take a pig for a “sleep-over” (apparently the local Best Western approves of it).

Fancy a trip to the pigs?

Paul in his element

Entance sign to Piggy Paradise

First Day in Dog Town…with nose to boot

My hubby’s always told me I have a terrible sense of smell.

I have to admit this particular asset has come in handy many times in my lifetime. During my 1-month hike in Nepal I was happily oblivious to all body odor and thus able to share eating quarters with my fellow hikers with no adverse effects to my nostrils. Also, I’m a cheap date having minimal discerning ability between fine and cheaper wines. And, to bring us to our current topic, I’m practically immune to the scent of dog poo.

It’s been said you develop a nose, but I think the opposite is true too. Having volunteered for many years in dog rescue the question of poo has become a very relaxed topic and even, I should say, a source of technical analysis. Most dog owners will happily engage in a spirited discussion on the finer aspects of correct feces formation. When you get to this stage yourself you will know you’ve ascended into the ranks of dedicated dog owners.

There’s many other subtle signs that you’ve gone to the doggie-side of life. Spending a week volunteering at Dog Town in Utah is just one of them. My nose comes in handy here, but so does a carefree love of doggie licks, thorough enjoyment of play, and the ability to abandon yourself in a little piece of doggie heaven. Should your preferences lie more towards bonding with horses, being rubbed by cats, or nuzzling with pot-bellied pigs you can get that here too. In fact, just about every kind of animal comes through here and it’s without a doubt the most amazing Rescue I’ve ever seen. They have over 1000 animals in ~33,000-acres of space nestled fabulously in the red rocks of Angel Canyon. I’ll be blogging more about it as the week goes on. In the meantime, may your nose lead you.

Our 1st day in Dog Town…we volunteered at the Puppy Center

In front of Dog Town

Paul and one of the puppies

Nina and a little slice of puppy heaven