The last week has been a bit crazy. I left the Tetons last Sunday and headed to Salt Lake City in order to catch a flight to New Mexico for an IB conference (only portion of this trip where I HAD to be in a certain place at a certain time). That drive is about a 300 mile stretch, much of it along Hwy 89, a lonely 2-lane road that curves in and out of Idaho and Wyoming before hitting Utah. Anyhow, the short version of the story is that my car broke down in the middle of nowhere, I had to deal with a creepy guy that stopped to 'help', and eventually made it SLC with a car running at 40 mph max. I didn't have a chance to get the car fixed (Sunday in Utah, after all), so I left it parked at the airport and headed for the conference.
The workshop ended up being really helpful (I feel a little better about teaching IB this year, though I'm still bothered by the elitist nature of the 'programme'). While there, however, I sprained my ankle. Funny story. On the second night, around 10 PM, my new friend John and I decided to go to the hot springs nearby and on the walk back, went through a really muddy patch of swampy ground. While commenting that I had really bad night vision and wished that I had my headlamp, we came across another two small (but surprisingly deep) thermal pools and stopped to rinse off our sandals and feet. Preoccupied with telling a story, I stood up quickly, got a little dizzy, and stepped in the wrong direction, right into another pool (mind you, I had put all my clothes back on at this point and slipped my new cell phone into my back pocket). John, thinking I needed rescuing, jumped in to save me only to find that I was already on my feet, sputtering and laughing. Got out (on my own - don't need rescuing, thank you very much), made it back to the college just fine, but with a slight pain in my ankle. Woke up the next morning with a horribly swollen, painful ankle. They called an EMT who bandaged me up and gave me a pair of crutches to use (first time in 30 years to use crutches). The rest of the week, I had to listen to gimp jokes and was teased nonstop about the dangers of drunken visits to thermal pools (only had one beer, I'd like to add). John, if you're reading this, notice that I've left out all the embarassing parts!
Eventually made it back to SLC with a limp and a busted car to deal with. Yesterday, while waiting for my car to get fixed, I called Jeannie to fill her in on my misadventures. When I said I was hoping to make it to Moab by early afternoon before the campsites filled up and that I wanted to get in some hiking the same day, she sarcastically said, "So, this is your tour of optimism?" Haa haa, love it! Didn't make it to Moab and Arches National Park until late, but still lucked out and got a great campsite. Was even able to hobble up a nearby boulder to catch a beautiful tomato-sun setting in a cinnamon-sky. The ankle's still stiff and hurts if I walk more than half a mile, but should be back to normal in another day or so. No chance, you say? I'm sure it'll heal soon...call me optimistic.
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3 comments:
Juveria, it's been such a pleasure to catch up on all of your advetures through this blog. Sorry to hear about the car and the sprained ankle. I would have given up by now and headed back to the comforts of home, but you manage to keep on truckin' You go girl!!!I can't wait to hear about your impressions of the IB training. Can you let your readers know when you plan on heading back to Oregon? BTW keep up to date on the wildfires. You could be making some Debbie
OMG, I got interrupted and didn't finish my thought. Wildfires... you could be making some unexpected detours so keep an eye out and an ear tuned in to the forest service radio stations. Debbie
Sorry your car broke down and sorry about the ankle. It always helps to be optimistic. By the way...misadventures are fun, without them you wouldn't have anything great to tell us and your trip wouldn't be as memorable.
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