In this story I try to tackle the difficulties in finding simplicity in a complex world. How can we tone down the overwhelming options before us, or silence the voices of a hundred threads coming at us at once on social media? Is there a place we can go to focus more intently on the present? On this journey I go bikepacking deep into the San Rafael Swell, a remarkable piece of Utah. I cover…
Day 1 – May, 2021 A Hallway of Stone, A Ribbon of Sky I STAND IN A hallway of stone. The sky, a thin, winding ribbon of cerulean above me. Millions of years of the geologic record soar overhead, a towering dominion of arcane time. In fact, the rock record here displays nineteen different formations, more than any other National Park in America (yes, more even than the Grand Canyon). The sheer depth of time…
It is a strange thing to find myself, at a ripening age, in a position where I am a complete stranger to my surroundings. I know no one. I am not familiar with the landmarks. My kid’s schools are foreign entities. I have no friends and barely any acquaintances. I am in the act of becoming anonymous. The grocery store, thankfully, is the same, therefore I can find the pickled jalapeños without too much difficulty.…
