Zion Day 10

Well today was very busy, and scattered, I did a bit of everything.  

Morning was a bit overcast to the east, so the usual sunshine kissing the mountain at 7am was non-existent. The sun broke through about 9am and lit up the canyon again so I got some shots of Angels Landing. 

I painted on a 9x12 panel I had started the other day and got it to a happy place. I would like to do some “night paintings” like this and am just waiting for the full moon late this month.

 
 Panel 6

Yesterday I did the same with the little panel that is the “sketch” for the 24x30 I am waiting to dry. I am happy with this one also, it will help me get to where I want to be on the big one.

 Panel 7

After lunch I took my mountain bike and rode over to a couple of spots I had made a mental note of to come back a 1:30 to photograph for a possible scene to paint. On the way over I stopped and talked to the rock climbers that were on the wall yesterday. They stayed on top of the cliff last night, and actually finished scaling the face in the dark. They rappelled down this morning and were packing their stuff up when I rode by.

They looked tired but had that perma-grin of self-accomplishment. It was well deserved too, what an exhilarating experience! What a view.

I got their e-mail and sent all the photos I took of them, it’s sort of hard to get pics of yourself doing something like that. “Ok the tripod is set up and I’ve set the timer for six hours, lets go.”

I went back to the Grotto for an afternoon coffee and that’s when disaster struck! The coffee grinder refused to work! Federal holiday I guess.

Whatever the reason you can imagine the predicament I was in. I contemplated using the Park radio they gave me for emergencies, but I knew since it was a holiday there was only “necessary personnel” working today, and they might not be able to spare a Park Ranger at this late hour.

I did the only thing I could think of, I drove down to the coffee shop outside the park and bought a pound of “ground” beans. I know, I know, but where am I going to find a grinder in Springdale? Pre-ground beans is better than no coffee in the morning, its all part of the sacrifices you make when “roughin’ it. Luckily I have plenty of raw sugar, cream and Redi-Whip or it would’ve been a federal disaster.

  the view from the coffee shop.

Tuesday should have less people in the Park, today was every bit as busy as Sunday, it reached 60 today I think.

I have all my plein-air stuff sitting by the door just begging me to take it out and paint outside, but I haven’t got out there yet. I’ve been scouting a location or two for the afternoon when it’s warmer. There are beautiful scenes every direction you look so it can be over-whelming to just pick a spot and paint. Hopefully tomorrow.