In search of the Dragon’s Eye

I’m Back.  I used to wonder why my dog would roll around in the dirt like he was bathing in it, get up, shake off and then seemingly smile at me like he was saying, “Oh I am so happy to be here, let’s go explore.”
But that is exactly how I felt when I got back from Tonga and made it back to red rock country. 
I couldn’t wait to roll around in the red dirt, so I headed out to explore somewhere I hadn’t been and was warmer the balmy -4 degrees we were experiencing, so I headed out to White Pocket looking for the “Dragon’s Eye”.
It was exactly what I needed.  It was one of those roads that as you wander you wonder “who in their right mind would drive on this alleged road for twenty miles.” 
It’s like the old song The Bear Went Over the Mountain”.  “The Bear went over the mountain, to see what he could see, and all that he could see, was the other side of the mountain.” 
So GarBear had to go see what I could see.  It was one of those roads where I had to let air out of my tires to get through the sand traps in the road.  I yell to my too kind and loving wife, “Look Google shows a road right here.  It’s gotta be here…it’s on my phone.”  I point to my screen. 
My too kind and loving wife had to get out of the truck and guide me through a few rocks.  She was pretty sure I was crazy and there were a few times when I was starting to agree with her.  I kept reminding her that her ancestors probably pulled a handcart across this very same sand trap, and they couldn’t let air out of their tires “so quit yer complaining.”
Okay, my adjustment back to the real world feels like a bug hitting a windshield of a car going 70 mph. 
My carefree days of picking bananas and coconuts and feeling the warmish breeze of the south Pacific Ocean was quickly replaced with a “feels like” temperature of   -4 degrees. 
Instead of a warmish ocean breeze there is something called an artic blast that comes from the North Pole and makes people crawl into a meat locker to get warm.
But I am glad to be back on American soil and tromping around in red rock country. 
I think I cried a few tears when I went into a grocery store and saw shelves full of food and stuff.  Most of it was stuff I didn’t need, but still I shed tears and sung a few bars of “I’m proud to be an American” with Lee Greenwood helping on the vocals.
After spending a few days in Monticello I wasn’t adjusting too well so I headed to Florida for a week. 
The humor to that situation is I arrived at the same time as it snowed in Pensacola.  It hasn’t snowed there in 150 years. 
I hadn’t really packed for snow because I was going to Florida so the only thing in my suitcase was my Speedo, snorkeling mask, sarong and a toothbrush.  So I caught the first plane back to red rock country. 
It is a long-established fact; I can’t do hard things.  And I certainly cannot do hard cold things, so I decided to head somewhere a few degrees warmer and decided to go look for the Dragon’s Eye. 
My too kind and loving wife says I have to quit complaining about the cold temperatures.  But complaining is what I do best. 
Besides, it is easy for her to say because she comes from people that knowingly, willingly, and enthusiastically pulled a handcart and wagon and blasted a hole in the rock to find a perfectly warm place like Bluff and then decide it was too warm and pleasant so migrated to Monticello.
Mi familia on the other hand migrated up from warm climates and the only thing we like cold is Pepsi with crushed ice.  So I am not so sure what to do about this cooler weather. 
Now, that I am retired sometimes I sit in my house with my coat on and look out of the window and think, “I’ll bet it is cold out there.  I should button my coat up and turn up the furnace. 
“What day is it?  I sure am glad I am retired and don’t work.  I wonder if breakfast is ready.  Do they have meals today at the senior center?”
So the bear went over the mountain, to see what he could see, and you know what he did find a Dragon’s Eye and lots of beautiful red rock to roll around in.