note: I will start posting my full blog post here, for those who prefer not to pass through to my blog at
http://www.janesjournals.comToday's post:
My three days at state fair were as expected: hot, dusty, full of fun and fueled by fair food. Nothing better than BBQ brisket, although I can do without curly fries or ice cream dots.
At the Wyoming Author's booth I enjoyed meeting people and talking about my book.I did great; however, the cowboy author next to me sold box loads of his 3 books. He dressed the part, with a cowboy hat, shirt unbuttoned just low enough to show the curly hair on his chest. He was sweet-talking and pulled people in off the midway. His assistant was mid-20s, in Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots. She managed to sweet-talk quite a few guys into buying books. More power to them. This guy is living the dream and making a living wage.
I have given thought of course, to how I can amp up my book sales. I am a bit past the Daisy Dukes stage, but I will come up with some kind of presentation, some way engage with more people.
I camped at the City Park in Douglas, just across from the Fair and along the Platte River. After three days at the fair and two nights camping in the popular Douglas City Park, I was ready for a quiet, serene setting. Hmmmm. Where to go? Ayers Natural Bridge came to mind. They do not allow dogs so I have not been able to stay there. But today, Tango is at the dog sitter while I am at the fair, so I jumped in the van and headed 20 miles north on I -25 to the park. Ayers Natural Bridge is a county park, and offers free camping in a heavenly setting. Visitors drive up through an arid, shrubby landscape, but like magic, after a few turns, will enter into a secret canyon Some of the canyon wall was carved out in ancient times by the La Prele Creek, which runs through the canyon.The result, a natural bridge (arch) over the creek. The tall trees and green grass create an oasis. Camping is free, 3 night max.
Best part: swimming in the creek. So that night, I set up to van camp, did some lazy stretches, listened to Acoustic Cafe and then waded into the frigid waters. OOOOOO. So good to splash that cool water onto my face and wash away the daily dust from the fair. So freeing to soak off the make-up and public persona and let it dance down the bubbly creek. So blessed to float and look up at the canyon walls and watch flycatchers dart through the air for dinner.
I am full from fair-food-for-lunch so I skip an evening meal and drift off reading the unusual--even radical-- perspectives of David Abram, author of Becoming Animal. I also read poetry written by Gary Snyder (from Turtle Island). This trip I also read fiction and poetry by Jim Harrison and currently am reading the informative A Great Aridness: Climate Change and the Future of the American Southwest (William DeBuys), which I hope my Arizona friends will read. If you are interested in print or Kindle copies of the books I read on sabbatical please check out http://www.janesjournals.com.
Anyway, I could stay here days, but my buddy Tango waits back home. We have another week, but I am tempted to go home and work full days from home to finish my projects and regroup before work starts anew!
