Lost & Found in the Desert (Except the Phone)
My phone is somewhere between Caineville and Green River. I was way off the road sometimes, which should help you find it. I think I lost it in a sandy place near sagebrush.
Well, I was worried I’d lose something on this trip, and I finally did—something significant: my cell phone.
It happened about 40 miles east of Torrey, Utah. I saw a group of people off in the desert riding dirt bikes. Since I used to ride dirt bikes myself, I figured it’d be fun to check it out. I started goofing around, the terrain was rough, and somewhere in the mess, my phone must’ve popped off its Velcro mount.
Earlier in the trip, I’d considered attaching a lanyard with paracord, but didn’t have any matches to melt and seal the ends. Honestly, I should’ve just gotten off my butt and gotten some. Instead, now I’m riding to Moab tonight so I can go to the AT&T store in the morning. By the end of today, it’ll be a two-charge day with over 160 miles covered. That’s what happens when you don’t have your act together and lose something important.
That said, my ride through Capitol Reef National Park was epic. The road winds through a beautiful canyon flanked by sandstone cliffs that shift in color from white to deep red. Cottonwoods are leafing out, and a muddy brown stream runs through the valley floor. It was absolutely stunning.
About six years ago, my dad died. I was with my mom at the time and decided to head back to California in his Mustang—a car I bought from her. It was packed with tools, knives, and some guns he’d wanted me to have (I later gave the guns to a friend—don’t want them in the house). I took many of the same roads on that trip—Highway 50 across Utah and Nevada—but back then, I was driving like I was in a race. I blasted from Denver to Fallon, NV without stopping, totally missing the beauty that I’ve been soaking up on this trip. At 80 mph, you miss a lot more than you do at 30.
This car was significantly more comfortable and faster than my unicycle.I got rid of it right away.
My dad and I used to take road trips, and we’d always stop for weird stuff. He’d strike up ridiculous conversations with strangers that would sometimes embarrass me. He’d ask about the tires on their car, the breed of their dog, or what they were eating. He’d be under the hood of someone’s car with them in a parking lot, either admiring their work or listening to someone rant about emissions controls. If things got dull—or the people were a little odd—he’d start making up stories that they’d totally believe. Looking back, those were some of the best trips. We even used to go jeeping together in Moab. I’m excited to be here tonight—it feels like a full-circle moment.
On the way to Moab, I passed a place called “Stuff for Sale” in the middle of nowhere. And let me tell you, they weren’t kidding. The most abundant item? Wrecked houseboats—giant ones, the size of small homes. I couldn’t stop wondering: who brought them there? Why? Who buys a busted houseboat in the desert? Do desert dwellers dream of boats? When do you realize your wrecked houseboat inventory has gotten out of hand?
I made it to Hanksville and realized I didn’t have my phone. I stopped at Duke’s SlickRock Grill—a combined RV park, restaurant, and motel with a collection of charming tiny homes. If the Border Inn Casino in Nevada was a slasher film set, Duke’s was upscale glamping chic.
While charging there, I struck up a conversation with a lovely couple—he’s an archaeologist, and she’s a well-known paleontologist. Her husband was sweetly bragging about her career, and some of her discoveries have clashed with governments and the Catholic Church. She told fascinating stories about digs around the world. Meeting two people in their 70s still excited about their work was fun, sharing photos and swapping stories with genuine enthusiasm. I hope I’m that engaged when I’m their age. They even showed me some of the dinosaur bones they excavated near Duke’s!
Here is their website. https://engelhardtmoore.wixsite.com/lecture-series/about
I finally reached Moab just before dark. On the way in, I startled a guy on an e-bike when I passed him and said, “On your left!” His headlight followed me for the next 10 miles, and I got a little nervous. But when I slowed down and he caught up, I discovered he was an adventure guide here in Moab. We had a great conversation on the trail, and he invited me on a free side-by-side ATV tour tomorrow.
So, despite losing my phone, today had a little bit of everything: beauty, connection, memories of my dad, and new friends in unexpected places. Here’s hoping I can get back online tomorrow—and maybe find a phone case that doesn’t rely on Velcro
Me babbling about my yesterday’s ride