day 5—beating a dead horse

Ah, our first hiccup—we knew this day would come, but perhaps not this soon? Our journey began with the battery, the lifeblood of our van—the stove, lights, fridge, and essentially our entire setup—deciding to play the dramatic role of the morning.

After breakfast, the beeping persisted, initially dismissed as a mere glitch. However, it was no such thing. The beeping continued, a constant reminder of our mechanical responsibilities.

Trent delved into the manual and began troubleshooting. I’m always astounded by his patient approach, as if he’s solving an intricate puzzle. After a few adjustments, he managed to silence the beeping, but we both knew it might not be a permanent solution.

With that in mind, we decided to visit Dead Horse Point Park, located just outside Canyonlands. As we drove in, I couldn’t help but notice how distinct this place felt. The landscape was still vast, but it exuded a certain tranquility—a vast, open expanse that seemed to stretch endlessly, with the land below us gracefully carved into deep, curved forms.

Dead Horse Point Overlook

The colors here were more subdued and less vibrant compared to the vibrant reds and oranges we had seen in other parks. The cliffs and the winding river below were adorned with soft browns and dusty golds, creating a scene that resembled a painting touched by time. This timelessness evoked a sense of unfamiliarity and deep connection within me.

It was New Year’s Eve, so we were determined to cook ourselves a nice meal to celebrate. We got ambitious and decided on steak, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. Halfway through cooking, the stove just... turned off.

So, there we were, staring at one lonely, rare steak and some fully cooked sweet potatoes. Mine was a bit too rare for my taste, but we were too hungry to care. We ate what we could and resolved to go into Moab the next day to get the stove sorted out.

Raaare steak

As we turned in for the night, ready to ring in the new year most unconventionally, the battery, seemingly determined to resist our efforts, began beeping once more.

And then came the second, separate beep.

The night was supposed to be peaceful, but the incessant beeping served as a cruel reminder that even in our absence from civilization, its problems persisted. Trent spent several hours attempting to adjust wires and check connections, but he eventually gave up and fell asleep, unable to bear the strain any longer. I couldn’t blame him.

It was as if the universe was saying, “Happy New Year! Here’s your first challenge.”

But that’s the beauty of these moments, isn’t it? Even when things don’t go as planned, there’s something comforting about solving these setbacks together.

We’ll figure it out. We always do.