Alongside The Colorado River

But first, a beautiful flower!

Alpine Blue Iris (Iris Brandzae) from the internet

I'd particularly asked to get to be near water as part of my family's excursions in Utah and Colorado. It wasn't easy, since they are experiencing drought conditions, as well as it being desert-like country in the first place.

Crossing the Colorado River going to Arches Nt'l Park. There's a small park where the highway goes over the river (bridge railing in foreground.)

My daughter-in law, Kendra knew how to get to the Colorado River near Moab UT, after we'd visited the Arches National Park. I think this tiny little pull-off is where Kendra knew to reach up under an overhang, while lying on her stomach, and fill our water bottles from a spring. Thus we drank truly pure water the rest of the day. 

Beautiful cliffs along the river and road.

People were boating and floating with different devices.

There was a park of some kind, but I don't remember what this area was, with tiny cabins all around the central area. 

Not a really clear shot, but kayaks were "surfing" on these permanent white waves in the river.

It was doubly exciting to think that this same water would be flowing through the Grand Canyon in just a little while. From there some of that water goes into Baja California before some makes it to the Gulf of California (Mexico). I wish sometimes I were just a duck or fish, who could just flow along with the water. Perhaps that is because I have to put so much concentration on hydrating this old body...to keep all it's functions running!

We didn't go as far as Kendra knew about, but turned around and went back to Moab for a wonderful early dinner.

Sharing with Skywatch Friday

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And more news about our continuing to combat climate change!

You may have already read about this.

Solar panel installation at Duikar Hill Viewpoint in Hunza Valley, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

Last year, Pakistan installed an incredible 22 gigawatts of solar power—more than Canada has ever built, and more than the UK has added in the past five years combined. This remarkable surge is rapidly propelling Pakistan toward a leading position in the global solar energy race.

An estimated 40 million people in Pakistan still lack access to electricity, and the country has long struggled with rolling blackouts and the high costs associated with importing fossil fuels. It also faces numerous climate-related threats, including devastating floods and more frequent and intense heat waves.

Pakistan’s initial commitment under the Paris Agreement was to slash emissions by 20 percent by 2030. But in 2021, it upped that commitment to a 50 percent reduction. Thanks to the falling costs of solar, it’s a win-win: switching to clean energy offers a way to address poverty while curbing emissions.

“The real beauty of this story is how unglamorous it is. Pakistan isn’t trying to become a Silicon Valley of solar,” Michael Barnard writes here. “It’s solving energy poverty with sunlight and silicon. It’s trading diesel for distributed storage. And it’s doing it at a pace that should embarrass countries with ten times the GDP.”

Thanks to Katarine Hayhoe in her newsletter "Talking Climate  Change." 

This good news is a great topic to begin talking about climate change!

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Today's quote:

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Leo Buscaglia

Small jar by Barbara Rogers