Kanab, Ut to Hatch, Ut

DOUBLE EMERGENCY! We woke up to find some ugly bedbugs had chosen to share our room, then I found out the laptop wouldn't turn on! We spent an hour or two dealing with the greeblies, then luckily found a computer repair shop called Techies, where a really nice guy called Dustin had conveniently popped in for 5 minutes (on a Saturday, when they're not usually open). We had a long chat about first-born daughters, America's trade deficit to China, and the government's billion-dollar investment in long-term storage foods, while he burnt a DVD so I could do an on-the-road repair. Turns out it was probably a crash from overheating, due to a build-up of dust in the fan - he sold me a screwdriver so I could clean it out. Then he tried to charge me only $5 - sweet boy - but I happily handed him $20.

This is the photo we didn't get to take. We tried to get a late pass at the ranger station for The Wave - a naturally striated sandstone formation at Paria Canyon, near the Vermillion Cliffs at Coyote Butte. Unfortunately, half of these are booked months in advance, and each morning the remaining tickets are given out in a lottery. For ten permits, about 90 people usually arrive - fights have broken out! The ranger told us a couple of stories, mentioned that it was all over YouTube, and that if some-one arrives after they open (but before the draw), it's up to the group whether they let them in the lottery. Apparently, laid-back groovy hikers turn into a real mean bunch when it comes to these tickets!

Arriving at Hatch, we booked in the first (OK, the second) motel we saw. Over the road to the (only) restaurant, there was this wonderful antique store that eagerly displayed half the store out on the road.

I willl be writing to the mayor of Hatch, and including this photo of the pavement. Morag tripped over (there was no street lighting), and busted up her knee and hand quite badly (I have photos of that also, but won't subject you to the gore). After a few tears and kisses, it was off to bed early to get ready for our 8:30am mule ride (trying to beat the park opening hours again!) down into Bryce Canyon.