By Simon Ambit
Rounding the business loop on the south side of Price City, the paralleling railroad tracks become your wingman and lead you southeast as you saunter along Highway 6. Coming into the small town of Wellington, it’s nearly impossible to pass through town without the cab of your vehicle being filled with the calling aroma of homemade rolls from the Cowboy Kitchen restaurant.
Leaving town on the east side of Wellington and passing through the rugged jaws of Cat Canyon brings the ascent up the plateau before the plains of Clark’s Valley open up to the north.
There are several roads jutting out just off the pavement of the highway where you can find a plethora of small sites perfect for a quick campout close to town. This is a great location if you’ve got a busy weekend full of Saturday plans, but still want to get in some outdoorsman activities.
As we were doing just that recently, we made a quick Friday night to Saturday morning trip. We cooked delicious tinfoil dinners and roasted mallows over a small bed of coals and enjoyed a relaxing slumber as we slept out under the stars on camp cots. The next morning, we enjoyed the view of the rising sun as it rose over the Bookcliffs to the east, ate a casual breakfast of fruit and granola, then broke camp and were back home before 9 a.m.
While breaking camp, I came across a small cactus growing in a barren patch of ground and gravel. Impressed by the perseverance of the determined succulent, I walked over for a closer look. As I approached the cactus, I grew even more impressed when I noticed a budding little flower growing adjacent to the cactus.
Cactus plants are known for their hardiness and ability to survive, but seeing this little flower budding and thriving right there in the heat of the desert; I thought to myself “What are you doing? How are you doing that? You’re not supposed to be here.” The thing is, the little flower bud didn’t know that. The flower just looked up from its little seed self, saw another plant growing and surviving and said “Oh, that’s what I am supposed to do. Okay, here I go.” And then it sprouted and touted, right there against the odds and brought added beauty to the whole of its surroundings.
Life is never too busy to be enjoyed! Take a moment routinely to wind down, to relax and to enjoy the simple little things, so that when it comes your time to surmount the odds that are against you, you too can sprout up and make an improvement.