Running around Bryce Canyon

Well, what’s a person to do really? I got up and got the van all sorted out and cleaned up. I met my group, who were on time (wow!) and we hit the road. I made a beeline for Bryce to get them into the park as soon as possible. Since my one ½ group hadn’t made up their minds about the horse rides we had to walk in and get on a waiting list and of course only 2 of the 6 could get on a horse. Ugh. So then I hear how I should have made reservations before hand not the last minute, to which I said, no one had made up their minds in time to call them. But that is besides the point.

The thing about the horses is you have to pay at the Lodge then walk to the corrals with your receipt and I didn’t know any of that so luckily I had walked ahead to the corrals found out the story, ran to get the van and speed to where the group was, take them to the Lodge to get signed up (where they learned they were on a waiting list) then I took them to the trail to the corrals and went and parked the van again. I walked back and waited with them to see how it went. The others I took back to the Lodge to get their money back and then I dropped them at the trailhead and had a rest in the van.

Without hiking it seemed like a long afternoon. I’d rather go hiking I think. Next time I’ll know the horses better and can drop the van and disappear myself. The weather was a little iffy so as the lightning started getting closer I watched as my group returned early to the meeting point so took off.

Turns out we did that just in time because we got in the van and the rain commenced and then we got to Ruby’s, got our rooms figured out, got our bags taken in and then the power went out. Ha. I couldn’t believe it! So without thinking I decided to have a wander and left the group to figure things out, thinking they’d be right behind me. Well, I walked right into the buffet and started eating and then felt massively guilty for not waiting for them or encouraging them to hurry up. As I sat there and watched out the window, 3 motorcoaches full of people showed up. Oh my gosh, the place was packed in minutes! So I kindly gave up my table and found my group scattered about and made sure everyone found food.

Oh yeah, the power is out in the hotel portion of the place, the store, gas pumps, restaurants on this side of the road are all working. Its about 10pm now and the hotel finally started handing out flashlights that wind up. Most people were returning from their hikes to find their rooms dark. Oh man. Its getting really funny now!

The one thing about it is that the sky was amazing looking tonight! Huge dark clouds and then the sun broke through and was shining on them, it was fantastic!

This whole thing has been great fun. I hope they are all thinking that too. None of them got showers though so they are pretty bummed about that.  Tomorrow we were supposed to get up and watch the sunrise but they are calling for more storms tomorrow so I’ll get up and see what its like and see if anyone is willing and then we’ll come back and have breakfast and get down the road.

I just called ahead to McStiffs in Moab to make a reservation and they don’t do that, which I find really annoying. I am hoping it won’t turn out like last night at Oscars. Ugh. I told the lady that it went badly but she wouldn’t help me. I suck at this job. I should be charming their pants off but instead I’m paying full price and not getting any help. How do people do it? I don’t know how, this job isn’t for me. I need a travel companion who makes magic happen and I’ll just facilitate and drive the van etc. Ugh. I’m not liking this much. So much work and so much networking happening and there I am doing everything the hard way.

Now I’ve gone way over my minutes and it will really cost me. The company isn’t paying me back for that and I find that really frustrating, this job revolves around the phone, pay me some money for using it?! That is only fair.

But whatever. No sense in complaining I’ve paid so much to do this whole thing and the next tour will be much easier so it will be okay………it will be okay….

My cell phone was about to die too and I still had calls to make so I found a plug in in the middle of the store and stood there like a big goober talking on the phone while everyone was struggling to get items bought and get gasoline and my gosh Ruby’s is a nightmare! They handle it well but it’s so packed with tours that you can’t get through the lobby and the grocery store was a big mess too. Man. I think with the power being out though they were caught unprepared so it may not always be like this.

While one of my couples was waiting in line a tour lady came by and ushered all her people (all 53 of them) ahead of the couple to get them seated in the buffet. I mean, excuse me. There were a ton of people waiting and what gives her the right? Of course by then I’d had it up to my eyeballs with French people. Seriously.

Phew. What a day! Everyone gave up on the lights and went to bed which is wehre I’m headed. I’ll upload this in the morning assuming they have power by then. Luckily I’d filled the cooler full of ice today and it wasn’t hot enough to melt it so we can keep milk cool etc.

Power just came back in. I heard the A/C turn on and then all the lights were on. So not bad, 5 hours with no power. Could have been much worse...had the restaurant not been up and running. Oh my!