October 10-19, 2025

Goal 1: See progress of the pump in well

Goal 2: Change some electrical components on the property

Goal 3: Build a Trench Kiln

Goal 4: look at place to plant a house

Goal 5: adventure outward and inward

Goal 6: Hide a pot or 2 (we only hid one)

We started this latest journey tucked into our camper for the first couple of days — rain came in buckets (record buckets), due to flood watch because of a Pacific Coast Hurricane, our plan for the outdoors took a pause and our creative side stole the show. We pulled out our pottery painting gear, painted some of the pieces we had made and dried before leaving home. We let the weather do its thing (like we had any choice) and made the most of the quiet time.

Once the skies cleared we shifted gears. We loaded up the Polaris X-pedition and headed to the Grand Escalante Staircase National Monument for a full-day ride and hike. The trails took us through rugged beauty and into the heart of the wild. The drive there was just as much adventure that took us through the backside of Capitol Reef National Park and over the thrilling Burr Trail switchbacks — wind, views, and plenty of sun that made us “stop and take it in” over many sepperate stopping moments.

Back home on the property for a day, we turned to house-project mode. New power receptacles went in, we mounted security cameras running off solar power, had mountain scratched to find the sandstone, and looked at area where we are in much need of placing a home. Meanwhile our well guy arrived and set in the well vault (this is a whole new process for us) – pump and pressure tank are staging for next steps, and then we will have water at the place. One last thing for a day on the place; was build a trench kiln for many future firings.

One more day of base-camp-mode gave us space to clear dead firewood (Tamarisk) from the land, and stacked for future firing. With the new trench kiln built in back yard, the stage is set.

So after the day on the place, we adventured many additional places and explored our hearts out. Many miles of trekking through the desert, ranges and rocks. One day we even made it to the back side of the Henry mountains and was able to find some clam-looking fossils. My research determined that what we had found was brachiopod fossils, which were most likely from the Permian to Jurassic marine deposits that once covered this region. At the elevation of 7000-8000 ft, it was consistent with the Kaibab Limestone fossils (270 million years old) This formations underlies most of the Henry mountains, which contains beautifully preserved marine life. These fossils are just laying about everywhere from a penny size to softball size. I collected a few of many sizes.

And at the last afternoon of adventure, we planted a little surprise: one of Trevor’s pots, hidden in a place for someone else to find and discover on a future outing. The place he chose happened to have a geocache already there (ExpeditionUtah.com “SEEK” geochace). We left a note for future “cachers” with a clue to where the pot is hiding close by.

Saturday night we held our trench-kiln firing: wood crackling, coals glowing, pottery slowly absorbing the heat and the transformation. Upon rising Sunday morning, after a cup or two of Java, we dug the pots out — the results of our efforts over the rain-paused start of the trip.

After exposing the pots from the sand we packed up the camper and left it standing, ready for our next return. The land is evolving, our craft is growing, the trails keep calling — this trip closed one chapter and opened the next.

Thank you for following along. Until the next drop, the next hide, the next drive into the unknown — stay curious, stay adventurous.

Clue and Gps: We have additional clue – look under Butler Hat

38.47355,-110.2814 GPS Cooordinates within .5 mile from pot