Centrifuge
Senior Member
Perhaps they could fill it with a bespoke pixel serving device.Looks like a big hole! They should fill it before someone falls in and hurts themselves!
I am wandering...
- Thread starter thelonelycoder
- Start date
thelonelycoder
Part of the Furniture
Repeatedly, I have been asked to post more pictures of my three months sabbatical/timeout in the American Southwest from August to October of 2025. And to perhaps add some closing thoughts of my experience. Here's my follow up.
Almost everyone has a place they call home. I am born and raised in Central Switzerland, close to the City of Lucerne where I still live now. I have an astonishing view from my balcony across the central portion of the Alps. I can sit in my living room couch and see Mount Pilatus in full view close by, while laying in my bed I see the sun rising over Mount Rigi in the morning. It's beautiful here, this is my home and I appreciate the political and social stability this country offers.
But something is missing for me in this land. I can't just put my finger on it what exactly that is. All I know is that as an 11 years old I came across a picture in a book looking over Dead Horse Point near Moab, Utah - across the Colorado river and the landscape of Canyonlands National Park. I was instantly enthralled.
I never stopped dreaming of this extraordinary view, the colors and formations.
I have visited this place countless times since, driven on that dirt road called Potash road that continues as the White Rim Road through Canyonlands so many times. And through trial and error I eventually found the hiking route out to the tip of that Mesa in the very center of it. There's a rock cairn at the edge of that drop off down to the Colorado that I add to every time I hike out that way.
This is the very picture I stopped dead at in that book all those years ago. The first picture I posted in this thread with my happy and content shadow is just a little off of the picture to the left on that dirt road one can make out below.
As some of you know, I am an Introvert and Loner. I need a lot of me time to recuperate from social interactions to recharge my batteries.
Traveling alone for three months has been a bliss to me. A spiritual companion I found is this sunset picture of Lone Mountain near Tonopah, NV.
Hiking through the arid deserts of the Southwest brings me the joy, solitude and happiness I so crave. I might have mentioned elsewhere that I daydream about these places all the time when I'm not there. This is what I dream about.
Here, near the House Rock Valley Road, is such a place. Overlooking the Buckskin Gulch area, the longest Slot Canyon on earth (they say) which I hiked through a good part of. It is located between Kanab, UT and Page, AZ. I repeatedly hiked all over the area in the picture.
The freestanding Mountain to the right in the picture above marks the White Pocket area. A must see if you are into that kind of landscape and geology.
For some those are just bare rocks. To many of us they mean a lot more than that. The next three pictures are of the formations that can be seen there. The man in the first picture is a complete stranger to me who happens to give the grandeur of the geology the right touch and perspective.
A close up of the center area from the picture above. I have heard of the White Pocket before but never seen it with my own eyes.
My first thought at this very place was - This is it, THIS IS MY PLACE!
I stood here and could not believe my eyes seeing these formations, forms, colors and total immersion into my dreamscape. It is my new favorite place on earth.
More in the next post.
Almost everyone has a place they call home. I am born and raised in Central Switzerland, close to the City of Lucerne where I still live now. I have an astonishing view from my balcony across the central portion of the Alps. I can sit in my living room couch and see Mount Pilatus in full view close by, while laying in my bed I see the sun rising over Mount Rigi in the morning. It's beautiful here, this is my home and I appreciate the political and social stability this country offers.
But something is missing for me in this land. I can't just put my finger on it what exactly that is. All I know is that as an 11 years old I came across a picture in a book looking over Dead Horse Point near Moab, Utah - across the Colorado river and the landscape of Canyonlands National Park. I was instantly enthralled.
I never stopped dreaming of this extraordinary view, the colors and formations.
I have visited this place countless times since, driven on that dirt road called Potash road that continues as the White Rim Road through Canyonlands so many times. And through trial and error I eventually found the hiking route out to the tip of that Mesa in the very center of it. There's a rock cairn at the edge of that drop off down to the Colorado that I add to every time I hike out that way.
This is the very picture I stopped dead at in that book all those years ago. The first picture I posted in this thread with my happy and content shadow is just a little off of the picture to the left on that dirt road one can make out below.
As some of you know, I am an Introvert and Loner. I need a lot of me time to recuperate from social interactions to recharge my batteries.
Traveling alone for three months has been a bliss to me. A spiritual companion I found is this sunset picture of Lone Mountain near Tonopah, NV.
Hiking through the arid deserts of the Southwest brings me the joy, solitude and happiness I so crave. I might have mentioned elsewhere that I daydream about these places all the time when I'm not there. This is what I dream about.
Here, near the House Rock Valley Road, is such a place. Overlooking the Buckskin Gulch area, the longest Slot Canyon on earth (they say) which I hiked through a good part of. It is located between Kanab, UT and Page, AZ. I repeatedly hiked all over the area in the picture.
The freestanding Mountain to the right in the picture above marks the White Pocket area. A must see if you are into that kind of landscape and geology.
For some those are just bare rocks. To many of us they mean a lot more than that. The next three pictures are of the formations that can be seen there. The man in the first picture is a complete stranger to me who happens to give the grandeur of the geology the right touch and perspective.
A close up of the center area from the picture above. I have heard of the White Pocket before but never seen it with my own eyes.
My first thought at this very place was - This is it, THIS IS MY PLACE!
I stood here and could not believe my eyes seeing these formations, forms, colors and total immersion into my dreamscape. It is my new favorite place on earth.
More in the next post.
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thelonelycoder
Part of the Furniture
This land is my land, muttered thelonelycoder.
But there was more hiking to do, so eventually and very reluctantly I left this the White Pocket to wander some more and find more new to me treasures.
A special highlight was the hike out to the Cobra Arch, pictured below. I wonder where it got it's name from...
I liked that particular hike so much that I did it three times during my timeout, each time taking a different route to it.
At some point I decided to drag myself away - literally - from my beloved deserts and venture north via Salt Lake City into Montana, driving along the Wind River Range ending up at the Yellowstone National Park. I have not been there for more than 30 years. Due to me being me, I was quickly overwhelmed with the hordes of other visitors enjoying their must see places. It was lovely though.
While seeing impressive Mountains and Geysers there, I am - after all - more attracted to the lone desert. So I steered southbound again with a stop to look at this majestic Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, with the Teton Range in the background.
I part with one last picture just to drive home of how much I love being in the places of my dreams.
This sabbatical has been the time of my life. I was able to enjoy my kind of America to the fullest, with no other worries but getting along with myself. Which I'm very good at.
I am grateful my employer allowed me this timeout, with full pay for the three months using a good part of my overtime hours that I accumulated.
Apparently, this is something that only Europeans (can) do.
I can only speak for Switzerland where five weeks paid vacation are the standard and employers treat employees well if you are reciprocating that.
In our company's time-keeping app there is a drop-down section that offer's to ask for personal - usually unpaid - timeouts. The selection is 1, 3, 6 and 12 months or a custom amount of days/months. I coordinated the timeout window carefully with my employers work schedule and it worked out well for both of us.
Everyone wins at the end. A happy employee makes a happy employer.
I admit returning to work was hard in the beginning and I sometimes still struggle, missing that long freedom I had for a while. I have already planned another timeout in about three years, to break up the time until I get into regular pension at 65 in about six years from now.
That's it, I'll see you around.
But there was more hiking to do, so eventually and very reluctantly I left this the White Pocket to wander some more and find more new to me treasures.
A special highlight was the hike out to the Cobra Arch, pictured below. I wonder where it got it's name from...
I liked that particular hike so much that I did it three times during my timeout, each time taking a different route to it.
At some point I decided to drag myself away - literally - from my beloved deserts and venture north via Salt Lake City into Montana, driving along the Wind River Range ending up at the Yellowstone National Park. I have not been there for more than 30 years. Due to me being me, I was quickly overwhelmed with the hordes of other visitors enjoying their must see places. It was lovely though.
While seeing impressive Mountains and Geysers there, I am - after all - more attracted to the lone desert. So I steered southbound again with a stop to look at this majestic Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, with the Teton Range in the background.
I part with one last picture just to drive home of how much I love being in the places of my dreams.
This sabbatical has been the time of my life. I was able to enjoy my kind of America to the fullest, with no other worries but getting along with myself. Which I'm very good at.
I am grateful my employer allowed me this timeout, with full pay for the three months using a good part of my overtime hours that I accumulated.
Apparently, this is something that only Europeans (can) do.
I can only speak for Switzerland where five weeks paid vacation are the standard and employers treat employees well if you are reciprocating that.
In our company's time-keeping app there is a drop-down section that offer's to ask for personal - usually unpaid - timeouts. The selection is 1, 3, 6 and 12 months or a custom amount of days/months. I coordinated the timeout window carefully with my employers work schedule and it worked out well for both of us.
Everyone wins at the end. A happy employee makes a happy employer.
I admit returning to work was hard in the beginning and I sometimes still struggle, missing that long freedom I had for a while. I have already planned another timeout in about three years, to break up the time until I get into regular pension at 65 in about six years from now.
That's it, I'll see you around.
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Untried3868
Regular Contributor
Spectacular images! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Tech9
Part of the Furniture
In North America employees are told when unpaid timeout is coming. Usually on a Friday effective immediately. They never ask for timeouts because most can't survive even 1 month without pay.
thelonelycoder
Part of the Furniture
Some things are better on the old continent. No need to worry about insurance or pension funds here, it is mandatory for all.
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Tech9
Part of the Furniture
This is sad. Very sad only. In Canada our health coverage technically expires after 180 days abroad, but renews automatically after return. Our issue is ever rising cost of living because of monopolies and total lack of financial education combined with aggressive crediting system. Average Canadian will buy everything on payments with interest including 7-day vacation packages.
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JGrana
Very Senior Member
@thelonelycoder - thanks for for sharing your story and beautiful photos. I have been to Lausaane and Zermatt - you do live in an incredible mountain area.
Being American (don’t judge me ;-) where 3 weeks vacation is considered a “gift”, you have been to more places in the Soutwest than many Americans.
I am now retired and moved to Redding CA to be near kids and grandkids. It’s located in the very Northern part of California where the Coastal Mountain, Sierra Nevada ranges collide and merge into the Cascades.
I am now fortunate and healthy enough to be able to drive 3 or 4 hours to the National Redwoods Park to the west, Mt. Shasta and Klamath Forest to the north and Pyramid Lake in Nevada to the southwest.
I would highly recommend The Redwoods then The Trinity Alps/National Forest for a week or so.
BTW, avoid The Redwoods National Park in the summer - fall is a much quieter and peaceful time.
Being American (don’t judge me ;-) where 3 weeks vacation is considered a “gift”, you have been to more places in the Soutwest than many Americans.
I am now retired and moved to Redding CA to be near kids and grandkids. It’s located in the very Northern part of California where the Coastal Mountain, Sierra Nevada ranges collide and merge into the Cascades.
I am now fortunate and healthy enough to be able to drive 3 or 4 hours to the National Redwoods Park to the west, Mt. Shasta and Klamath Forest to the north and Pyramid Lake in Nevada to the southwest.
I would highly recommend The Redwoods then The Trinity Alps/National Forest for a week or so.
BTW, avoid The Redwoods National Park in the summer - fall is a much quieter and peaceful time.
Tech9
Part of the Furniture
I believe @thelonelycoder is the perfect candidate for the first manned mission to Mars. Rovers made some similar pictures to what he likes, there will be plenty of lonely time to think and he can even make some adjustments to code onboard for smooth landing close to the edge of the tallest mountain in solar system. The landscape and atmosphere there are both literally... breathtaking.
Image by Curiosity rover on September, 2015. Image via NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS (whatever it means).
Image by Curiosity rover on September, 2015. Image via NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS (whatever it means).
GHammer
Very Senior Member
I've also spent many months wandering the Southwest. My favorite place in general, though other locations offer this or that, the SW always relaxes me.
I'd suggest a trip to the Badlands, I spent 2 weeks there over the summer and greatly enjoyed it. As you said, it only takes 5-10 minutes hike to leave the average tourists behind and have a place all to yourself.
I'd suggest a trip to the Badlands, I spent 2 weeks there over the summer and greatly enjoyed it. As you said, it only takes 5-10 minutes hike to leave the average tourists behind and have a place all to yourself.
