OCR Text |
Show livestock. An old jeep track fades into the area, but it doesn’t go far enough for bikers or jeepers. It’s simply not on the map. Perfecto may have spent quiet evenings here watching golden sunsets over distant plateaus, marvelling at the beauty of the land, but still, he had a job to do. He wasn’t ORDER LINE: 800.316.1138 FAX: 310/316.1138 here to renew his spirit, to revitalize a world-weary soul or simply escape the rat-race fora day. Cowboying was, and remains, hard, dusty, ass-crunching, back-breaking work. Curious about Perfecto’s pedigree, I did some poking around. I found eleven WWW.BROWNTROUT.COM persons named Perfecto Martinez, most of them in Texas. One, Perfecto Martinez III, teaches at the University of Texas. He did not respond to my polite inquiries. Over the years, others, like Tom Baldwin, laid claim to Perfecto’s campsite by carving their ‘name on the rock. There are a few Baldwins living in Moab to this day, but none P.O. BOX 280070 SAN PRANCUCO, CA 94128 remember Tom. In 1956, Dave Oliver left what must have been the crowning glory of his life, name-and-date in huge block-letters accompanied by a naked woman glyph. In the larger scheme of things, it is a tasteful graffito. WE ARE THE LARGEST PRODUCERS OF CALENDARS IN THE WORLD... | AVAILABLE-AT BACK OF BEYOND BCOKS IN MOAB COMING SOON! THE 2002 CALENDARS! (Did you really think you'd live this long?) Rock Art of a different kind, near the Perfecto Martinez site. But to me, it will always be Perfecto’s campsite. I’m afraid it won't be long until the hordes catch up. Last Spring, I encountered a lone woman in a VW micro-bus camped conspicuously on a small hilltop not far from Perfecto’s camp. She had What? colorful banners waving in the breeze. She asked if we were going into Moab, and, if so, would we mind picking up some water for her? "Sorry," I said, "we're not going into town." It was 105 degrees Fahrenheit. She was gone the next day. Lack of services’ had presumably driven her off. I can only pray that it will stay that way. As Utah’s canyonlands become increasingly discovered country, places like this grow ever more precious. STILL no Monica Calendar? I cannot, will not, tell you where it is. | can only vouchsafe that it is still there. If a secret spot is something you need, you'll have to go out and find one yourself. It wouldn’t be the same if a guidebook or chatty column writer showed you the way. To possess a secret spot, you must earn it the hard way. In so doing, you will find something no guidebook can ever give you: the true experience and satisfaction of solitude. Don’t even tell your friends... Evan Cantor can be reached at: evan.cantor@colorado.edu The August/September Issue of The Zephyr will be on newsstands July 27th x | just wanted To be with my People... Tex's RIVERWAYS "3-D RIVER VISIONS, INC. America's Favorite P.O. Box 67 Moab, UT 84532 435.259.5101 info@texsriverways.com 691 W.500 West www.texsriverways.com “CANOE OUTFITTING & RENTALS SHUTTLE SERVICE JETBOAT TOURS OIL PIMP visits the Tex Boys... |