A Bolder Boulder

Eight long hours and what'da ya get

Bloodied and brused and soggy dog wet

All for a peek at a slot canyon tube

up a bouldered creek that'll alter your mood

A big sign said that we'd need a per-mit

Or else Mr Ranger Sir will throw a hissy fit

It cost fifteen buck but wha-da-ya gonna do

If ya wanna see the Subway there's "palms" ya got to lube  

We arrived early to the trailhead accordin' to the plan

Then froze our little asses off waitin' on Suzanne

"Better late than never" is her mantra don't ya know

She rolls up in her Tracker in a cloud of blue smoke

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she says on bended knee

A long story followed that none of us believed

"It really doesn't matter," said Box-Canyon Mark

As long as you are good with hiking after dark 

"You'll need two sticks," it's slick as snot up top

Suzanne's ill-equipped for hiking in this slip-slot  

Young John took pity and loaned her one of his

"You're really gonna need it, to do this hike and live"

With Newbie "dressed and saddled" we set foot upon on a trail

It meandered through the cedars then dropped straight into Hell

Slippery ice and sandy boulders, every step required measure

The going slow and frightful to a distant Subway treasure 

(Three toed Dinosaur tracks)

Then a golden aura of peace seeped into the canyon

Spirits soared and faces grinned with reckless teen abandon

Seems the risks involved in finding treasure hidden

Yield great rewards of un-adulterated pleasure, no kiddin' :) 

Oh to be a child again, to scamper hither and yon

To climb the million boulders that threaten us with dawn 

Leaps and bounds across the creek at least a hundred times

The four mile path to "Paradise" not a straight and narrow line

Twas a crash-course in bouldering for Newbie Hiker Suzanne

The curve of learning steepens when things don't go as planned

But she forges on and on not to be discouraged

Collecting bruise and bump like a little "Badge of Courage"

What must I be running from that brings me to this task?

"Is the problem all inside my head" she thinks but never asks

"There must be fifty ways to leave a lover" Simon said

This "new love" is tough enough to make me wish that I were dead

Then suddenly our canyon narrowed overhead

She wonders, "Am I dreaming...is it all just in my head?"

Emerald pools and waterfalls delight and steel her cause

Feeling like little Dorothy off in the Land of Oz

As water overflowed from terraced garden ponds

A mossy grotto formed a mouth that lured us on and on

Seduced by subtle golds and greens, now wading a watered trail

Subway's tubular esophagus led us to the belly of a whale       

We wade, we wander, "Oh my God's" ripple from mouths agape

The clock ticks, time can't wait, we need to navigate

It took four plus hours to find this hallowed place

Only to spend precious minutes then retreat in utter haste

I'd really like to tell you "That's a wrap, that I'm through"

So it is with great regret, there's going to be Part II

I hope you came along on our big adventure in sonnet

As for Part II, Well, I'll get right on it :))