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by
Jeff
Voth
Behind
the gruff, muscled exterior, two large brown eyes held me transfixed
in a momentary gaze. It was almost as if he looked right through
me, sizing me up as a potential threat to his leisurely evening
stroll. In contempt, he snorted and posed unceremoniously for
my camera only a few hundred yards away. One false move on my
part could quickly turn this docile beast into a two ton wrecking
ball, laying waste to anyone foolish enough to stand in his way.
Making the encounter even more extraordinary, was the setting
in which we met. Seeing this magnificent creature on a sandy beach
was surreal.
Shouldn't
buffalo roam freely across the plain, grazing the wild grasslands
at whim? How did he end up here with me on the beach? Maybe he
was lost, or somehow estranged from the rest of the herd? But
that theory didn't make any sense, there were other buffalo following
in step behind.
Perhaps,
I mused, he desired a more cosmopolitan way of life, hoping to
get away from the trials of life on the plain and soak in the
sun on the beaches of Great Salt Lake. Then again, the idea of
buffalo reclining under canopied lounge chairs was more than a
little disturbing.
As
I wrestled with the image of a buffalo walking on the beach, he
seemed to sense my uneasiness. Shaking his head in defiance, he
and his followers continued on their merry way, perfectly content
in the surroundings. It seems Antelope Island and the Great Salt
Lake in Utah, offer the perfect setting for both man and beast
to enjoy a relaxed evening stroll.
Utah
is full of many such inspiring images. Until our arrival a few
hours earlier, my impression was that it consisted only of snow
covered mountains, arid plains and the ever present Mormon faithful.
While all of this was in view during my five day visit, I was
completely unprepared for the scenic beauty and majestic vistas
scattered throughout the State.
Nan
Anderson, our knowledgeable host for this trip, had planned a
busy tour of Utah. Over the next five days we would cover much
of the State by small tour bus, enjoying a whirlwind of activity
and a perfectly choreographed itinerary.
Day
two started in Salt Lake City, a city remembered most
recently for hosting the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
From there we traveled north to the city of Ogden where
we toured the newly renovated Perry's Egyptian Theatre,
a historic building dating back to 1924. Having recently
undergone a multi-million dollar restoration, it now
seats 855 patrons, with 22 private boxes, and hosts
many exciting events including regular silent picture
showings. It is also one of several venues for the annual
Sundance Film Festival. (CONTINUED...)
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