You understand how they are saying “All’s effectively that ends effectively?” However, what if it’s the other? Everyone knows that what occurs final has a disproportionate quantity of impression, and I remorse to say that our trip in Arizona, had, uh, some low factors. However after I whine, I’ll get to remind myself of the most effective components of our journey to Arizona by way of pictures. I’ll get the adverse stuff out of the way in which first, so we will think about how fortunate Jim and I have been to go on a trip to such lovely locations.
Okay, right here we go: Jim will get sick first day we arrive, unhealthy head chilly that slams him into being mattress ridden for a day in stunningly lovely Sedona. He rallies the following day, and regardless of his cough and his nostril operating like a river in the course of the spring thaw, we have now two fairly good days on the Grand Canyon. After which, one thing occurs that makes it seem like my laptop has been hacked and each one among my passwords has been stolen. I’m sick with fear, abdomen in knots, don’t sleep a lot. (I join with techie 24 hours later and all is effectively. Whew.) The subsequent day, we come inside a microsecond and an inch of being in a deadly accident, which shakes each of us to the core. The subsequent day, whereas we’re at dinner with pals in Tucson, the sitter calls and says “Skip is lacking and I’ve known as and known as and might’t discover him anyplace.”
I misplaced it. I imply, pals, I completely misplaced my S%*t. I’d hereby prefer to apologize to our (fabulous) sitter, and to the diners on the Terrace on the Arizona Inn, for having to take heed to a girl sobbing hysterically within the cellphone till her husband led her away, blubbering “that is my worst nightmare.” After what appeared like an eternity, (and wasn’t, possibly 45 minutes?), Skip was discovered. He’d been behind the barn all the time, staring on the sheep. (Particulars to return in one other publish.)
The subsequent day, shock, shock, regardless of our greatest efforts, I caught Jim’s chilly. A foul chest chilly in COPD/Asthmatic lungs become difficult combo, so I spent the final days mattress ridden and had a kind of journey days all of us dread, of feeling like crap whereas getting up at 3:45 AM and flying dwelling throughout the nation.
Okay. Sufficient of that. I’ll survive (cue the music).
Listed below are some issues that have been GREAT, there was LOTS!
Dawn in Sedona behind Cathedral Rock on our first morning of trip:
I had a wonderful stroll in Sedona the following morning whereas poor Jim was ailing in mattress. This was only a 20 minute stroll from the Inn the place we stayed:
There was lot of hen life on the foot of the path, right here’s a Scrub Jay who got here right down to verify me out:
We visited Oak Creek Canyon and Slide Rock as soon as Jim was capable of get on his toes. Slide rock is legendary as a spot the place you soar in and let the water “slide” you throughout the graceful rocks. Right here’s a courageous younger girl doing it in very chilly climate. (I’ve many recollections of Slide Rock–I went to highschool in Phoenix and Slide Rock was the go to position for “Senior Skip Day.”)
One of many enjoyable components of trip for me is taking pictures of different folks for them (selfies simply can’t all the time hack it). A pleasant girl reciprocated for me and Jim.
The subsequent day we have been greeted originally of the West Fork Path by a flock of a few of my favourite birds, Acorn Woodpeckers:
The path follows the bottom of those ridiculous cliffs . . .
Our two days on the Grand Canyon have been our greatest. Right here’s dawn on the Grand Canyon at Hopi Level:
A couple of minutes later, because the solar’s rays started to hit the peaks:
Talking of Hopi, after rising up in Arizona, and dwelling on the Navajo reservation once I was 19, (a narrative for an additional day), I used to be heartened to see how a lot respect and a spotlight was being paid to the indigenous peoples of the canyon. Right here is the Hopi Home, designed by architect Mary Colter, a uncommon girl in a male-dominated area in 1904. Forward of her time, Ms. Colter did all she may to make the constructing as genuine to the Hopi structure as she may. The home now holds a treasure chest of Native American artwork. Don’t miss it in case you go.
Sunsets on the Canyon:
I don’t suppose it’s doable for me to go to Arizona with out visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and going to their Raptor Free Flight occasion. It solely occurs from December to March, and supplies an excellent expertise being up shut and private with native raptors, who fly backwards and forwards between handlers, typically actually inches over your head.
Right here’s one among my favorites, the Harris’s Hawokay, one of many solely birds that hunt as a gaggle, Principally, the wolves of the hen world.
The Crested Caracara isn’t seen within the U.S., and solely near the border. In contrast to most raptors, in addition to searching dwell prey, in addition they eat carrion any probability they will get.
That’s me in rapture of attending to see my expensive good friend and colleague, Karen London, one of many smartest, funniest, and kindness folks I do know. Certainly one of her books, Deal with Everybody Like a Canine, is likely one of the greatest conduct books that’s come out since Karen Pyror’s Don’t Shoot the Canine.
It’s time for me to get again in mattress (or, moderately, on the sofa watching The Voice! or, no matter I can discover). However I’ll finish this with an ideal abstract of Arizona: The dry, the prickly, and the surprisingly and stunningly lovely!
Have two weeks, pals, I’m brimming with subjects I’d love to speak about, “see” you then!
