Oak Creek, Sedona & Home

January 14, 2016 2:51pm
Gilbert, AZ

Well, after 13 days of traveling across 13 states, I made it to my sister's house. I have my own room and she got it all ready for me. I have gotten some things unpacked and put away, but most of my things will stay packed up until I get a place on my own.

Yesterday we left Kingman, AZ and headed toward Sedona, AZ. We through Oak Creek Canyon and ended up stopping at Indian Gardens, walked around, sat by the creek, had lunch and then went to Sedona. We hiked the Soldiers Pass Trail - well some of it anyway. It was such a beautiful day - I only had a long sleeve shirt, leggings and boots on. Herold's paws and my boots were covered in red mud by the time we were done. The views were incredible and we laid down a couple times and took it all in.

It took almost three hours to get to Gilbert and I got to experience wonderful Phoenix traffic on the way. I was exhausted when I got here and so happy to see my family. It is odd being back - like a limbo feeling. I am just taking it all in and trying to go with the flow as much as I can.

A few thoughts:

-Holy shit I just drove over 4100 miles across the United States.

-I saw Niagara Falls, Dr. Bob's house, Mississippi River, Black Hills Forrest, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Garden of the Gods, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona. Not to mention all the scenery and wildlife in between.

-I met and talked to so many different people from all walks of life. I saw different ways of life from small town to big city.

-I experienced almost all the human emotions, I have learned to connect with my higher self and am learning how to trust my intuition over my thinking.

-Every single experience we have in life changes us - our perception on things, reveals truth, brings awareness... if we are open to receiving it. It is the very darkest just before the dawn and many don't make it to the dawn because it can be so scary and uncomfortable during the dark times that they fall back into the comfort zone.

-Not everything has to be planned, doesn't have to be black and white - there are gray areas and the gray areas are not bad. They are just uncertain and flexible. It is ok to not know and for the course to change due to circumstances.

-There are two questions to ask myself that an old friend shared with me many years ago and they are, "How important is this, really?" and "Would I rather be right, or happy?"

-Be true to yourself.

-Everything, absolutely everything, is divine.

- You can connect the dots looking back, but not looking forward - so stay present & enjoy where you're at.

-Reflect, but don't regret, for everything happens for a reason. 

-Dancing to kids bob music with your nieces reminds you not to take things so seriously... and also that you are really out of shape. 

 Last hotel meal of the cross country journey... thank god! 

Oak Creek Canyon - Indian Gardens

 Look a at this heart, Kim! <3

 Hike at Soldiers Pass Trail in Sedona, AZ

 

 Heart for Kim <3

Passed out with muddy paws :)

Zion & Grand Canyon

Wednesday January 13, 2016
Kingman, AZ

Yesterday was a long day. I left Springdale, UT around 9:00am or so and got to the hotel in Kingman, AZ around 8:30pm. I wanted to go back into Zion park because there was a creek I wanted to see. However, when I was walking Herold outside the hotel I could hear it and low and behold - it was right behind the hotel. So we walked over there and saw all kinds of animal tracks. It was so peaceful and the sound of the water was really amazing. Herold and I sat there for awhile and just listened.

We saw 10 deer as we were leaving Zion - the pictures didn't come out too well, but when Herold barked at them, they all looked over. I sat there for awhile and watched them. Their ears were big and their fur fuzzy. The babies were so little and cute.

We took the twisty and windy road back up through the canyon. There was this canyon overlook just before the mile long tunnel when you're heading to Zion and I missed it. So on the way out I stopped. I tried to bring Herold, but the park ranger told me no. So he waited in the car for me and thank goodness. It wasn't just a staircase up to see the canyon - it was a half mile hike being careful that you don't fall to your death. Between the ice/snow and narrow ledges, it was a challenge - especially when you weren't expecting it. Well let me tell you, it was so worth it. All I can say is if you haven't been to Zion National Park, then you will never understand until you see it with your own eyes. The pictures I took do absolutely no justice.

I went to Page, AZ with hopes of seeing Antelope Canyon. You have to do a tour and I was pretty sure Herold would not be able to come. I didn't even get out to check into it. I wanted to make it to the Grand Canyon before sundown. So I took the Navajo Nation route and made it there with some time to spare. Driving though, I saw the housing the Native Americans live in and it made me sad. I thought about this history and it made my heart hurt. But I saw lots of wild horses, which made me happy.

Ok, so the Grand Canyon - I really don't have words for it and once again, the pictures do no justice. I saw more deer and chatted with some nice people - a couple from Plymouth, MA who were out on business and saw the Grand Canyon for their first time, and a man and his son that came to Arizona from Alabama to see the college national championship game. Of course there are others I talked to, but these are the ones that stuck out. I sat/stood, stared and listened as much as I could. I took pictures, of course, but I wanted to really "be" there. So I made sure to take my time, put my phone away and just be there.

Last day on the road today. I am going through Sedona and then heading to Gilbert. I am hoping to meet a couple friends to go for a hike, do yoga or just hang out while I am there, but that is not up to me - everything is divine. I have mixed emotions about this all coming to an end. I am sad that my exploring is coming to an end (for now anyway), but I am happy about getting to my final destination to settle, decompress and unload my poor car (which I am happy made it). I know I will be reflecting back through it all and connecting the dots. I will have one more blog post and then I will be going into a hibernation for a few days, or more depending on what I need. I have had time to myself over the last two weeks, but not in true solitude with nowhere to go, no one to see, no agenda. Bittersweet.

 This was like a little cave like thing. I can just imagine Native American people living here and spending time here. It was really neat. 

 Looking down was not the best idea, but this was probably the scariest part.

[Above two pictures] I saw this rainbow shape and color on this rock and really loved it. The symbolism of a rainbow intuitively tells us to hold onto hope, to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that sacred blessings open to us when we follow our hearts desire. And the symbol of a rainbow tells us that we are guided to our hearts desire when we open to spirit to let it guide us. It is interesting for me that I am just now typing this, because I asked for a sign and then noticed this rainbow on the rock - and the symbolism is divine.

 Just some wild turkeys and some not so wild horses. Herold watched for awhile and was very curious about them and the sounds they were making. 

There were some cows and buffalo too, but I didn't get a picture. 

 We made it to Arizona!!

 This is Glen Canyon in Page, AZ. I just pulled over after the bridge, walked onto the bridge and took a few pictures. I would love to go back one day and really check it out. The bridge reminded me of the Rio Grand Gorge where Mickey and Mallory get married in the movie Natural Born Killers. I will also go there one day! 

This heart is for my friend, Kim! Think of you every time I see a heart. This was on the door at the Grand Canyon Desert View Point little shop and snack bar.

 We sat here for awhile and just looked and listened to the Grand Canyon. It was really amazing. 

 Two little baby deer! They were so cute!!

 Mama deer to the two babies.

 These ravens listened to me talk to them and were so curious. It was really neat. They were all over and around the canyon. 

 You can see the river really well in this picture. 

 This one above is amazing. I am so glad I stayed despite the freezing cold to see the sunset. The pictures do this view NO justice at all. I can't even take how breathtaking this was. 

 The moon was really neat last night. It was symbolic for me since we are nearing the end of the new moon and the first quarter starts on the 16th.