Flagstaff, AZ
We sadly left the Grand Canyon this morning. There was a beautiful morning sunrise that ever so slowly would brighten another towering land formation within the canyon. The whispy layer of clouds lower within the canyon walls floated like a magic carpet within the canyon. The view from the rim this morning was like looking at a delicate water-color painting coming to life before my eyes. The soft morning blues, purples, pinks, yellows greens, and beiges all painted a three dimensional landscape. But there is nothing delicate about this view, the rock formations are hard, solid and strong. They seemingly hold the beginning of time here in this canyon. Their strength has been forming for billions of years and continue to form one of natures most dramatic landscapes on earth.
Our time at the Grand Canyon was spent hiking and admiring every view we could possibly capture. The crowds were sparse so we could be alone many times throughout our rim hike. Many of the tourists were Asian or Indian (India). They all took in this incredible place in different ways. Some would walk to the very edge and stand with their backs to the canyon and take a selfie showing their friends they were here. One more step back and they wouldn’t be here! Others face-timed their friends or relatives and carried on long conversation with people for all to hear. Some carried on laughing and trying to take silly photos of themselves. The canyon elicits different reactions from everyone. Personally, I preferred the silence and the opportunity to listen to the landscape, the wind, the ravens, the clopping of the mules as they carried visitors down the canyon, and the echoes of sounds far away. It took me some moments to appreciate that everyone is allowed to interpret and enjoy this canyon in their own way. My wish for silence does not out weigh someone elses joy, laughter or silliness.
We drove south to Flagstaff by way of the Wupatki Monument. It is a Pueblo village that has been mostly restored showing how the Native Americans lived around the 1200’s. Their red rock homes reveled how about 1200 people could live in this desert environment. The land here is very different from other desert areas that we had driven through. A volcanic eruption had occurred here about 100 years ago creating black sandy soil. We drove to the crater and could still see the black igneous rock of the lava flow. The pine trees have grown up to be beautiful and tall over the years but the soil remains blackened ash.
Arizona is a state of vastly diverse landscapes and we are excited to see it all. The weather has been beautiful and now that we are a bit farther south it is even warmer. There has not been any snow or rain since we left home. This is pretty extraordinary for this time of year but we certainly appreciate it. I makes living in the van much easier.
Dec. 19,
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