The Desert's Gift

A lost shattered soul
Cauterized by the desert
Emerging anew

See what happens...

when I take myself out?

Carnival Town

by Nora Jones ....yeah I know this one REAL well.

Carnival Town"


Round 'n round
Carousel
Has got you under it's spell
Moving so fast...but
Going nowhere

Up 'n down
Ferris wheel
Tell me how does it feel
To be so high...
Looking down here

Is it lonely?
Lonely
Lonely

Did the clown
Make you smile
He was only your fool for a while
Now he's gone back home
And left you wandering there

Is it lonely?
Lonely
Lonely

The Final Leg of the Journey

We begin early, but wake up late, ugh! But we make it. Patrick and I begin our last leg and he hesitates near the silver bridge towards the Bright Angel Trail, offering me a chance to change my mind, and no I don't. Glad I didn't.

Early into the hike up we encounter rain, then it turns to hail, and then it becomes intermitten weather as we call it here in the West. I can't explain how I felt so tremedously thrilled to be walking out; I felt strong and being a part of the landscape was zoetic (yes I found this word and it connected with it's meaning). As we approached the first stop Sarah pointed out two birds flying up in the sky; and then we heard them. Hawks,and boy did their sound bring goosepimples on my arms, they were exquisite.

Patrick and I at lunch, I was chewing that's why I'm not smiling. Patrick is well, Patrick. But I think it was because we were coming up to the Red and Whites - a series,a LONG series of switchbacks that takes us quite upwards through a red and white section of layers in the rocks.

In the meantime, we're glad we didn't go up the Bright Angel Trail as it was pummelled more then we were by the snow. Still it was beautiful as the canyon always is.

Sarah stayed a head of us with my camera to get this shot, shows a bit of how far we came and yet to go. Once we got past O'Neill butte (which is at the top of the red and whites that is when we seperated. She told me later how impressed with how well I stayed motivated as I was still feeling the energy of spirit flowing so freely at Skeleton Point and we were just a little over half way out. If you look very closely I'm the one in the white t-shirt and Patrick is in the dark jacket.

This was when we relaxed a bit at Skeleton Point. I liked this composition so much I tweaked it.

Later on Patrick pointed out two condors flying over the canyon, we both had to stop and just watch. The last section was by far the most difficult as it usually is. I will say there were a lot of times I thought about stopping for a while and when I had those thoughts a heavy gust of wind would push at my back encouraging me to continue forward. At another point we did have to stop to admire a rainbow in the canyon. By that time my camera was buried deep in my pack and Patrick had his in the side pocket of his pants so he took his out and caught the photo.

In the chimney section I felt a bit nervous as the snow was blowing upwards into my right ear. I glanced to the sides of me and got a bit more nervous as the winds were really picking up and there was an 800 foot drop on one side and 1200 on the other. I covered my ears with my hat, dropped my focus to my feet and made it one step at a time. I believe this is the ONLY time I have been grateful for being the 'woman of substance' that I am as most people would've been swept away into the winds.

At the edge of Ooo Ahh Point (good reason for the name) I came upon a raven talking to me as I approached. Of course I didn't comprehend on one level but I completely understood on yet another level, as the raven made the sounds over and over. I stopped to take several drinks and breaths,and finally looked over at the raven and said "I know, I will keep going." The raven stopped making the sounds; looked at me intensely then flew off.

At this point - 3/4 of a mile from the top - both Patrick and I were stopping after 10 steps to breathe, snack and drink. His room mate met us up at the trailhead (Sarah had called her when she got out) and she took us to McDonalds to celebrate!!! We deserved it, the last mile was simply the hardest mile I have EVER done; and I still don't think I want to do it again, but then again who knows?

The Walk Continues...

Met Patrick and Sarah at Phantom Ranch and stayed a couple of nights. The first night all of us fell into our beds early and the next morning Patrick and I walked, or should say hobbled, along the river trail. It was exquisite there, peacefull.

The cabins are so quaint,very bungalow. Mary Jane Colter designed these in 1932, oh how I would love to get a hold of a journal of hers.

Isn't this stunning?

Immediately I think "I'd love to see this in the spring/summer or fall" and then I remember that it's 30 degrees warmer here then at the rim. We hit a high of 75 this day - in February.

I think this is one of my favorite photos of myself.

When I see the black bridge I recall the song "Long Black Train" as this is where the final leg of the walk begins....tomorrow.

I go a walkin'

Ok, the Patsy Cline song goes through my mind as I FINALLY review the photographs from my hike down to Phantom Ranch two months ago. I walked down the Bright Angel Trail, to the dismay of many with various good arguements however I knew that is the way I wanted to go and as stubborn as a mule I held onto that itinerary. Glad I did.

The first mile and a half was pretty much ice as I started out before sunrise. Once I got past mile and a half house it became patchy until the 3 mile house. Whoever said the trail gets easier after mile and a half; LIED. It doesn't until after 3 mile house.

I became truely entranced by the sheer capaciousness and yet that word cannot describe the transcendence that comes upon one when walking into the middle of this; for there are no words in any language that describes the ascention of spirit; and this is what makes hiking into this canyon so personal. The transcendence of one.

A swallowtail lead me across the pretty tributary. I now understand why so many people like to just visit Indian Gardens; it's beautiful.

Made it!!!

Rock Art aka Petroglyphs

Trinkets seen on my walk

Colors

Watercolor - Prickly Pear

comments please

Thoughts....

Borne in jealousy
Thoroughly ego driven
Justifiable?

Happy October

This edge of winter
Echos within the brisk wind
The promise of snow

In the meantime, there was a couple of rainbows in the canyon: enjoy.

dispositions

sudden dispositions
dragonflies and butterflies
emotions roll on

Words

Words traveling in
A basket full of randomness
Poetic Motion

Quitting....

Smoking that is. Day 5 and I have gone cold turkey (gobble gobble) - I have earned superhuman abilities - I make Spider Man look like a wuss in climbing walls. HAHA. Actually I'm okay; it sneaks upon me when I least expect it and it takes my breath away. Literally. Almost like heartbreak. "It" being a craving, fix, need, wish or whatever label fits at the moment.

Dedication

In loving memory; Mada Lynn Caudle 4/16/88-8/23/03

On gossamer wings
My heart breaks a thousand times
As she flies away.

Some days, it feels like yesterday....

Lightening

These were taken last night at Mohave Point. In the last picture there is a red light on the lower right side, that is currently the fire burning at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. **Two weeks ago someone was hit by lightening at the spot we were at and killed**** If you or someone you know is going to go out in harsh weather; be PREPARED and DO NOT take unncessary risks. We were at a "safe" distance as this cell was over the North Rim of the Grand Canyon; we also stayed aware of how the winds were moving and constantly vigilant of the environment around us.

Summer Flower

Hoooot Ausgust Nights and ......

Oh that's right it's only JUNE! Though the Neil Diamond song keeps going through my mind as it certainly feels like August, in the 90's. Whew! Whether it's a dry heat or a moist heat - its HOT!

Enjoy your summer

Getting reaquainted

Today I hiked. Not much, but a journey begins with a single step; that is what the old ones say. So I started walking down the Bright Angel Trail. Didn't go very far but it was enough to realize I will start out much earlier next time, and perhaps get a little farther.