I'd been to Pheonix and Sedona , Arizona 14 years ago, and remember being awestruck. But as an overwhelmed mother of 4 young children, one of whom I'd just weaned, I was soaking up the freedom from clutching little arms, and tears of guilt, and humility in my limited wardrobe.
I am still letting it all settle in from this trip. This time was for basking and noticing.
The contrasts, the unexpected, the sacredness, the vastness of land and sky and tenacity.
These photos are from the Grand Canyon trip.
We arrived from Hwy 89 at the south east Desert View section. This is where the Watchtower is located and where knees begin to shake and heart pounds and camera's click and the deepness of earth and time and the spiritual is open and laid before your eyes and heart and soul.
We followed the South Rim drive and parked near Mather Point. Walking along the Rim Trail felt like wandering through gift packages. Each view and wash of colour or peak at the Colorado River, or surprise of vibrant and enduring life amazes.
We made our way to Verkamp's Visitor Centre and then turned around to claim a sunset spot. While it had been overcast for most of the day, we were not disapointed at all.
I think we would have slept right there on the rock just to stay in the moment of it all but knew we had a drive in the dark back to Flagstaff through the Coconino Forest area along Hwy 64. Where towering elk appear in the headlights. On the other side of the road , but still...
It never ceases to strike me through... the diversity of all of creation.
While I organize the pictures and memories and lasting impressions, I know that I have been transformed yet again, the never finished still evolving little me in the grand drama of the forever still to be.
~~photos; mojave aster? , raven pair, mule deer, scrub oak, unknown flower
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Congratulations--what a wonderful time away. After your soggy summer it must have felt like a whole new universe to breathe that dry air.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures were lovely, as were the words. "Walking along the Rim Trail felt like opening gift packages."
Denny and I went to the Grand Canyon on our honeymoon almost 14 years ago and I still have vivid memories of the plunging vision into the basaltic depth of the canyon to the older-than-God rock. A religious experience. So glad you all got to do it together.
beautiful pictures! im glad you had a nice trip. i hope to go there someday as well :)
ReplyDeleteonce again deb beautiful thoughts to match some gorgeous photos. xox
ReplyDeleteWow. I am there with you in your living words and images.
ReplyDeleteit's all so beautiful and breaktaking. it was the same for us, when we stopped through that part of the country. i kept saying, "look at all the colors!" somehow, i thought it would be all brown and tan. i was happily surprised!! loved your pics.
ReplyDelete"the never finished still evolving little me in the grand drama of the forever still to be" . . . your words are so rich! Love your writing!
ReplyDeleteI stopped in to thank you for visiting my blog. As I was looking around I came upon the Grand Canyon post. My husband and I used to live in Phoenix and spent our first anniversary near Flagstaff. We gave a day to visit the canyon. I agree with you, the glory of creation never ceases to overwhelm me with wonder. Your photos are wonderful. Makes me want to go again with my camera.
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