Destination Unknown...

Sunday found Rich and I off to Sedona once again...

We were going back to West Fork, which is the first out of town hike we ever took together back when we met (when we were still new at knowing each other...) that very first week. Unfortunately then, Rich wasn't feeling well, and we only went a little way in, and I've been dying to get back there...With the advent of his first Photography Show coming up, Rich has been chomping at the bit to take more photos, so this was the weekend to finally go back...We were lucky enough to be joined by a friend of Rich's from work who is also a photographer...









The day was near perfect...temperatures were quite warm (in the 90's) but there were some lovely fluffy clouds, and some fantastic breezes...Plus, most of the trail leads you through the canyon near Oak Creek, so the temperatures within the shade and water are much more cool than in town.







Towards the beginning of the trail there are some old ruins that prove that someone out there was lucky enough to live in this amazing area at some point...

When one finds themselves in the middle of a couple of serious photographer, one happens to get a lot of down time, while they set up their shots and take their shots...which means one (meaning me) often gets to strike off on my own and fins new and different things to explore, all while enjoying my own company...

Which also leads the mind to wandering. Which also means, if you have a mind like mine, you either make up stories about the people who lived here before, or maybe a little pretend about living here myself...It is pure magic...

Where does this path lead to...

What is through that ivy covered door way?

Walking on these shady paths, dappled with the sunlight, the shadows dancing in time with the gentle breezes...peeking around the corners, listening to the water bubbling along in the creek...I decided 2 things.

I could either:

1. be quite happy living here and re-doing the apple orchard and gardens and rebuilding the house.
2. be quite happy getting married here.

I don't know why the marriage idea pops into my head every time I'm in a beautiful place, but it always has...always, even when I was married. Maybe it's because I find myself more enamored with the outdoors than inside a church when doing something sacred?

Or maybe, in this case it was the built in arch way...leading down towards the water...all the elements readily represented in this beautiful area...

Whatever it is...I swoon.

While hiking along the trail deeper into the canyon, you find yourself crossing back and forth across the creek, dodging in and out of canyons...trails breaking off, leading to other places. There was something so different about this hike though...it seemed as if almost every person or groups of people we encountered who stopped to talk to us asked if, "...are we there yet?"

I have absolutely no idea where this there is though. I have been in this canyon several times, hike to a certain point, thoroughly enjoying my time...and I don't know where there is. What? The end...There's an infinite number of canyons and paths...Or what about deciding you're tired and can hike back the way you came?

I was half tempted to tell one couple who were visiting the area (but apparently had hiked in Chile...although the wife looked pissed and too tired to be there, was horribly out of shape, and sighed heavily while talking about her current hike situation...and acquiesced by saying, "...It's still pretty though, I guess..." Gosh. Thanks.) That they would know when they were done with the hike because of the Taco Stand...or the Starbucks. This led me to think more about how uncomfortable we've seemingly become in the wilderness...why are we so scared? And more importantly...why are we so goal oriented? When did we learn that it's not OK to just relax and enjoy ourselves, for no reason other than it's what we most want and need to do? Must we buy a tee-shirt every time we seemingly accomplish something? Just to prove that we've done it? What has happened to the question, what would bring me the most joy to do today?

It was a good reminder to look up and appreciate where I was...to BE there in that canyon and love it and notice it...and thank it for being there.

While stopping to rest and eat, while the guys were off shooting, I lie back on the rocks and took out Eat, Pray, Love. I've decided to reread that gem, and I was reading and half dozing and half looking around to totally appreciate my amazing surroundings while lying on the rock...(which means I re-read the same sentances several times)

That couple walked back by (I guess they were done? Only, I saw no tacos or coffee drinks in their hands) and I decided to bury my nose in my book instead...I didn't want to converse...I didn't want to even know how they knew they were done.

Instead, I wanted to breathe...breathe in the fresh air, soak up the sun's rays...smile to myself and thank my lucky stars that I am healthy enough to be enjoying myself this much.

Oh, and try my hardest to memorize Italian curse words...

(what? She totally talks about that in the book...and if I couldn't live to find the proverbial taco stand...I'll just enjoy myself in my own way...)