On the final stage of my month long journey with my Mom and child, we set off for the part I was most looking forward to. Not that visiting all my relatives wasn't great, but I love seeing the National Parks, State Parks and the places along the way. We headed across the panhandle and into Texas to Amarillo. We found a place to eat called Granny's place. It has sawdust on the floor boiled peanuts on the table and the best steaks and BBQ ever! The music was great too!
Next we crossed into New Mexico. At first driving along you think, yea, just desert, but then it begins to sink in. The subtle colors, and the striations in the rock formations, and as you begin to feel the openness and the quiet it becomes a wonderful spiritual place. of course I had to tune out a 4 1/2 year old and my Mom, but we stopped at a couple of outposts and I just walked around. I met an old native american who pointed out the hills around us and told me stories about the tribes that used to live there, while my Mom shopped.
We then headed to the Grand Canyon first the south rim where we spent one night. It was beautiful and all the things it was supposed to be. I was amazed by the size and granduer of it. Then we went to the North Rim. Wow! If you haven't been there, everyone should go. It is smaller hotels, less space to walk around, but if you get a cabin in the park you can be sitting on the rim and wake up at sunrise as it hits the canyon. it is in a word breathtaking. There are deer that come up and eat the grass while it still has dew on it. While I marveled at the canyon from the porch of our cabin. The lodge has a terrace that sits right on the edge of the rim and at night they build a fire in the outdoor fireplace that four 6' tall men can stand next to each other in. It's huge! And keeps you warm while you star gaze over the grand canyon.
We then went to Zion National Park which is another jewel that everyone should see at least once. All these rock formations and water seeping from the rock. Then there is the Narrows. The Virgin river runs through the canyon and it carved between these granite rocks a path for itself. People hike in the summer when the river is low up the canyon to see the Narrows. It is where the canyon walls are so high that all you see as you are hiking in the river (of extremely icy water I might add) is a small (narrow) ribbon of blue sky above you. The walls are straight up so there is no place to go, so you need to be aware of climate changes and all that. They have flash floods and you don't want to be caught there when they come down and channel through the Narrows. But I walked down to part of it and it was extraordinary.
We missed a lot of Southern Utah as we were headed to Las Vegas next. There were so many other places I would see in the future in that area that I loved. All are worth the trip.
Vegas Baby! yea, I took my Mom to see one of her favorite singers there. Tony Bennett. We got a babysitter from the hotel, and went for a night on the town. She really enjoyed seeing him. He wasn't bad, but I thought Sammy Davis Jr was so much better. (Yes, I am dating myself!)
Then we finished off the trip with three days in LA. Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm for the kid. She had done exceedingly well on this trip and my Mom wanted to go with us to the Parks. But she didn't want to walk it so I ended up pushing her in a wheelchair all day. I have to tell you on a scale from 1 to 10 it was a 2. She really was not even trying to have a good time. Shannon and I went back that evening and had a blast but my Mom, well, she should have stayed at the pool. The rides were too fast, too high, spun around too much or too noisy.
But it was a month of driving and a month of watching my Mom and daughter laugh and play and bond. Me? Well I got to see alot of 11 states. Got to get lost in the wide open spaces of Wyoming. Nearly got married in Oklahoma. Almost found Oz in Kansas. And found that traveling is in my blood.
Even now, in my new town here, I see a street that bends around and I wonder where it leads. Sometimes I turn to see where it goes, sometimes I take the groceries on home. I think that's why I love the ocean so much. There is all that beyond tha is just over the horizon.
Coy
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