Memorial Day Weekend on the Rim

After staying home for most of the spring, I jumped at the chance to go camping. Patrick and I drove up the Mogollon Rim on Saturday morning from Phoenix. I had never been, despite only a 2 hour drive. We passed through the cute little towns of Pine and Strawberry before taking the dirt road along the Rim. The Mogollon Rim stretches 200 miles across Arizona and is the start of the Colorado Plateau--high desert area that includes the Grand Canyon and many of Southern Utah's national parks.

We set up camp right along the Rim. Luckily, Patrick's car has 4WD and high clearance and Patrick is skilled in driving off road so we were able to get here no problem. It was relaxing to sit in our camp chairs and read books and not have any place to be. One little issue though! Our campsite was windy, which made me cold, despite the sunshine. I asked Patrick to boil me some water for tea. But our sole lighter didn't work! It was dead. So our peaceful afternoon was paused while we drove back to Pine to pick up new lighters. We needed them to cook dinner, so it was at least good we found out early!

What I'm Listening To: "Bus Stop"

Before Rihanna and her umbrella, there was the Hollies, a bus stop, and a shared umbrella. 

Wonderspaces

My friend Nicole recently moved back to Arizona (so glad she did!) and invited to Wonderspaces this afternoon with some of her friends. It's an art installation piece that you experience rather than just look at. You interact with the art. There were virtual reality pieces and pieces that changed when you moved your body around.

My favorite was probably the wall of rolled-up notes. The piece was about those words you didn't get to say. It felt like a mix of Post Secret and fortune cookies. People wrote notes on pieces of paper and stuck them in. Some were heartbreaking, some were deep, some were silly. It was addicting to read them. It felt refreshing to put one of my secrets on there that has been eating at me for a few months now.

What I'm Listening To: "This Girl"

Makes me dance at the climbing gym. 

Luckily, I was able to ask my friend (who works there) to check out the name for me.

What I'm Listening To: "Luck"

Zion Day 3

Our last morning in Zion. I wanted to wake early to run the park road before the shuttles started, but I couldn't get myself up. But by 8 am, I was ready to tackle the Pa'rus trail. And an spontaneous trip to the Lower Emerald Pools and run down the horse beach trail. Legs were not feeling good, but my soul felt so alive, running along the spectacular forces of nature.

Zion, I will be back.

Zion Day 2

Church of Sunday hike. With many of the trails closed due to rock slides, it was Angels Landing again for us--except I took West Rim Trail instead of scrambling over people along the chains to the end. Just ten minutes past the hustle and bustle of those seeking the thrill of Angels Landing. I snacked and watched rock climbers ascend the rock. I laid down and let the sun lull me to an almost sleep. I could have sat there all day.

After my descent from paradise, I found friends of friends dipping their feet into the cold Virgin River. They had created a little pool from rocks to chill their beers. 

That bliss was over a few hours later when I felt nauseous on the shuttle back to the campground. My lunch and snacks came hurtling up on the side of the road. But with some salt packets, water, and couscous, I felt better later that night. Dehydration, maybe?